The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26

moment when the deputy governor came
up through the after hatch. l was un-
yelled, but whether he remembered me or
not no look OF recognition was In his face.
He asked he my business on board.
81 have come to visit Thomas Butler" l
answered. "a prisoner"
when were you here last?"
! gave him the date.
''You are too sOon," said he, the rules
are every three months"
He wrote 70 tell me / was privileged 70
pay him a farewell visit" | said he babe
me wait minute. and walked 10 the gov
eTnoT's quarters. He returned soon and
said: Thomas Butler is one Of batch of
convicts who are to be sent across the seas
on the 18th Of this month"
Il know that" said |.
You will have TO bid him farewell on
board the ship he EN- barks IN.
Il shan't be able 10 see him, then Y /
cried, putting on an air of CONSERVATION and
grief that / might obtain some peculiar in
formation from him.
~''I am sorry you will have no other oppOr-
Tunity of bidding him farewell"
But tell me. sill" cried ], shall | be GER
tain of seeing him If l 60 on board his
ship?v
'Undoubtedly; you will be allowed the
customary quarter Of an hour"
How am | TO know he viii be one Of the
convicts on board >"
oh" said be, very good-naturedy land
| will say here that a kinder and better
tempered man than the deputy governor of
II. NJ. s. Warrior was not 10 be found
among the prison officials of his time).
oh" said he, smiling, There is no fear OF
his not being on board. The surgeon has
passed him. He is enc OF the batch"
Ny heart beat quickly on hearing this.
BE may have wondered at the effect OF his
words; lie darted keen look with an ex-
preston of mouth that was like saving he
rotT ne fo of
hibiting delight on hearing that they were
to be shipped Of
"Can you tell me how be p" said l.
He gave me sort of hooking bow as
though he would intimate that he had told
me much. | took tho hint and left the hulk
wondering that under the circumstances
the warder or sentry should have passed
me on board. but greatly rejoicing over the
information | had received that Tom would
undoubtedly be one OF the conyicts of the
Childe HerOld.
On reaching my lodgings I sat down and
wrote the following letter to my sweet
heart. / dated it. but omitted the address,:
dearest: l visited The Warrior to-day. but
was informed The regulations ODlige friends
10 bid farewell on board The convict ship
when the people are In her. ] do bot visit you
to say g0od-by you VIII wonder; you viii under
stand there Is reason; you know my heart as
know yours and viii not mistake. We shall
meet sooner Than We think. Many swift ships
are weekly sailing 10 tie colonies. / Kiss you
and pray that God may watch over you. Your
own MARIAN"
l addressed this letter and went out to
post il. Ii was then shortly after O'clock
in the afternoon. Having posted the letter,
l walked little distance until / came 10 a
hsiTdTesser's shop / entered and said 10
woman who sat behind the counter that ]
wanted my hair cut. She took me upstairs,
and in few moments man stepped in.
81 wish you to cut off my bair," said /.
n m ha M nj m n
and Sinking and rubbing his hands.
THE whole Of it," | exclaimed.
lie opened his eyes but said nothing while
l removed my hat He then exclaimed,
That's a beautiful ed of hair TO remove.
miss. Hall. do | understand? Or can it
be smuggling and cleaning that you want
d0ne?"
''Au," said !. "and pray be quick for
there is not much daylight left
BE took down my hair, and Ia the glass |
sat in front of saw him fall back and ad-
mire 1t. | also witnessed expostulation in
his face. and he stole doubtful looks a: me
in the mirror as though be questioned my
sanity; On which / perempt0rily repeated
my request that he would cut off all my
hair A woman's hair Is her glory, they
say, and felt as though / was parting with
a crown of beauty as | watched my long
raven-black tresses in the glass falling under
the sheariDg snip of the rem0rseless scissors.
But there was sense of triumph in me, too
the citation OF love-the feeling that what
| was doing was for Toms sake aud that
this was the very least Of the sacrifices was
willing to make fer him.
/ obliged the man to crop me as close be-
hind as though l were convict, but to leave
me enough in front to part my hair on one
side. He did as 1 bid him. but when came
to part my hair / found il stubborn; the old
parting down the middle would insist on
showing; so told him TO crop me close that
the hair might bristle on end.
When ha had done so | scarcely knew
myself. The man looked at the hair he
had cut of and asked what | wished to do
with it.
Il don't know" said !. putting on my
hat.
III give you two guineas for It. miss.
and throw in the job of cutting IT,"
1T 10 beautiful hair and worth three
times what you offer, but you shall have it
Tor two guineas, nevertheless"
lie paid me the money and left the shop.
When l got to my lodgings / locked the
door. dressed myself In the boys clothes |
had Brought with me from Stepney, put on
my cap. and then stood upon the table that
might see my full length in the chimney
glass. | was perfectly satisfied with the
appearance / made. / looked just
hearty, siraDping young lad of
IL; out and away more manly To
the eye than the saucy boy who had kissed
bis hand to me. | sprang on TO the floor
and for long while practiced the PAGES Of
man, stridlng round the room aud stretch