The record-union., 1894-12-15

q moment as thlS?"
such supreme momentr' sighed
Miss Helen, with a saddened look in her
ethereal face.
"H es, indeedw retorted her mother in
no gentle mood, while gathering the
wrappings closer about the family inspf-
ration with an air plainly betokening re-
proyal. Can't you see our Helen is
composingp'
"Oh, yes, composing herself!' gurgled
Kate, nearly losing her balance over the
rail, as another truck load of luggage
came crashingly along the gangway.
Mr.. Lesslng's lips worked curiously.
Since the sonnet to Cause" in the mag
azine, his household had been so often
called upon to pause in awe before the
august spectacle of Genius perching in
fecund throes upon his daughters head;
and Mrs. Lessing had also found, in her
capacity OF its guardian, so many oppor-
tunltleS to thus silence argument and op-
position, that, save with dauntless Kate,
the omlnouS announcement that Miss
Helen was composing, usually brought
the remnant OF the Lessing family into
sudden coma and collapse.
Mrs. Lessing, with the air of one who
had now settled all controversy, with one
arm around Miss Helen and one hand
holding fast to the skirts of lively Kate,
now raised herself as high as possible in
her chair for few moments enjoyment
OF the exciting scene about her.
Along West street, for squares in either
direction, a thousand carriages of de-
parting passengers friends glittered and
flashed in the midday sunlight. Be-
tween the gangways the pier was wedged
with people. On the steamers side next
the wharf, decks were massed with pas
sengers and alive with the bobbing heads
OF children being held aloft TO give again
and again their merry good-bys to those
who were left behind.
Stewards toiled perspiringly under
back breaking loads and swiftly acceded
to impossible injunctiOns. Every body
smiled, even here and there heart were
breaking. Ones own voice could scarcely
be heard above the clamor. Every ships
officer and steward was in his most daZ-
zling uniform. The 'longshoremen, with
wild yells, were slowing away driblets of
over-late freight. Pouches of supple
mentary mail were being hurled on
board. Suddenly the gong trembled and
crashed below.
There's dinnerr' gasped Mr.. Lessing
to his wife, as he more firmly clutched
his luggage.
Mrs. Lessing glared moment at her
agltateu husband, and as suddenly
beamed at all else around her.
''All ashore, going ashore!' shouted the
half hundred stewards, from hold to hur-
rlcane deck. 1t was a knell to merriment.
and poor Mr.. Lessing seemed for a mo-
ment half determined to fly from the
ship.
"Do be easy" pleaded Kate sooth-
ingIy. "Ipu be all right after little
now."
Faces on shipboard and at the pier
side began to lengthen. Those massed
behind the Lessings could scarcely see
their friends near features now Then
came the embracings, the hand g1asps.
the lip pressures, real and true-ah,
some of them the last precious earthly
messages OF heart and soul to soul and
heart.
The Captain on the bridge nodded his
head.
Mrs. Lessing also nodded her head in
some sort of unaccountable sympathetic
response.
''D-d-don't mawv' begged her son.
''Ih'- they II th-th-think you own th'-th'
shipn'
Away went the forward lines. Then
the Captains hand pulled stout cord.
The foghorn roared and beloved.
Mr.. Lesslng started from his seat wildly.
Miss Helen brought her note book feebly
before her eyes. Her brother shifted his
stick from his ear to his mouth, as if the
sound might better be shut out in that
quarter. Mrs. Lessing nodded firmly,
as ii to convey to the crowds on deck and
on shore that this was precisely what she
had anticipated, and Kate threw herself
into her fathers lap with hysterical
little shrek Of
''Whew! But that just beats our own
steam whistle all hollow, don't it, Pop?"
Another nod from the Captain, with
still another from Mrs. Lessing, and away
went the stout aft line.
The great vessel, amid a din of escap-
ing steam, slipped gently and slowly
back into the stream, her prov and stem
for little time seeming to reach half
across the mighty river which floated
her.
hundreds of passengers essayed to call
back there to the pier, but they could
not; their throats were too full and their
hearts hurt them so, while their eyes
could now make out no ones face
clearly.
Those ashore seemed to have pressed
forward to the very bulkheads. All that
could now be seen, for the dimness of
parting tears, was mass of moving
color, waving scarfs and handkerchiefs.
and some who reached far and farther
out as though they could not stay be-
hind.
Nv Nonderful, wonderfully" came glow
ingly from Mrs. Lessing's lips.
My poncil is powerless under the ten
der speli!' family sighed Miss Helen.
''FIXed just like Tennyson was in his
BREAK, Dfeak, Dredk!' SDlckereQ her
roguish sister.
''His b-b-bad break" stammered the
brother. making a convenient socket for
his stick out OF the cavity beneath his
wide lower jaw.
"Pd give tn new mill to be back on
that pier!" groaned Mr.. Lessing. who
could not swim.
Think of the advantages, John Wes-
ley, and be yourself" urged Mrs. Less
ing;
'I-y-yes, of every TIL thing, and
J-j-jolly up" chimed in his son.
BE large aud broad and comprehen-
sive. dor' begged Miss Helen feelingly,
And don't forget" tauntingly insisted
Kate with pursed lips, big eyes and a
hoarse whisper. that our Helen will be
satisfied with nothing less than being
presented at COURT"
a t-t-tennis c-courtr' added Wash
lngton Lincoln Lessing, making a gulp
as III 10 swallow his stick at one bolt.
At this sally of the young collegian a
| ripple OF smiles ran over the faces of all
those passengers who had not alread Y
ielt the immediate vicinity of the Less
lngs, heart sick from the overwhelming
scene OF separation the departure of an
ocean steamer invariably compels,
ms mad been noticed by the Lessings.
and Mrs. Lessing tossed her head: Kate
also deflantly tossed her pretty head and
her sister, whose face was suffussd with
bushes, again had recourse to her note
book.
a quite distinguished appearing lady