People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-02-16
~ v COPYRIGHTED By J.BLPPNCOTT COMPANY

The people meekly obeyed, and &nen
through the awesome stiffness of Il
steamer at rest at sea there came a
faint note over the water through the
binding mist, then another note on
the other side.
"Why, we've run into a feet o boats.
Call 'em, Captain"
No need to suggest this, for the
Captain had his hand on the rope,
and the great whistle roared in short,
blatant notes. A moment later the
safety valve moved, and the dull roar
of escaping steam drowned all other
sounds.
That's signal enough. The fisher
men will know we have stopped, and
will come aboard. Mr.. Ruthers, see
that soundings are taken at once, and
keep your men on the lookout for
boats"
The officer addressed went dowa to
the deck and prepared to take sound
ings. More passengers came on deck,
looking white and scared, and talking
together in whispers. Presently the
boilers were relieved, and the escaping
steam stopped. Then through the 81
lence came the sound of oars.
Some people are like camera; they
see only what is directly before them,
without regard TO its focus, and the
dry plates they call their minds are
capable only of reporting one fact at a
time. Mademoiselle recognized that
Mai Johnson was in a sense her rival.
She saw through the device her hus.
band had used to bring the. girl into
his mothers family that he might win
her for himself. That he had no moral
right to do this she felt sure; that he
had no legal right she hoped to prove
the moment they reached New York.
On board ship she had7no legal rights,
at least, she could not prove them, =
and, enraged at what she considered
an affront put upon her by the girl,
she went directly to the one wish
that was uppcTmost in her heated
brain. She would be revenged on the
woman who had lured away her hus-
band. She had already stabbed her
through the Judges wife. She would
attack the girl herself, let the conse-
quences be what they might.
The Judge knocked at Miss John
sons state-room door, No response.
He knocked again. Still no answer.
Becoming alarmed, he tried the handle
of the door. There was faint moan
within, and he boldly opened the
door.
On the lounge lay the girl, white
and still, her wavy black hair stream
ing on the floor.
Mai! Mai! Are you lll?''
She opened her eyes slowly and
smiled in panied, wan way, and then
closed them again.
"What is it, my child? Are you
sick? Shall | call the doctor?'
She neither opened her eyes nor
spoke, but slowly shook her head.
The Judge opened the port, and the
raw, cold mist drifted in and the
sounds of the sea filled the room.
Again by the sea his heart was
wrenched. This child, who had be-
come so dear to him, was stricken
grievously. He knelt upon the floor
by her side and took one of her hands
in his.
"Are you sick, my child?"
She looked at him for an instant,
and then shook her head.
care you hurt? Let me call the sur
geon."
'He could do nothing"
What has happened? Tell me
what has happened"
She heSitated for a few moments,
and he waited for her to speak. Then
she said, slowly
81 wish l had died-with mother
on the ship"
What do you mean?" g.
"She came here"
"Who?" -
J THAT woman. She hates me-"
"Mademoiselle Rochet Did she dare
to come here too?"
''She forced herself in. 1 was
frightened. l could not stop her. She
oh, why did l not die with my
mother?"
What did she say?"
"She said-oh, how can l tell YOU
Father knew it; she said he did. San
knew it, too. | never knew; l never
knew; and they were so cruel-oh, 81
cruel!-not 10 tell me. l could have
gone away somewhere; and-oh, it il
SO hard to know it nowr'
"You say your father knew it"
She turned away from him and be
gan to cry softly to herself.
What is it my dear? What trouble
your
, "You-"
81? What have l done? You know
l love you"
Il know that; and yet-you-yor
believe it"
At this instant the screw stopped.
Neither spoke in the strange, terri
flying silence that meant so much
Both listened intently. What new
disaster was at hand?
Suddenly she started up, white, hag
: gard and trembling.
"Hark! hear it! the buoyl It
} the buoy that marks the grave of tina
ship"
The Judge was fairly alarmed, an,