People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-01-26


and go to my room and stay there in
great trouble till to-day. The voyage
is terrible"
'Miss Johnson, Mademoiselle Rochet.
Miss johnson is travelling with us.
Mademoiselle Rochet, Mai"
The woman had come nearer, and
now stood regarding her with black,
piercing eyes, and for some reaso he
heart seemed to beat fast and her knees
trembled
What is the matter, Map" said the
Judge. "Are you ill?"
mo, sir. 1t is the fog. I'm cold.
Perhaps I'd better go to my room"
Almost unperceived, the silvery mist
on the horizon had spread over the sea,
blotting the sun from sight and chang
ing the sea from blue to cold gray. At
that instant the deep booming note of
the ships whistle startled her. The
sound seemed to recall the sounds of
her youth, to suggest danger near. It
rang in her ears like hoarse cry from
a wreck. 1t was warning toto fish
ermen on the sea.
"Let me escort you downstairs, Mai.
Take my arm. Why, my child, you
are trembling with the cold"
Eyes Take me away. Take me
away"
at has grown very cold. 1t will be
safer for you below"
Thank you, sir Yes, safer"
"You must excuse the Judge, Made
moiselle. He has taken great fancy
to this Miss Johnson and invited her
to travel with us. He looks upon her
almost as his own daughter"
Mademoiselle Rochet lifted her eye
brows as if a trife surprised, and Mrs.
Gearing felt touch of resentment.
Why should this dressmaker be sur
prised at anything they, the Gearings,
did? Was not her husband Judge of
the Supreme Court? Was not their
social position in New York of the
best? What was it to her that they
had invited young girl to travel with
them?
Mademoiselle Rochet had the sense
to see that she had gone a step too far,
and fastened to make amends:
my dear madam, | mean no offence.
remember seeing the young lady at
the lighthouse at that place-last sum-
mer-what you call the place."
cat Wilson'S Holl?"
"Yes. 1t was there l saw her, at her
fathers house, at the lighthouse"
why, certainly. Didn't you hear?
1t is cold here. Come down to my
stateroom, and I'll tell you all about
it."
Mademoiselle would be charmed to
hear more, and for half an hour sat on
stool in Mrs Gearing's stateroom
while that worthy lady, who had
taken possession of the lounge, related
in full detail the accident, and the
rescue, and all that had happened
since. Mademoiselle heard it with
only appreciative comments, as if it
were tale of merely passing interest.
''And now the Judge wishes to make
her his daughter2'
"YeS. The girl does not seem to
care to go back 10 her friends, for she
does not write to them, nor have they
written to her for long time. I don't
understand why, and l am sometimes
afraid she had some trouble at home
that she is trying to forget"
And your son, Mr.. Yardstickie-he
is pleased at the prospect of so charm
ing lady in the family?"
She said this with little laugh, in
the most natural way possible.
'0h, Royal! Yes, dear boy. He
seems to like Miss Johnson greatly,
and goes everywhere with her."
"Yes. They are, of course, very
much thrown together, particularly Oh
board ship. If the Judge should de-
eide to adopt her and make her hi.
daughter it might be good thing fol
Royal l must say, she Is a good girl
and under my guidance is rapidly be
coming quite lady. She has had {
very good influence over the dear boy
already; and then, too, he owes hi,
mothers life to her, which, of course
makes him very grateful to her."
"He could not marry her?"
"Well, no, perhaps not-not now.
HE certainly could not, madame
Do you not know her parentage?'
"Why, think she is the adopteC
daughter of the lighthouse keeper.
have never asked who her parent
really were. l think they are boil
dead"
ut will be very fortunate if the,
are"
why, what do you mean, Made
moiselle?"
"Ah, well, in France it might no
matter. In America it makes a grea
difference who they are. American
are sometimes so strange"
what do you mean? What do yo
know about the grip"
Nothing, madame; only what hea
in the little place-this Wilson's Hol
where we were last summer. 70
should warn your son, madame, lest h
be greatly disappointed some day. /
would be great misfortune if h
marry her. You will believe me if
tell you as friend your son canno
marry this Miss Johnson"
Perhaps he never thought of it"
"They are much together"
The Door lady sat M on the lounc