The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-09

idea of emancipation first dawned in
the mind of man.
Il doubt whether that sound could
have come from here, colonel; we could
hardly have heard it so plainly on the
upper deck" l began; but / was inter-
rupted by a repetition of the same
,plaintive whimper, evidently from
above us. The colonel uttered an ex-
clamation, and had scrambled up the
ladder before 1 could turn round. /
followed, and found that he had gropcd
his way back to the saloon in the dark.
1T must be here, you know" NUT
tered he, apologetically. Il was sure
of it from the first"
i was tempted to compliment him on
his activity, but I forbore. l looked
round the little saloon. There must be
some state-rooms hereabouts. / pushed
my hand against one of the silken
hangings, and felt vacancy beyond. /
drew the fabric aside, and stepped into
small chamber some twelve feet long
by six wide. The colonel was at my
heels.
A bed, or bunk, was built against
the side of the vessel opposite us. 1t
'N'to eoNtiNu Win VI lIlt Cdul-
brio, with a satin coverlid. Propped
upon the pillows lay woman between
twenty and thirty years of age, ap-
parently, and of remarkable beauty.
Her dark hair fell down over her
shoulders. Her eyes We're closed; but
as we entered, they quivered, and slow
ly opened. Their glance. dark and
penetrating, rested on us for an instant,
and then they closed once more A
faint sigh stirred the lace upon her
bosom, and she lay still.
By her side lay an infant, not more
than few weeks old. The little crea-
ture rested on its back; it's plump little
legs and arms were kicking and brand
ishing In air. Its eyes We're tightly
shut; but as we stared upon 1t, they
opened, and it uttered a quavering cry
the cry of a baby just emerging from
sleep and in want of it's natural nour-
ishment.
BLESS my soulr' faltered the honest
colonel. "Bless my SOUL A live baby,
in the midst of all this.'
put my finger on the mothers wrist.
1t was already cold, and there was no
pulse. Her beautiful face changed
even as we StOOu tI1eTe, IL became
pinched and cadaverous. The figure
seemed to sink into itself and wither
up. 1t was as If she had been miracu-
lously preserved during unknown
years, until her infant should be saved
But the infant-he was real and sub
stantial; he did not dwindle and van
ish before our eyes. The colonel, how
ever, seemed to fear that he would, for
he caught him up in his arms and
pressed him to his manly, but tender
old heart.
1T makes me feel like man again
to get hold of It," quoth he, In shaken
voice, while two tears ran down the
side of his warlike nose. Here's a
neal piece Of warm flesh and blood at
last, after all this Internal hobgob-
0inry. Do, for mercy's sake, let us get
out of this, before we get turned into
mummies and hobgoblins ourselvesv'
l looked again at the mother. What
"a fate had been hers! Who was she
How came she hither? Had her eyes
indeed beheld us before she died. or
was that an Illusion of our bewdered
senses? What had her life been on this
accursed vessel? Who was the father
of this child which she had cherished
till the end? All, well, 1t Is the doom
OF man to ask questions, and to guess
ait the answers What do we know?
"Yes, we had better CO." said l. "The
sooner that baby has some woman to
hook after him the better. His mother