Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-07

Had it not been for light breeze
that blew refreslingly under the deck
awning the heat would have been all
but unbearabie to the little group Of
passengers On the poop of the bark Kist-
ma, bound for China, and now we'll past
the Maldives-that curious chain, 500
miles long, Of atolls, or coral islands,
which has procured for its ruler the
grandiloGuent title of the sultan OF
the Twelve Thousand isles. So far the
voyage had been propitious in all ways,
and now on this exceedingly sultry aft
ornoon, when no one appeared to have
anything particular to Go, the captain,
John Grant, was wondering whether
the profits Of the voyage-he had ven
ture in the vessel-would enable him to
make his old father, down at Dunkcld,
that ancient Pictish city Of Perthshire,
comfortable for the rest of his days.
Peters, the carpenter, YVES rejecting
how well he had "fished" the forctop-.
mast and how lucky it was that ever
since there had been no gale to try his
work. The sailors generaily-mcst of
them ordinary seamen and little better
than mere laborers--were thinking low
hot it was and longing for unlimited
drinks Of something strong and fiery,
even if it were in the dirtiest and most
stuffy little public" east of the monu
ment.
The Hon. Edward Poulter. who had
special mission to Singapore, WAS fret
ting and Tuning inwardly that he had
ever consented to ship in such a misera-
bic concern as the kistna merely to save
Il few days time and because his vale
tudirarian wife had declared that she
and Emily, their only daughter, must
positively go cut in dear sailing
ship" or not at all, and the lady herself
was thinking if ever she once got back
to England nothing should again tempt
her on the sea, for even then she shud.
dered at what she called the fearful and
unspeakable dangers they had sur
mounted-dangers that so far existed
only i'll her silly imagination.
Emily herself, sensible looking and
fresh comple1ioDcd typical English
girl, lay back in her deck chair looking
very nice, fresh and sweet in her daz-
cling white muslin, gayly trimmed
with bright blue ribbons. a book on her
lap and her pretty feet, incased i'll neat
sandalCd shoes, carelessly crossed, while
one OF her very white, small hands was
toying with the long, thick, brown curl
which she had drawn over one shoulder
from under her broad brimmed hat and
might very well have laid on hey knee
What was she thinking Of? Well, to
tell the truth, she was thinking of him.
Il is, perhaps, superfiuous to say that
this him was not her excellent papa,
sitting very upright, very clearly
shaved, much white WaistCoatod, ana al
together pompous, unapproachable. high
y respectable ard extremely British
The him was Harry Winscombc, young
man Of four and twenty, going cut
ii the China tea trade. determined to
make his fortune, now that the chance
had come, and equally determined Just
then TO take everything as easily rs pos
sible ard not to trouble himself about
business Of any kind. The other passen-
gers had left them at Ceylon, and row
rs they approached the straits they had
quite small party, playing whist al
most daily, Harry Winscombe, having
to preserve his good temper with Ms.
Poulter, who prcfcssed to adore whist,
but would never, her husband openly
said, take the trouble to learn even the
rudiments and was continually provok-
ing him to the verge OF apoplcxy by i'm
ploring him just this once to let that
nice knaye Of hers win, or not to put his
acc-shc was suEe he had it rcaay ..to
pounoe, and ''pouucing' always terri
fed Eer-on her one poor little queen
Emily had less patience than any one
with her mothers Stiffness ard coniin-
ually exclaimed: 'Oh, do, mamma, be
quiet. You put us all out. -
On this particular afternoon in the
Indian ocean, during one Of the hottest
days III the year, this little party had
gathered on the poop and found whist
Ito judge from you," the Hon. Edward
Poulter had severely remarked to his
wife, 1.-THE game is nonsense and fool
ish chatter"-much too great an ex.
crtion. For some time they had even
ceased to talk and hardly looked at one