Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-03-18

AAIo Aol PIoIty Lace. Inc song l
liked best was TON Bowling, and
she infused such an amount Of pa
thos into her expression that the
tears would sometimes trickle down
my weather beaten cheeks as she
sang. All, those were happy daysi
It was heaven while it lasted.
have scarcely mentioned her ia
ther yet. The fact is I was 80 en-
crossed with his beautiful daughter
that l didn't pay SO much attention
to him as perhaps ought. At the
best he was saturnine, unsociable
sort of person, who seemed to pre-
fer his own company to other peo-
pies. When not in his own cabin,
where he spent most Of his time, he
was walking with his hands clasped
behind him, apparently deep in
thought, in the waist of the ship.
Sometimes, when standing idly at
the break of the poop, have caught
myself wondering if he had ever
committed a crime the remem-
brance of which was weighing heav-
lily on his consciece. Twas destined
soon to learn more about him.
One evening, when about nine
weeks out, Twas sitting in the chart
house alone with my idol. The Sec
ond mate was stepping the planks
outside, old Jobson was at the wheel
away behind us, and the watch on
deck were lounging about forward.
Some days previous to this I had
had the temerity to confess my love
for her and asked her to be my wife.
She had made me inexpressibly hap
py by promising, subject to my OBJ
tanning her fathers consent. This,
after some demur, he had granted,
and that night the future appeared
very bright for me.
We had been sitting silent for
some time, too happy for words,
gazing on the setting sun as it dis
appeared into glowing mass of
golden trimmed clouds on the hori-
zon, when, to my infinite amaze
ment, she suddenly burst into tears.
Darling, what is the matter7" I
exclaimed in an agony of apprehen-
sion.
"Oh, Alfred, have just heard
such a dreadful story from my fa-
ther. shall never be happy again.
We can never be married now."
Never be married" Iejaculated,
aghast. "Why9"
"Besause my father is "a crimi-
nal. Oh, l feel so miserable think
I shall throw myself overheard"
"Alice, for heavens sake don't
talk like that, or you'll drive me
mad. What has he done9"
Something dreadful. Oh, don't
speak to me any more" And she
sobbed violently.
At that moment was so mad
felt half inclined to go down and
tear the old scarecrow out Of his
berth by the scruff of the neck and
demand what the deuce he had done
to cause my darling such poignant
grief. But didn't. Instead 1 drew
her to my side and kissed her tears
away.
"Tell me all about it," said I
soothingly.
"Well, my father, as you are
aware, was an agent in one of the
banks in Arlington, Victoria, and 1t
seems he embezzled large sums of
money belonging to the bank to
speculate with. OF course he meant
to replace it before the audit, when
the deficit would have been discov-
cred. But he lost it all, and that is
why he fled the country"
Is that all2" said l, with sigh
of relief. Its bad enough certain
ly, but I fail to see that in itself it
forms sufficient barrier to our
union"
"But that is not the worst. My
father is convinced that the police
may have traced him to Melbourne
and to this ship. He declares he will
be arrested on landing"
Nothing more likely" l thought.
But I remarked casually, HAS he
any plan to suggesta'
eyes, oh, yes, if you will only as
sist him. But it seems too horrible
to contemplate. He says it is his on
ly chance of escape"
what is it then9"
"That he should die and be buried
at sea" she responded, with per-
ceptible shiver.
II don't understand.
He proposes to feign death.
Then, after he has been sewed up for
burial, we must find the means to
iberate him and substitute some
thing else
The daring audacity Of the pro-
posal fairly took my breath away.
If discovered, the consequences to
mo in aiding and abetting felon to
escape would be disastrous. I re-
solved to have nothing to do with
such a criminal proceeding, but a
look of entreaty from those fearful
eyes made me falter in my resolu-
ton.
For my sakeI' she murmured
pleadingly, placing her fair, white
hand on my arm.
| Her. touch thrilled ma Thesitated