The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-31
OUR STOWAWAY..

| SsAs oHBIJ FOlC6E.
an the old storyr' muttered to
myself. II thought this time we had
escaped" for quickly perceived the
man the mate was dragging toward mo
qua not belong to tho crew, but had
hidden himself away in the hold TO
steah ride to the port whittier we were
bound.
he was a slight, delicate little fell
low, with face as white us ashes and
trembling like woman. I felt sorry
Tor him In spite of myself, although I
growled out the query. fear. with an
oath:
What made you hide in my ship? I've
a good mind to throw you overheard I"
he opened his mouth to answer, but
no words came. when. to my surprise,
Archer, the new man, stepped forward
ana. touching his hat, respectfully said:
know him, sir. He wanted pas
sage to America and had no money.
You ii IND him good worker, SIR"
swore little at them BOTH but the
mischief was done, and there was no
help for it, and telling the mate to put
him to work l continued my interrupted
course to my cabin.
the days slipped into weeks. What work
he had to do he did faithfully and we'll.
If 1T was using broom or climbing tho
rigging.
After time, seeing his Willingness,
had most of his duties transferred to
the cabin, where they wero lighter and
subject to less exposure. He seemed
bound to Archer by strange ties Of graf
ltude and appeared to think he had in
surod my leniency
The third week out wo had Il storm
which tried our faithful ship to the ut
most. Yet no man failed at his duty.
His cheek might blanch, but his hand
did not tremble.
Out of our peril uninjured and with.
out the loss of q single life, we had Just
had prayers and Thanksgiving, in which
all, from captain to cabin boy, had
joined most heartily, and had scattered
again to our different posts, when no.
tlced Archer and Williams standing to-
gether, tho latter's hand resting almost
caresslngly upon Archcr's shoulder
Just then an order caino for some one
to 90 aloft and stow the fore royal, as it
was darkening to windward and looked
as though wo might have light suuall.
Archer sprang forward to obey the
command. but somehow Williams rot
ahead of him. He was so very light
and had grown go accustomed to tho
rigging that ho was like Il squirrel.
Higher and higher he went. my eyes
following him with n strange fascina-
ton for ono accustomed to such sights.
until no reached the yard, laid himself
out upon it, seized hold of tho canvas
when something came whirling
through the air, something struck with
dull thud the deck at our feet and the
yardnrm was empty.
Archer was the first man to reach
him, the first to look into the still.
white face. OIL which death seemed nj
ready to have set his seal Then II groan
burst from his lips of such mortal agony
as never before had heard, and he fell
forward i'll Inconsistencies by the bows
side.
Williams was WOman-a woman
who Tor love of man. had done this
thing. Poor, suffering child! Had she
atoned with her life? There was little
hopo, the doctor said, but such pity
had risen i'll both our hearts that we
would not despair, and at last the dark
brown eyes slowly opened, looking
around MS though seeking some one uot
there.
" 1t is Archer" Whispered, and. 60
ing forward, foHnd he had recovered
from his swoon and was ms ono frantic.
| bade him follow me.
You know all, captain" he uues-
toned. "She is my wife Poor littlo
girl! She ran away with me and would
follow mo everywhere. Will she live?''
''Thero is little hope" answered.
We will do for her what we CAM
Then we entered tho cabin, and such
look Of rapture us crept into her eyes
as they rested on Archer's face have
never seen before and expect never to
SEQ again. Then we went ont and left
them alone.
Fifteen minutes later 1 entered the
room. He was kneoling ut her side, his
face buried i'll tho pillow, whilo one
hand rested caressingly on her head.
Touching him on the shoulder, mo-
toned him out. y painful and dan
gerous operation had to be performed,
which, if she survived, would permit
hope of recovery
NoPo eHo pun lclioW WITH mo our
ing that time, and he told me tho whole
sad story.
'Sho loved me, captain, but her par
cnts locked down on me and would not
let us meet. 1t WAS wrong, know, but
she WAS so young, and she said she
could not give me up, and I-ah, now
l know what the world will DO to mo
without her But we were married
have the certificate i'll my trunk.
Il left her all comfortable in u little
room l had hired for her and shipped
with you. l had to do something, sir,