The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-06-05

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. Ah, those were happy days!
1t was heaven while it lasted.
have scarcely mentioned her fa-
ther yet. The fact is / was SO en-
crossed with his beautiful daughter
that I didn t pay so much attention
to him as perhaps l ought. AT the
best he was a 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. was destined
soon to learn more about him.
One evening, when about nine
weeks out, was 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 l had
had the temerity to confess my love
for her and asked her to be my wife.
She had made me inexpressibly hap
Ply 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 matter2" ]
exclaimed in an agony of apprehen,
sion
"Oh, Alfred, have just heard
such dreadful story from my ia
ther. ! shall never be happy again
We can never be married now. "
Never be married T. / calculated,
aghast. "Why2"
Because my father is IA crimi-
nal. Oh feel so miserable | think
shall throw myself overheard. "
Alice, for heavens sake don t
talk like that, or you'll drive me
mad. What has he done2"
Something dreadful. Oh, don I
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 | drew
her to my side and kissed her tears
away
"Tell me all about it" said ]
soothingly.
well, my father, as you are
aware, was an agent in one of the
banks in Arlington, Victoria, and it
/
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 |, with sigh
of relief. "It's bad enough certain
ly, but ] 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
/ OO al iCct'-u OIl
Nothing more likely, thought
But / remarked casually, Has he
any plan to suggest2"
Yes, 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 them"
THAT he should die and be buried
at sea, " she responded, with per-
ceptible shiver.
Il don t understand.
He proposes to feign death
Then, after he has been sewed up for
burial, we must find the means to
liberate him and substitute some
thing else"
The daring audacity of the pro
posal fairly took my breath away
If discovered, the consequences to
me in aiding and abetting felon to
escape would be disastrous. re-
solved to have nothing to do with
such criminal proceeding, but a
look of entreaty from those fearful
eyes made me falter in my resolu-
/ ton
For my sake!" she murmured
pleadingly, placing her fair, white
hand on my arm.
Her touch thrilled me- Ihesitated
no longer h1lt payn an uuwilliDp