The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-16
OVERHEARD.

dark hold with his fellows boat from the
Liverpool dock came alongside with sew
eral passengers, among them handsome
lady of 80, Mrs. Rowland, wife of Colonel
Rowland, quartered with his Regiments
near Port jackson. Australia, where she
was going to join him, and her little
daughter Grace, a beautiful child of
years.
As Mrs. Rowland was assisted up the
gangplank she noticed Mark Mold and
shuddered.
''You need not be afraid, ma'am," said
the captain. 1.-THE criminals will be kept
in the hold chained. They can do you no
harm"
''Can you not send them away from
here2 wish you would"
81 regret that cannot, as have agreed
to take them
AS day after day passed the bright little
cherub Grace spread light and joy through
out the vessel
The rough sailors would smile, their
brown faces softening when she ventured
among them.
They always had a pleasant word for
her, for her winning little ways had made
her fRVorite with all, from the cabin boy
up to Ben Hays, the Oldest seaman aboard.
She would walk forward the first thing
of a morning and shake hands with each
one, her mother smilingly permitting such
freedom on the part of her child. One
day, having heard that the crew did NOS
fare as sumptuously as the passengers,
Grace, instead of eating her piece of pound
cake at the cabin table, took it forward
among the sailors and made each of them
take big bite, saying she would tell the
captain to send them basketful.
Soon she noticed on deck the convict
Mark Mold, who, having been taken i'll in
the confined air below, had been relieved
of his chains and led up to breathe the
fresh air. A pleased look crossed his bag
gard face as he inhaled the pure breeze,
and, looking out on the broad, blue, roll
ing ocean, he seemed at once to get stron-
ger and better.
"Won't you have someP Here, take it,
You may have it all, - fell childish voice
on his ear, and, looking down, he saw
Grace at his knee, holding up her cake.
He seemed about to put his hand on her
head when Mrs. Rowland gently but
quickly drew the child away.
The man showed no emotion at this
action of the lady. 1t was natural the
mother should deem there was contain
ination-poison-in his touch; that she
should not have permitted him even to
lay his hand on the golden hair of the
child.
"You must never 20 near that bad man
again, - said Mrs. Rowland.
Just as she spoke heavy squau struck
the ship, hurting her down and almost on
her beam ends and driving her through
the water with everything humming.
Suddenly there was a wild shrek from
Mrs. Rowland as little Grace, who had
attempted to run into the cabin, was lit
orally blown to leeward into the sea.
''My child o God, save my ohildP'
screamed the distracted mother, whose
voice, however, was nearly drowned by
the booming thunder of wind and ocean,
the rafting of canvas, the Stating OF
sheets and ropes and the swashing, kissing
noise of the sweeping spray.
The sailors looked with appalled, faces
on the form of Grace as she was borne
along by the merciless waves. Not one
of them dared to venture overheard in
that tempest, and, as to lowering boat,
it was simply impossible, as no boat could
live in such a storm.
''Saye herl Will no one save my childf''
screamed Mrs. Rowland, confronting the
seamen with cIasped hands and frenzied,
beseeching eyes.
They looked at each other, and not one
moved, for all felt that certain death
awaited the man who should plunge into
that wrathful ocean, but Mark Mold
plunged overheard, and the mother chung
to a baokstay, eagerly watching for his re-
appearance; but, seeing nothing of him,
she bowed her head on the rail, moaning
and raving like a maniac.
Still ragged the storm and on tore the
ship farther and farther from the place
where the man and child had gone over
board. The seamen exchanged ominous
chances and shook their heads.
Soon the squan swept far away to lee
ward, the ship righted and the sun gleam-
ed from clear sky upon clearing sea.
From the captain, who, having now
brought his ship to, with main topsail
ebaok, had run aloft, a wild cry went
ringing to the heavens, sending an electric
thrill of joy to the hearts of all on deck.
quarter. God grant it be the man and
childl'
His boat was soon down with good oars
men in it, with Mrs. Rowland, full of
wild, anxious hope, in the stern sheets.
Nearer to that distant speck drew the
boat
"There he is '' cried the watchful cap
tain at last. 81 Think believe-but am
not certain-he-yes, yes, thank God
hoorayI hOoray he has the childP'
Yes, there was the convict in the water,
holding up the child that the mother
might see it.
Such a scream of joy as burst from that
mothers lips it would have done you
good to hear.
A few minutes later Grace nestled on
her bosom, weak and faint, but showing
signs of rapid recovery, as the happy wo-
man strained her to her breast, shoWering
kiss after kiss upon her face.
Almost exhausted to Inconsistencies,
Mark Mold lay in the bottom of the boat,
scarcely hearing the mother, hardly feel
ing the pressure of her lips upon his hands,
when at length she turned to him, warm
~ expressing her gratitude.
On arriving at Fort jackson Mrs. How
land related to her husband, the colonel,
the gallant conduct of Mark Mold, who
thereafter was constantly befriended dur
ing his hard prison life by the grateful
officer.
This kind treatment, the first he had
ever received from a human being since