Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-10
CHAPTER XIV.

Deep was her grief for all that she
had left behind her in the past: eN-
cessive was her terror of all that was
going to meet her in the future. And
now added to these. was unmitigatea
horror at finding herself in the power
of Il smuggler! But she knew that for
her. in her present circumstances. to
yield to the fatal power of these sub
DUNG passions would be her total
ruin. Again, as a second demand, she
was forced to rally her sinking cour-
age. And now she took what my read
ers will think a strange step. She was
half-suffocating in the close air of the
cabin. She resolved to go on deck, to
breathe the fresh air, and to meet
bravcly, not boldly. the faces of her
captcrs. She went up, and found the
captain on deck. He came forward to
meet her, saying:
"Why, now this is right, my girl!
Never NOPE! moping never did any
one any good vet! Besides. it would
spoil your beauty. If you have left n
sweetheart behind. we will find you
quite as good Il one where we are
going"
Astrea passed him without making
any answer. and advanced to the star
board side of the ship. and remained
looking over the bulwarks.
"What? Sulking? Why. that is al
most as bad as moping!" said the cap
tain, laughing.
She did not answer. nor even seem
to hear. ....
"Oh, very we'll! all right laughed
the man, walking away in another di
rectiOn.
!Astrea breathed more freely. She
had dreaded lest he should follow her.
But. in fact, from this time to the end
of the voyage, he never more mOleSted
her with offensive attentions. His one
impudent attempt to kiss her in the
cabin was his first and last sin of that
sort. Astrea. With all her beauty, was
evidently not to his taste. He was as
dark as gypsy by nature; Astrea was
rendered so by art: they were person
ally too much alike for him to be
strongly attracted by her. This cir
,cumstance perhaps it was that saved
her.
Astrea went on deck every day: but
her manner while there repealed the
slightest advances from any OF the
crew. ignoring even those little civili-
ties. such as placing a seat, or raising
an awning. that some Of the sailors
respectfully offered her.
She talked with no one but Venus.
and only with her when they We're
alone in the cabin. Venus slept each
night on a narrow mattress laid down
on the floor beside Astrea's BERTH No
zone else ever entered the cabin.
Often at night. when all was still.
>Astrca would enter into conversation
with her humble friend, and try to for
get for a while her own sorrows and
terrors in sympathizing with the fears
and griefs of poor Venus. Strangely
enough. none of the poor negress'
troubles We're selfish. She had left be-
hind her neither parent, husband nor
child. All her regrets were. therefore,
given to de OILS miSSus an de chill
lunl.' left destitute by the death Of her
master and the rapacity of his credit
orS. And all fears were that she
should be drawn into sin through asso-
citation with the smuggler captain and
his crew. For the rest, her deepest
:sympathies We're for Astrea. into
whose bosom she tried to infuSe hope
and courage.
"'Sider, chile" she said. one night.
as she lay on the mattress beside her
wakeful companion, ''jes' you slider; a
young lady can't be hauled off like a
fractions niger. an no fuss made
,about'n it. Yoour frien's an 'lations
soon be on your track an fetch you
back"
"Ah! my friends. All! my dear hus-
band! All! my good guardian! How
great their sorrow must be for their
poor Astrea. And. oh! even if they
ever find me. they will never know me
in this dreadful disguise!!''
-'Nebber you misdoubt, honey. Dey
sure to know you! Dey know your
beautiful eyes, an your sweet, thrushy
voice! An as to your brown 'plexion,
honey, that will wash out arter time!
1oull see"
''Ah, no! I fear not. for it seems to
me that soap and water actually sets
the color. 1t is deeper than at first!
All! it was fiendish actr'
"Plctely deblish! Eff dey'd dyed you
good. honest. vartuous black. like me.
now, 'twouldn't a-been so bad! But to
glib you that ere indecent, mixed blood
color! Ohv'
Perhaps Astrea did not consider that
an aggravation of the offense. but she
made no comment
Have you any idea vet where we
are bound, or how far we are from
port. or when we shall arrivc:" she in
quired.
Yes. chile; Cap'n don't make no Sc
cret of it now. l hear de debbils on de
deck talkin bout it. 1t is back to New
Orleans Yves goin'. Dough why goin'
back there artcr goin' nowhere but up
that little erik, passes of my sensori-
ANS to tell! Seems like de whole v'yge
was made purpose to bring you away!
Case dis is sartin. F'On. dc time we
lef' New Orleans to dc time we draD
anchor in dat erik. we nebber stopt
An den soon as you fotch on board
whew! up anchor an away back to
where we come from. Tell you what
It looks mighty rum!'
1T does, indeed. lok as though my
unhappy self has been the sole object
of the voyage"
"Um! MAJ dcpcn' dcrc'S more in it
dan we c:ll. See"'
There is. well. l suppose my fate
will be decided ut New Orleans. DC
YOU know when they expect to rcacl
that city,"
Bout day after tomorrow. if d,
win keep fair: leastwise. so de sailors
say! An now. honey. look here: il
done struck eight bpl1S' dat moan mid