Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-04-21

=.
passed several days while the ship re-
manned at anchor several miles below
the city.
Astrea found this suspense as terri
hle as any part of her voyage. She had
firmly resolved that as soon as she
should he taken on shore. she would
make her real situation known to the
first persons she should meet, and.
through them. claim the protection of
the magistrates. And thus she looked
forward to the hour Of her landing as
that Of her liberty.
but many Et'.te days passed. and
still she ren.a;ssi confined to the ca bin
of the ship. aId still the ship contin-
ued at anchor fc.S' below the city.
She questioned her sable attendant
why do we remain so long here,
venus:'
Hi. chile. what YOU ax me for?
How l know? Nights as well az de
main mas. Tell ser de >cap'n nebber
tell me nuffin.''
But. surely, Venus, YOU can form
some ileaT'
Hi, honey, how I gwine form ideas?
muffin t all bout it, persisted the girl,
know-nothing humor.
AStrea had Known her long enough
to understand ;:,is occasional caprice.
as well as now to manage it. She
said:
Il know all you say is the truth.
Venus: but know, also, that YOU have
a srea; deal of shrewdness-'
WHAT dat, chile?'
Intelligence. sense"
Yes. honey: ole marse. Lord bless
him. used to say how l was uncommon
sensoricus: but II ] is. l nebber brags
bout II. l amt vain; scorns to ber'
well, then. with all your good sense,
YOU must have OWNED the captains
motive for keeping us here?'
But hi, honey; de cap'n's motive
amt divine g: all; it's more like deb
lish: dere a:ns ELffin t all divine bout
he; nor 'liglous. nor rev'rent. nor muffin;
so how l find out what amt dere:"
But said Astrea. changing her
phrcseology to suit the capacity of her
interlecutor, IF you do not know why
he fingers here, what do you Think"
We'll, honey. tell you; spectorate
how lie is a-waitin' for de OderS," whis-
pered the woman.
The others! what others"'
"Dere. now; dat all; de oders"' re-
peated Venus, mysteriously.
But who are the others?" persisted
Astrea.
well, des, don't know muffin t all
't,out Cem.''
''Bnt what do you think. tben:" in
quired Astre;l. coaXiIgly.
Tell you, honey, don't know nuf-
fin bout 'eln; 1 don't think muffin bout
'em, and don't spectorate muffin bout
dem dere! You see. chile. l darn't do
it: leas' said. SCORES mended! You
mas see 'em yourself some day" said
Venus, more 1nysteriously THAN before.
And this, in fact. was all that conld
be got out OF the woman.
But Astrea'S suspense was nearly
over.
The next morning an incident oc
Cured that put her in possession Of
some idea as to her final destination.
1t was about eight o'clock in the
morning whcu Venus. al; usual, came
in her breakfast. She sat it down on
the table, ana then, going to the side
of Astrea, whispered:
''Sometine gwine happen, honey;
capn gone on shore in de big boat;
mate keepin' de cabin door,
1.-The captain gone on shore? Gone
to the city:' asked Astrea, who. in
every incident, hoped that a step was
made toward her release.
mo, honey, la! we long way from de
city: no, honey he gone on shore, right
straight to de cypress swamp; dat all ]
know"
Various conjectures were hazartlcd
by Astrea, as to the captains GRAND:
but none seemed satisfactory to her
self or her attendant: and at last, the
slight meal being over, 'Jenus took up
the waiter and carried it away, Wills
pering as she departed:
Il watch, honey; [ watch wild all dt
eyes l got; and wen I bring your din
ner let you know all fine OUT
When Venus left the cabin, Astrea
fell into deep and distressing thought.
All her hopes Of escape had been
based upon the event of her landing in
the crowded city, and seeing people to
whom she could appeal.
But now, if she We're landed in the
Wilderness.
Exhausted by distracted thought AS
trea at length threw herself upon her
berth, and t,rped ner face 10 tl.:. little
window at tie back Of it tt .:s:>:,
breath of fresh air. The little window
was open, but a slight muslin curtain
drawn before it concealed the Occu-
pant Of the berth from the eyes of any
person outside on the starboard side of
the lower deck.
While the captive lay thus she heard
the splash of oars, and 1ooi:ing out be-
tween the corners of the curtain and
the side Of the window, she saw boat
come up to the side of the Ship and
the captain, accompanied by Il strang-
or. leave the boat and come on deck.
They walked arm-in-arm up and
down the side of the deck, conversing
in Il low tone. The words were, how
ever, audible to the acute ears Of her
who was certainly the most interested
in the Durport Of their conversation.
They seemed to be continuing il sub
icct which they had commenced some
time previous; and that subject was
that OF the captive, now the unseea
and unsuspected listener.
"Good-;ooking, you say?' inquired
| the voice Of the stranger.
"Beautiful-that is. according to
your idea Of beauty: l do not affect
! tbnSo Ia rk f.h9r,norv nn.Sn1f' rrhiS ono