The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-07-20
AN ORIGINAL GIRL.

Clear ~esiher 10 slwsys prayed tor q
steamer day" Of Nssssu, liks most oihe
siriiirsd places 10 the nins,scnib csniufy
tsd telegraph, OF even daily .asil eon@ui
ics,ion viih ibs rect Of the world, ''stesu
er day" would not mesn 20 much s !
GOV does 10 tie inhsbitsnis and visitors
Ths passengers issa. Waiting irisnd'
rush forward 10 gree, some, others ~sii
thronsh . 70. Of curious faces on sithsi
side snd up tousrd the hotel. Small NJ
tive boys rush about sud besiese then
With all manner Of ttqaesis' Gary youl
bsg, bos.i Drive for you, bossi Does
yon wsut boy. lsdyi
by noon the eIci.em nt had moderated,
snd We sttolied douu 10 the wharf snd
pitched . liver coins into tho clear ws'tr
ttirty feet deep, 10 see small boys dive
and bring them from the White ssni boi
tom, where they lay clearly visible.
l Isirolisd away from my companions,
and, passing several email schoonsrs laden
With sponges, lying sloog the wh'ri-eaeh
with two or three ragged children, Us
tive OF two. and perhsps sslIow faced
sersvny white mao, lounging or chesioa
sngsr cane i came TO one cleaner looking
than ihe rest. She was built as oil the
Bshsms schoobers, With hue clipper bows.
. rounded stern. aud smsll mssts aud
spsrs She wps neatly painted, and on
her stern we're the words "Lillisn," With
her home port, "Wailings Isl.ud."
As stood looking at her suddenly q
young woman came up the companion
way and said:
Good day.
Good day. answered. You've come
some distance have you noi9
Yes. she replied, from the furthest OF
the oul-islapds l suppose you're from
scross the ses2
To my affirmative reply she, to my sur
prise, said:
And how was Irvins's Faust2 ! should
so dearly love to see Ellen Terry - Mar
euerite.
After moments pasnse, during which
time vsinly sought to iAtbom In my
mind how . woman on q Bahama Island
schooner could have followed theatrical
matters so closely, gave her my unbiased
opinion OF the matter. She WAS then
silent, and mesnwhile had an opportuni
ty to study this Bahama curiosity.
She WAS about twenty six years old. snd
was neatly dressed in IN inexpensive
light material. Her luIuriant bsir, OF
dark brown color. was tastefully arranged,
and she wore large brim med. bu. not nm
STRAW hat, which hal evidently
seen better days. Although much burnt,
could see her skin was fair and her
hands delicately formed. Her expression
was one OF demure sadness. aud after my
study l came 10 the cololuson that she
was q more than ordinarily handsome
woman. l decided 10 continue the converse
lion.
May come sboard2 ventured to say.
Certainly was the reply. Johns gone
ont to the steamer and I'm keeping watch
Ior him. shall be glad to have You tell
me the news. We get little except when
we come to Nassau.
Who is John7 l wondered, and how
much news can people get who only rely
,n Nassau for il2
stepped IN board, however. and my
cir hostess, excusing herself for mo
nent, stepped down into the cabin and re
urned . moment after with two email
,hsirs. which she placed under small
Iwning which shaded bali the cockpit,
She moiioned me to be seated, and
'beyed. There was silence for moment
iter We sat down and then my hostess
aid, speaking very slowly and with evi
lent effort:
You must think it very strange that
poke to You and have allowed you to
ak to me. but saw you we're . gentle
nan, and do grow 90 lonely and 90 an1
ous 10 see and talk with someone from
be eres. world now and then. The ladies
lp Of the hotel. IL l go mp there, ! do not
now, and / suppose / seem queer to
hem, for they look Asksnce ct me. and
svent the courage TO speak to them.
ohm doesn't seem to care for anything
ut spopges and salt and wrecks.
Sponges and salt and wrecks' l asked
ayselt What manner Of man msy John
'ef
Yes, continued my hostess. ips very
onely on the Watliuss. You see there
70 only 675 people on the whole island,
nd Of these only about 800 are white,
Ihile don't suppose there are forty l
nov, We're lS0 miles from Nassau, and
Though I'm teasing John TO bring me
vsr thsrs, hs won't come but three times
year. unless there's wreck.
A wreck? l asked.
Yes, she went on nonchslsntly, We don't
ave much luck nowadays.
We haven't had good wreck since the
Ia Spanish steamer went down on Ellen
hers three yesrs ago..
The situation dswned. My fair friend
Iss the wife. daughter or sister Of Babs
IL wrecker = perhaps pirate.
whats the mstlerf You seem disturb
a.
mnrmured 10 q rambling way some
hing about urecking being pleasant 90
aps,ion.
Oh, l see, and she laughed. and won
eriully musical laugh ii sss, too. You o
10 shocked st Johns being . wrecker.
ohm doesnt really wreck ships. BE
erely helps 10 strip them when they are Q
I,eIt relieyed. bat the dire memories OF q