The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-12

the CLAIMS Castle, was short and square.
with strong, red beard, and shorn up
per lip; his eyebrows were reddish and
habitually knitted, as though from long
years of steadfast staring into the eyes
/ OF the wind. His eyes were dark and
sharp in their glances; his brow was
square as his form, and delicately brown
ed by the sun. The lady was homely
| looking woman, In a bonnet and velvet
mantle. She began to pull off her gloves,
and her companion, after bawling wait
| err In quarterback roar gaZed fxedly
at Hardy, who gazed back.
| All the time the man was giving his
orders to the waiter with occasional ref
| erences to the lady, he kept his eyes bent
on Hardy, who muttered to Julia, 81 be-
lieve know that man." The moment
he had done with the waiter he rose and
| stepped oyer to Hardy.
rs your name George Hardy?' said
he, with slight glance at the girl.
Yes" answered Hardy, land now that
I've got the bearings of you, ] don't need
to ask If your name Is James Smedley."
They clasped hands.
Let me introduce you," said Hardy,
Ito Miss Julia Armstrong, daughter Of
Commander Armstrong, late of the Royal
Navy. Capt Smedley, of the Glamis Cas-
tie, Miss Armstrong"
How did you know that?" asked
Smedley, exchanging a bow with the girl,
whose peculiar grace of form, whose
charm of movement, whose face, roman
tic and pleading, with the gifts of nature
and the passions Of her heart. his swift
eye was observing with pleasure and
| curiosity.
IT am stopping in the house you're
lodging in answered Hardy, land Mrs
Brierley told who you were. Are you
going to dine here?"
| yes"
rs that your wife?"
YES"
Bring her across, smedley, and We'll
make dinner party"
T.. Mrs. Smedley had been bobbing to catch
q view of Miss Armstrong, and the bugles
in her bonnet twinkled like href1ies as
she swayed her head.
Miss Armstrong; story continued
Hardy is so moving that Mrs. Smedley
will be grieved to the depths of her kind
ly heart when she hears it,
| Julia looked down, and Capt. Smedley
studied her for a few moments, then
wheeled abruptly, and stepped over to
his wife. After a brief confab they both
came to Hardys table, and Mrs Smed-
ley was introduced to Miss Armstrong
and her companion.
DO you sail with your husband?"
asked Julia.
seemed struck by the girl. THE owners
won't let the captains carry their wives
with them
"A ship" said Julia, SHOULD never be
SO safe as when a captains wife Is on
board, because of course her presence
would make the commander doubly Wig
liant and anxious"
"Haw, Haw!' laughed Smedley.
The fish which had been ordered was
| now placed upon the table, and on both
sides they began to eat. The waiter I'M
corked the champagne, and Hardy told
him to fill the glasses opposite. This
was resisted by Mrs. Smedley, a homely
| woman, who declared that for her part
| she loved nothing better than bitter beer
| Again her husband "Haw, hawed," and
said they would see Hardy's champagne
| through, and then he would order an
other bottle. He believed it was not
usual in polite society to drink cham
payne with fish: but 1t was all one to
him. Champagne went down the same
| way, whether Its messmate was fish or
flesh.
Are you leaving England?" inquired
Mrs. Smedley, addressing Julia, at whom
she continued to look hard, though not
In the least rudely, as If she found good
4 deal in the girl that was infinitely beyond
4 the range of her speculations.
! Il am endeavoring to leave It," an
swered Julia, looking at her with her
head little on one side.
May 1 tell them your story?" said
Hardy. ''for we shall want our friends
influence" he added, with nod at his
old shipmate
"Oh, yes, tell Them" exclaimed Julia
little passionately; lit will account for
my being in the East India Dock road, =,
and her face relaxed as she looked at
Mrs. Smedley, who smiled upon her in
motherly way.
Hardy in his blunt, sailorly fashion be-
gan. He did not spare Capt. Armstrong
neither did he spare Julias stepmother
he warmed up and put the girls case in
forcible terms. Asked what a Young
English lady was to do who was to all
lntents and purposes, expelled from her
fathers roof by the brutality of a drunk
en- stepmother, he related some of her
experiences in nursing and in seeking in
dependence In other ways, just as she
mad related them to him. He spoke of
MS hnding her unconscious by the way
side, and how he was determined TO take
TINS poor, friendless young lady by the
hand, and help her to the utmost stretch
OF his ability to find a home a refuge
across the seas.
Don't cry, my DEAR said Mrs. Smed-
ley Il have known more cases than
yours. 1t is very hard-and to be mother
iess-out you cannot allow your heart to
be broken by bad woman; and l think
you are acting wisely In resolving to
go abroad
Julia put her handkerchief into her Ian
and closed her knife and fork. Hardy
poured some champagne into her glass
and bade her drink
What's the ladys idea of going
abroad?" said Capt Smedley, whose face
exhibited no more signs of feeling than
mad 1t been a rump steak
She has no money and wants to work
her passage out as a stewardess," re-
piled Hardy
And when she arrives?" said Cant
Smedley.
She is bound to find something to do
answered Hardy THE colonies are
yearning for young English ladies'
Young English domestics. YOU mean {"
said Capt. Smedley What is the good
Of ladies? What is the good of gentlemen
In lands where labor, and labor onIv. is
Wanted?"
Why would not you go out as an
emigrant, Miss Armstrong;" said Mrs
Smedley "Of course" she added at
presume you have Australia in yonr
mind?"
Il would go out as anything as long
as | could get out" answered Julia.
Take my advice and don't talk of
emigration" said Capt Smedley. You
Will be miserably fed and miserablv
berthed. You will have a matron and
surgeon over you, and the discipline will
make you wish yourself overheard
Your associates will be mean and dirty
yhn