Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-07
Her Hearts
Secret
BY JEAN WARNER.
could. but that was very unsatisfact.

Col. Laponte and his daughter had
| taken passage about ten days before
| the Ocean Queen sailed. The young
| lady was an invalid. and her father bad
been very anxious that she should
have the most comfortable accommo-
dations the ship could afford. A fine.
looking man. the colonel! Looked as if
he might have seen foreign service, but
not able to stand the sea. Sick as a
dog-not able to lift his head from his
pillow. Luckily they had a smart lit
tie Frenchwoman along, who can take
care of both father and daughter.
"There she comes now" added the
captain, laughing, as Madam Gillette
tripped up on deck. 'No one but a
Frenchwoman could look so trim and
taut after a three-days' voyage. She
comes UP every morning just at this
time. to take the air. She has holy
horror of the sun. Good-morning,
madam"
'Ah. good-morning. Monsieur lie Cap
tain. l wish you a vera good morn
ing!" answered the madam, with much
effusion. Il come up. as you see to
get my leetle breaf of air. 1t ees so
close so warm. down below
''How are your patients?" asked the
courteous sailor. Getting little bet
ter ! h0pe?"
81 don't know. Monsieur lie Captain.
1t is what l cannot tell Monsieur La
ponte seems bad-verra bad; but then,
it is rot with men as with us poor wo-
men. For vera little sickness they
make vat you call one grand blow!'
The captains rich laugh was delight
full to hear: the little Frenchwoman's
quaint sociability seemed to have taken
his fancy immensely.
every true. madam-very true. in
deed! Gentlemen are trying patients.
And your young lady, does she suffer
much from seasickness? You ought to
coax her I'D on deck. madam. Fresh
air and the bright sunlight are the only
remedies that work speedy cure. But
it is the last thing you can persuade a
lady to do. They shrink from the very
sight of tine terrible sea-
ut is SO with mademoiselle," replied
the madam. shaking her glossy curls,
despondently. II beg. pray, entreat
her to come up on de deck; but no,
she will not. She is too weak. she say
too weak. All, poor chile! she is
vera. vera weak but de light and air
Nolll Illdhe ucE SllOLS.
The captain made some pleasant re-
ionder and Herbert turned away.
a ray of interest had, for a brief
while. frightened the dark turmoil of
his mind: but it faded away as quick
ly as it had come.
He had never heard of, never met.
this Col. Leponte and his daughter.
The writing had struck him, for the
J.,
have been only fancy. Some rich for
eigner travelling. probably, with only
an Invalid daughter to sustain the hon
ors Of his name.
So the ripple of curiosity that had
changed, for brief moment, the cur
rent Of the young mans thoughts. died
away, and all was still with the hope
less languor of despair again.
The days dragged on YEARLY; there
was a great deal of rough weather for
that season. SO the old tars said
Sudden storms would sweep down
from the southwark. and swell the
slumbering pillows into wrathful tur-
moil: sunlit skies would be swiftly
darkened by threatening clouds, moon
lit nights made black and hideous by
appalling tempests.
The old sailors began to muttcr SUI
perstitions and forebodings. Some bad
luck followed the ship, for there was
surely never such summer voyage be-
fore.
Herbert. who passed all his time on
deck. listened with a sort of gloomy
pleasure as the whispers of evil por-
tent went round.
They seemed to accord with his OWL
despondent mood. They sent no thrill
of terror to his deadened heart.
OF what value was a life like his?
Far better to lose it as swiftly and
painlessly as possible than to keep it.,
barren and hopeless, without Joy or
love!
1t was on one Of the lowering nights
we have mentioned tibet knot Of sail
ors We're gathered around the capstan,
discussing the signs Of foul weather.
Herbert was smoking near, and, with
out feeling any especial interest, list
ened idly to the drift of the conversa-
ton.
1t was heavy sultry night, and the
sky was dark with the omens of a
gathering tempest; but pale moon
still struggled with the clouds that
swept in broken masses over the face
of heaven. while the forked tongues Of
fame leaping up, ever and anon, from
the horizon made an angry contrast to
her pallid light.
81 TUX a wage like this before once"
said grizzled old tar. whose utter
ance was somewhat impeded by the
huge 'duid" he had rolled entirely
under his tongue. 81 don't mean to
say that I haven't seen harder blows
and rougher weather many time. but
a downright unnatural, Jonah-cussed
v'yage like this never TUX before but
once"
"And how did the wage end, Bill?"
"Wall." answered Bill, slowly turn
ing his auid. sit ended you might say,
bad enough. for the ship-Which her
name wasl the Sea Witch. The ship an
more than half of 'em aboard her. went
down to Davy Jones' locker. And 1t
was dead woman as dun it all"
"How was that? Spin us the yarn,
out ard and out. Bill?" asked two or
three eager voices.
"Wall. faint so much of a yarn
answered Bill giving another reflect
i've turn to his quid: "for it's every
word true to natur' as gospel 1t ives,
an 7 no1ou1ota ,nnrn'r tuantu -