The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-26
be Ships Ndvenfure.
CLARK RUSSELL. Copyright 1899, bysss Mcclure Co.


and then that 1t was a girl in straw
hat with nothing near her in the shape
of bag, bundle or dog. She must be some
wearied wayfarer who had seated her
self and fallen asleep. But he did not be-
lieve this either; on the contrary, when
he was close to the figure he imagined it
to be a corpse.
He put his pipe iii his pocket and stood
looking at her. There was light enough
stopped and peered,,. and then started and
exclaimed:
s'By Jove, it's Julia Armstrong! What 8
come to her?'
He looked UP and down the road; not a
soul was in sight He felt her ungloved
hands-they were cold. Her straw hat
was tilted on her head, which rested not
on the brim of her hat. but on her hair,
that was dressed in a mass behind and
pilEowed her. Her eyes were not closed,
and IL she was not dead she was in a
swoon. He got beside her and lifted her
head all the while wondering what she
was doing-dead or in q faint-in this
ditch. He then pulled out small flask
of brandy, diluted with water, and as her
pure white teeth lay q little apart he
managed to pour a dram into her mouth.
He chafed her hands, and in sort of
way caressed her by holding her to him.
He also put her hat straight, and wetting
his handkerchief with a little brandy and
water dampened her brow, now taking
notice that she was not dead by sundry
tokens of life of most elusive and sub
tie character, whereof her breat thing was
not one, for he could not detect a stir of
air on the back of his hand betwixt her
lips, nor the faintest heave of her pretty
breast.
to say, an old love Of his-I mean, he
had lost his heart to her a little time be-
fore he went to sea, when he was scarce
ly more than scheolboy. Then he went
to sea, and when he came home she had
gone some where on a visit and so of
the next voyage; but when he returned
from his fourth trip round the world he
met her and found the old beautiful
charm again In her; but in a week she
left to occupy some post as a governess
thirty miles away, land when they met
again it was here by this roadside
What had eaptivated the young fellow
with this girl who lay unconscious in the
fold of his arm? She had pleasant, in
interesting face, bsheld even through the
death pallor that lay upon 1t, but she was
not beautiful or even pretty. Her hair
was abundant and fair, inclining, as you
might even judge by that light, to au-
burn. But it was not her face nor hair,
1t was her figure that had excited admira-
ton into passion in the young sailor. Her
shape and involuntary poses were saucy
and perfect beyond expression. She al
ways carried her hat oHs one side of her
head-"cock-b billed, las the sailors call it;
she had trick of planting her hands on
her hips: her limbs hwere sbeautifully shap-
ed and her short skirts exposed as much
or little of them as her figure required.
No dancer of exquisite art could have
played her legs as this girl did, yet all
her movements were involuntary and I'M
conscious, and therein lay the sweetness,
for had hint of study been visible in
her motions, the whole ma;deniy and
fairy-nke Illusion would have hardened
into acting. 49,
Young Hardy had thought OF the VIVIAN
diere, of the Fiile-dezRegiment when he
looked at her. He could not have told
why. Was 1t the saucifess that was not
wanton, of the repose OF her hands upon
her hips? the unconscious1y crossed leg
when standing? the cock-bilied hat, Or
Tam O'Shanter, that made you feel the
need of music? the fixed gaze that was
not staring but pensive? the sudden
change Of attitude that was like the cloud
shadow upon a rose on which the sun
IldQ EccCCa. w Hdt Iffd iii ILLS " w
with the Vivandiere? But Hardy had got
the word and the idea Into his head, and
when he thought Of her at sea twas as
though she was walking with regiment
with a little barrel of cordial waters upon
her back.
Again he looked up the road then down
the read; he could hear cart i'll q lane
that ran parallel, but nobody was visi-
BILE. He was beginning to wonder what
he was to do-whether he had the physI-
cal strength to carry this fine girl In his
arms four miles, that is, to his father
house-when she sighed, stirred like an
awakening sleeper. sighed again, and
opened a pair of gray eyes full upon his
face.
DO you know mee'' he asked
s.Where am To- she answered, and with
sudden effort she raised her form out
of his arms, but in a moment fell back
again in sheer weakness
Don't you remember ycur old friend,
George Hardy?" he said:
She looked at him with that sort of
intentness which you will sometimes see
IN baby's eyes, and her lips dropped
into a scarcely perceptible smile.
What am 1 doing here?" she asked,
and she gazed around her deeply puz-
zled.
He gave her little more brandy, which
she certainly stood in need Of, and look
ing at her without speaking he waited
until more mind came into her face; and
now she made an effort to rise.
Keep still until you have come right
to-" said he. 81 wish some old cart would
come along to give us a lift to my IA
TIERS"
Your father's?"
s'Dr. Hardy's," he answered. "About
an hours walk away. H.
Eyes, know" she exclaimed. ''1f a
cart came I would not co.
MY Gar Miss Armstrong. what are
you doi,g here?'' exclaimed young Hardy.
''AH alone In dead faint in ditch!
Were you returning homer" And again
he looked little way UP and down,
thinking to see handbag or parcel.
but her hands were as empty as his.
'.I'm going to London" she said. What
time is ft?'
I'm going to London, too. said he;
''but neither of It's will catch the train We
want. Do you mean to walk to Lonccn?
She shook her head and put her hano
in her pocket as though seeking her
purse. What she sought was evidently
there.
Now her faculties had come. together,
but it was clear that she must sit little
longer before attempting to rise; so they
sat side by side with their feet In the
dry ditch and their backs against the
hedge.
"Why are you going to Lendon?9s he
asked.
.Im leaving home for good" she an
swered.
Where's your luggage"
ST have none," she reniied.
care you running away from homer"
he inquired. beginning I'd see little Into
this matter. "a
II have no home, and am leaving my
replied. animated by a little faint passion.
.'I could endure the liferno longer-1 am
the wretehedest girl inI.the word. Oh.