Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-04


"A fine day, madam" he said, cor
italy.
She motioned for him TO sit down in
the n air on her left
II have been wanting TO speak 70
you. captain, ever since the beginning
Of the voyage" she said. and there
vas strange lack-luster expression
D. her eyes. {
1T am At your service, Mrs God.
dard," he said, studying her face, Curl
Dusty.
"Of course, I don't want you 70 re-
gard what say in the light of a COM
plant" she went on. 'Jn fact. I
make up my mind TO put up with .
great many horrible things at sea.
But, captain, is there not "a decided
feeling among the sailors that we will
sever get into port alive?"
why. madam" lie opened his
eyes ~ide with sstonishment. II don't
understand you. Surely"
II have always heard they were SUI
perstitious people by nature" shs
broke in. Now Lucy, here, has been
trying TO pacify me al day; but she >
lying to me. l am sure my husband
instructed her to keep me ia the dark"
The captain glanced past her and
tried to catch Mrs. kolan's glance,
but this woman was looking off in tho
opposite direction, her face desthly
white, and twitching with excitement.
you were saying that the sailors
are superstitious by nature hs
foundered about in his effort to APP
pear both respectful and 90 get at her
meaning.
( Yes and you see. passing SO many
dead bodies of men, women and chill
dren would make them more so. T
can't bear it. There are more of
them on this side of the ship than
the other"
Why, what do You mean" he
gasped. Madam, there are no dead
bodies here"
Mrs. Goddard fared up and gave
him her eyes steadily.
my husband has instructed you TO
deceive me, too" she cried. Lucy
said you would agree with her. You
are all in the plot to worry me-to Kill
me"
She rose suddenly and dropped her
rug at her feet.
II am going TO my stateroom and
try to .esp. but what does closing my
eyes amount to? l can SEQ them just
the same
The captain was on his feet almost
as soon as she was ana he walked
with her TO the door of her room.
Then, with a face much disturbed ne
rame back to Mrs. Nolan. He put his
finger on his brow Significantly.
Some thing ia wrong with her" he
said, in the peremptory tone Of SUI
perior to one beneath him; what is
ito"
at is not az all serious. sir" stam-
nered Mrs. Nolan She doesn't IA X
that way often"
did YOU know her mind was-was so
when You left America with her"
she told me she had strange feeling,
some times-delusions but that the
ocean always cured her"
Does her family know OF her condi-
lion ?"
Mrs. Nolan shook her head Doubt
fully.
81 think not, sir, it seems TO me she
was leaving home to keep them fro II
finding out the truth"
All" he sat silent for a nome I. tn r
ae rose. IF she is not better soon you
must let nue. know, do You under
stand2"
II will do SO, sir; but am sure she
will give US no trouble. l will go see il
she wants anything"
when Mrs Nolan reached the state
room she found her companion on the
o-d smiling from rigidly expectant
face: her eyes were cleaning with half
amused fear, She drew Mrs. Nolan
down on the edge OF she bed.
"NNhat did he say after left?"
Mrs, Nolan repeated the CONVERSE
ion.
Good" exclaimed the recumhent
woman. That is quite enough for tht
present. II will prepare him for tht
slimax-civest his mind from all posi-
Die suspicion of trickery in the chic
event when il comes. must not cause
aim to set close watch on me Tel
him when you meet him next that
ave been TO sleep and that am de
.idedly better"
On the seventh day Of their voyage
on entering the state-room suddenly
Mrs. Nolan discovered Mrs. Goddard II
he act of placing a little folding deck
stool into the closet.
What is that for?" she questioned.
You don't suppose I am going e
stand up in there all the nme an
locked in, do you?" smiled Mrs God
1ard There is not room enough q
lie down and an emergency might oc
eur In which Id Nave 70 stand Till II
irop in sheer exhaustion. ! am awful
" glad the air comes in AZ the top
Vow. Just for experiment, III sit dowE
and then YOU must lock me in "
Mrs Nolan consented readily. Sh'
seemed better at rehearsals than q
performances.
Owing TO the shallowness OF th
closet Mrs, Goddard wac obliged 70 81
adewiss, but she looked very comfort
die as she leaned back against he
gowns and skirts
Now. close the door" she said. An,
when this was done no one entering
the room al that instant would hav
imagined that the apartment con
aimed more than one woman.