Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-02-08


china service, and a little sideboard
braced against the wall. Adjoining it
were bath and single-berth room.
Here" said Mrs. Goddard, opening
the door of closet about yard in
depth, us the gem of modern improve
ments. l can hang up my things and
they will keep dry and smooth. Be-
sides, the purser said there were but
two keys to it, and he has promised to
let me have both of them, for security;s
sake.''
Here they are" said Mrs. Nolan, tim
idly, and she cringed under Goddard's
sudden gaze. HE gave them to me just
now" 49,.
Mrs. Goddard laughed mysteriously.
Il told him I had some valuable
things which did not care to keep in
the safe in the Office, and he assured me
they would be absolutely safe in my
closet" 4
The brows of the major ran to gether
in perplexity.
What is at the bottom of this ?" he
said. "What sort of valuables do you
refer to-" ::
The woman addressed shrugged her
shapely shoulders.
"4our photograph, dear Rowland"
she said. II must not let it be stolen.
can't deposit such thing in the
ships safe, you know, and yet I want
1T with me, of course: But-now re-
member, if there ever is anything
which you cannot comprehend fully,
think of this closet and its two keys
and the puzzle will be solved.p. :.
You are so strange" he said, try.
ing to fall into her mood. just then
one of the deck hands came in with
Mrs. Nolan's steamer trunk and small.
er luggage. A large willow basket to
which was attached a card bearing
the advertisement of well-known
delicatessen establishment riveted the
rowing glance of the major. Noting
his curious stare at it, Mrs. Nolan
moved nearly to the door and stood
looking out at the Gathering machines
which were hosting vast loads of
trunks and boxes from the pier below.
1T is only basket of fruit I or
dered Lucy to get for me-" said Mrs.
Goddard, her face suddenly changing.
II always find that it is difficult to
get just the right kind of fruit one
wants on board, no matter how good
the supply isl So.
But" said the major, bending down
and removing the cover, ''they must
have made some mistake. This bas-
ket does not contain fruit: There GER
tainly are cans of meats, <sardines,;
pate de foies gras and rolls of boned
turkey They have sent you the
wrong basket 49,.
Mrs. Goddard laughed uneasily.
well, I may as we'll acknowledge
that it is something to eat: 1 did
not want you to know that I could
have such a ravenous appetite after
parting with you; but the truth is,
the sea air keeps me hungry all the
time. want to eat at night when
it doesn't look respectable to make
demands on the ships larder. Now,
come out on deck. It is stuffy in here.
The air will not be stirring till we
get out of the harbor."
Not fully satisfied with her Hurried
explanation, he followed her out on
the deck, and he dismissed the sub
ject as unworthy of comment at such
an important moment. They strolled
along the deck, now holding 50 or 60
passengers, most of whom, with seri-
GUS eyes, were regarding the crowd
assembled below. At last, the gong
which was the signal for those who
were not to sail to go :ashore-was
sounded, and Goddard grew actually
white a. he clutched. his wife's hand.
care you seasick?" she, tested.
"You know how this parting is kill
ing me-" he answered.
"Our meeting soon or never de-
ponds on you." was her quiet. firm re-
ply.
II fondly hope you will find some
other way" he said, in despair.
"You need not count on that, dear"
she said. "Now kiss me and CO."
AS he went down the gang plank he
had to hold to the railing to. be sure
of his foothold. Reaching the pier, he
stood in the ranks along the waters
edge, his eyes glued to single face
on the deck of the ship, which was be-
ginning to move. An old woman near
him, who was waving a farewell to
her daughter, was sobbing aloud; he
felt like crying, too, and but for the
smiling countenance he adored he
might have done so. He was the last
to leave the pier. When the Cleopatra
had vanished from sight he started
homeward. The difference between
his condition and that of his wifeswas
that she felt as if she were just en-
tering a state of freedom, while he
had sold himself into bondage, Of
body and soul.
It was five o'clock in the afternoon
when he reached Lyndhurst. He
heard Blanche singing as she sat at
the piano in the drawing-room, and
when he went in he saw Miss Dean
and Talley standing near her. They
all came towards him.
''We have been waiting tea for you.
Maj. Goddard" said Miss Dean, giving
him her hand; land we have planned
not to allow you to get blue, haven't