Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-11

course we shall use extra caution, and
all that sort of thing. No; l cannot say
l expect any great danger"
But it will be awfully rough" said
the gentleman.
1t was very stormy and dismal as soon
as we were out of Southampton water,
and in the rush and swirl of the Chan
mel. 1t did not alarm me. so much as it
distracted my thoughts. My hasty escape
had been so unexpected, so unhOped for,
that it had bewildered me, and it was
almost a pleasure to lie still and listen
to the din and uprOar of the sea. Was |
myself or no? Was this nothing more
than very vivid dream, from which l
should awaken by and by to find myself
a prisoner still, a creature as wretched
and friendless as any that the streets of
London contained?
l watched the dawn break through a
little portfolio opening upon my berth,
which had been washed and beaten by
the water all the night long The stew
ardess had gone away early in the night
SO l was alone, with the blending light
of the early dawn and that of the lamp
burning feebly from the ceiling. l sat
up in my berth and cautiously unstitched
the lining of my jacket. Here, months
ago, when l first began to foresee this
emergency, and whilst l was still allow
ed the use of my money. had concealed
one by one a few fve-pOund notes.
counted them over, eight of them forty
pounds in all, my sole fortune, my only
means of living. True had a diamond
ring and watch and chain, but how diffi-
cult and dangerous it would be for me
to sell either of them. Practically my
means were limited to the eight notes of
five pounds each.
As the light grew l left my berth and
ventured to climb the cabin steps. The
fresh air smote upon me almost pain
fully. The sea was growing brighter,
and glittered here and there in spots
where the sunlight fell upon it. stayed
on deck in the biting wind, leaning over
the wet bulwarks and gazing across the
| desolate sea till my spirits sank like lead.
was cold, and hungry. and miserable.
How lonely l was. how poor! with neith-
| er home nor a friend in the world
mere castaway upon the waves of this
| troublous life.
Nam zelle is a brave sailor" said
| voice behind me, which l recognized as
my seaman of the night before; but we
/ shall be in port soon"
What port?' asked.
/ st Peter-port." he answered. "Mam'-
zelle. then. does not know our islands,"
NO" said. Where is St. Peter
port:"
In Guernsey" he replied. IF you
were going TO land at st. Peter-port
might be Of some service 10 YOU"
l looked at him steadily. His voice
was q very pleasant one. full of tones
that went straight to my heart. His face
was br0uzed and weather-beaten, but his
/ deep-Set eyes had 4 steadfast. quiet pow
er in them, and his mouth had a pleas
ant curve about it. He looked a middle
aged man 70 me. He raised his cap as
my eyes looked straight into his, and Il
! faint smile Fitted across his grave face.
- want" I said suddenly, TO find a
! place where l can live very cheaply. |
have not much money. and l must make
/ it last a long time. Can you tell me Of
/ such 4 place.
You would want a place dt for 4
lady?" he said.
own work. What sort Of place do you
and your wife live ing
My poor little wife is dead" he 0n-
swereI. We live in Sark, my mother
and L am fisherman, but / have also
4 little farm. Ii is true we have one
room to spare, which might do for mann
zelle; but the island is far away, and in
the winter Sark is too mournful."
1t win be just the place | want" |
said quicklQ; 1t would suit ME exactly.
Can you let me so there st once? VIII
you take me with youI"
"Mam'-zelle." he replied, smiling, ''the
room must De made ready for you. and
must speak 10 my mother. II God sends
us fair weather l viii come back TO ST.
Peter-port for you in three days My
name is Tardif. You can ask the people
} in Peter-pOrt what sort OF man Tsrdit
Of the Havre GoSselin is"
Il do not want any one to tell me wha;
sort or . man you are" said. holding
! out my hand. He took It with an sir o.
! friendly protection
What is your name, mam'zeIleTr hf
. ~. hired.
oh. my name IS Olivia said
. went below, iRexpress;bly satisfied
and eonlforted. What il was in this mar