The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-03-14

plaint,' she went on. "In fact, I
make up my mind to put up with
great many horrible things at sea.
But, captain, is there not IA decided
feeling among the sailors that we will
never get into port alive?"
"Why, madam" He opened his
eyes wide with establishment. Il don't
understand you. Surely"
II have always heard they were SUI
perstitious people by nature" she
broke in. "Now Lucy, here, has been
trying to pacify me all day; but she is
lying to me. I am sure my husband
instructed her to keep me in the dark"
The captain glanced past her and
tried to catch Mrs. Nolan's glance,
but this woman was looking off in the
opposite direction, her face deathly
white, and twitching with excitement.
You were saying that the sailors
are superstitious by nature" he
foundered about in his effort to APP
pear both respectful and to get at her
meaning.
YES, and you see, passing so many
dead bodies of men, women and chill
cant 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.
Il am going to my stateroom and
try to sleep, but what does closing my
eyes amount to? I can see them lust
the same"
The captain was on his feet almost
as soon as she was and he walked
with her to the door of her room.
Then, with face much disturbed, he
came back to Mrs. Nolan. He put his
finger on his brow significantly.
~"Something is wrong with her." he
said, in the peremptory tone of SUI
perior to one beneath him; "what is
it?'
ut is not at all serious, sir" STAN
mered Mrs. Nolan. "She doesn't talk
that way often"
did you know her mind was-was 50
when you left America with herr"
"She told me she had strange feelings
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., but that the
ocean always cured her"
docs her family know of her condi-
tion?"
Mrs. Nolan shook her head doubt
fully.
II think not, sir, it seems to me she
was leaving home to keep them from
finding out the truth"
"Ah!'he sat silent for a moment, then
he rose. IF she is not better soon you
must let me know, do you under
stand?"
II will do so, sir; but l am sure she
will give us no trouble. will 90 see if
she wants anything.'
When Mrs. Nolan reached the state
room she found her companion on the
bed smiling from a rigidly expectant
face; her eyes were cleaning with half.
amused fear. She drew Mrs. Nolan
down on the edge Of the bed.
"What did he say after left?"
Mrs. Nolan repeated the conversa.
ton
"Good!' exclaimed the recumbent
woman. THAT is quite enough for the
present. 1t will prepare him for the
climax-divest his mind from all posi-.
bic suspicion Of trickery an the chief
event when it comes. I must not cause
him to set close watch on me. Tell
him when you meet him next that l
have been to sleep and that I am de.
cidedly better'
On the seventh day of their VOYAGE,
on enter ng the state-room suddenly
Mrs. Nolan discovered Mrs. Goddard in
the act of placing little folding deck
stool into the closet.
What is that for?" she questioned.
You don't suppose I am going to
stand up in there all the time l am
locked in, do you?" smiled Mrs God
dard. There is not room enough to
lie down and an emergency might oc-
cur in which Id have to stand till I'd
drop in sheer exhaustion. am awful
~ glad the air comes in at the top.
Now, just for experiment, I'll sit down
and then you must lock me i'm
Mrs. Nolan consented readily. She
seemed better at rehearsals than at
performances.
Owing to the shallowness of the
closet Mrs. Goddard was obliged to sit
sidewise, but she looked very comfort
able as she leaned back against her
gowns and skirts.
"Now, close the door," she said. And
when this was done no one entering
the room at that instant would have
imagined that the apartment con-
tanned more than one woman
There is plenty of air, too," chuckled
the prisoner when she was liberate
Now, for all you do, don't leave the
room while the stavorSoee &c mt IN y.