Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-02

40 sadly. The captain stopped to say
kind word to Agnes about being good
Samaritan, and added: "Do what you can
for her and the poor young mother. Her
father died few days ago; he lies in his
coffin on this ship. The mother is a con-
sumptive and is trying to get home with
her baby before she, too, dies and leaves
this little creature alone. God bless us!"
he exclaimed, what troubles some women
have to bear" and he was off again like
shot
With all the good work of nursing the
baby, and being kind to the mother, there
was ever uppermost the feeling "there is
no sorrow like my sorrow" She was very
young, and the trouble stayed with her by
day, overwhelming her at night. On Easter
even tropical hurricane came laundering
down upon them. Sails were carried away,
mast was shattered, two sailors were
hurt and the winds whistled at their dis
tress, whilst the waves threatened to en-
gulf the poor old ship Opiates were given
the sick mother and her baby, who, clasped
closely in each others arms and strapped
in their narrow berth, lay quietly as if in
the final sleep between coffin walls.
Agnes, fully dressed, lay mute with ter
ror, listening for the end, whatever it might
be, too frightened to cry, too awed to pray.
Her open eyes seemed to see her whole life
in pictures, which the lightning flashes re-
vealed one by one. O, the awfulness of that
night, unrelieved by prayer or companion
ship, till Sophie burst in the door, and.
kneeling beside the terrified girl, cried:
Save us, Lawd, or we pe'ish." Then tears
streamed from the eyes of these two wom-
en-. White and black they were, but one
in spirit, and with clasped hands and gentle
sympathy sustained each other till dawn
came, bringing sunshine, calm sea and
safety.
It was fully II o'clock before the gong
sounded for breakfast that morning. Its
first note found Sophie at the door, smiling
and saying:
'Mo'in', Miss Agnes! Chris is risun, and
so is we! De cap'en gwine ak blessin' dis
mo'in'. Come on, missy, yo' dom know
what yo' might git in de way OBJ guards,
flows and gifts, dis Dressed Yeaster mo in. :"
Nonsense, Sophie, VINO could send me
such things way out here on the great ocean,
and after such storm, too?'
de ways OBJ Providence is 'scrutable,"
quoted Sophie, and lifted the portiere for
Agnes to enter the saloon. Capt. lie Grand
rose at her entrance, as did all the passen-
gers, and thrilling prayer of thanksgiving
went up in holnely seaman fashion, which
brought tears to all eyes and hearty, sim
cere amens from every voice.
Gladness followed, and the saloon was full
of murmuring voices. Agnes was little
faint from WEAKNESS and was trying to get
to her seat, when the captain CALAMITY led
her to the chair beside him and placed her
in it, saying:
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, we may as
we'll give thanks for all our blessings, and
one is, that we have Miss Ducharme as
voyageur. Her presence has brought Easter
blessings, indeed, though our ships refrig
orator has been sorely taxed to preserve
them," and he laughed, gayly.
Agnes looked up, and what mass o1
beauty surrounded her. Flowers, fruit
books, pictures, dainty little gifts, some
thing from every friend in the dear ole
Crescent City,. with love for Agnes" Sht
was bewildered and almost fearful, but true
to her training chose a choice bud from
the lot, and pinning it on the captains blu'
coat begged the steward to do likewise fol-
each passenger.
Sophie came along with square, white
package, and importance written on every
line of her face.
"'Scuse me, cap'n," she said, 'but d
young gem'men tole me tub glib missy di'
at the correc' moment, and mus do it,
Agnes took the package, cut the string
and saw tiny note with line across it!
face:
"Read this when you are alone" It wa!
in Philips handwriting. She slipped it il
her pocket and unfolded yet more, to fine
Philip Barlow's face gazing up into her:
from the card, and on the margin, in thu
same characterize hand:
"Your Philip, if you will have it So" :
Her sight grew dim She clutched thu
picture tightly and half rose; her lips were
very white She would have fallen, had moi
the watchful Sophie caught her up. and
swiftly carried the unconscious girl to thu
safety of her cabin. Though Sophie wa!
good, it was but human that she should TAXI
the photograph from the girls hand, noe
very intell,gently, and then gently re
place it. -,-,------------ - - = - -.