The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-08-23

mind to go on board the same steamer
for had an instructive feeling that he
would prove a real friend. | went down
| Immediately into the ladies' cabin, when
was almost empty, and chose berth for
myself In the darkest corner. 1t was not
far from the door, and presently two
other ladies came down, with a gentle
man and the captain, and held an anxious
parley close to me-
"Is there any danger2" asked one Of
the ladies.
"Well, | cannot say positively there
I will be no danger" answered the cap
tain; there's not danger enough to keep
me and the crew In port: but 1t will be
very dirty night in the Channel. OF
course we shall use extra caution, and
all that sort Of thing. No; | cannot say
| expect any great danger"
But 1t will be awfully roughT 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 bewidered me, and 1t was
almost a pleasure to lie still and listen
to the din and uproar of the sea. Was
myself or no2 Was this nothing more
than a very vivid dream, from which
should awaken by and by to find myself
prisoner still, creature as wretched
and frlendless as any that the streets of
London contained?
l watched the dawn break through
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 | was alone, with the blending light
of the early dawn and that of the lamp
burning feebly from tho ceiling. | sat
up In my berth and cautiously unstitched
the lining of my jacket. Here, months
ago, when | first began to foresee this
emergency, and whilst | was still allow
ed the use of my money, | had concealed
one by one a few fYe-pound notes. |
counted them over, eight of them; forty
pounds in all, my sole fortune, my only
means Of living. True, had diamond
ring and a watch and chain, but how diff
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 eao was growing brighter,
and glitte ed here and there in spots
where the sunlight fell upon 1t. | 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 | was! how poor! with neith-
er home nor friend in the wOrld!-
a mere castsway upon the waves of this
troublous life!
MAN zelle is a brave sailor" said
voice behind me, which | recognized as
my seaman of the night before but we
shall be in port soon.
what port?" l asked.
"St. Peter-port," he answered. "Mam'
zelle, then, does not know cur islands"
mo" l said. Where is st. Peter
portY"
I'm Guernsey" he replied. IF you
were going TO land at st. Peter-port l
might be OF some service to you"
l looked at him steadily. His voice
was a very pleasant one, full Of tones
that went straight to my heart. His face
was bronzed and weather beaten, but his
deep-set eyes had steadfast. quiet pow
er In them, and his mouth had a pleas
ant curve about it. He looked middle
aged man to me. He raised his cap as
my eyes looked straight into his, and a
faint smile fitted across his grave face.
II want" l said suddenly, to find a
place where l can live very cheaply.
have not much money, and must make
it last long time. Can you tell me OF
such a placed"