The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-03-29

all the while, crouched beside her
tempting her."
'The captain" my new acquaintance
went on, lis furious. Our voyage to
Glasgow will not be brief one, and he
has determined to bury her at once
to-night-before the passengers get
wind of her DEATH"
Bury herr / gasped.
Don't you understand? Throw her
into the sea, cased in a pine box, with
some stone or leaden weights that will
instantly sink it,"
But her friends in Glasgow / hur-
ried. might not such an act prove
to them the severest of trlals?"
mo evidence has been found that
she possesses any friends either in
Glasgow or elsewhere. She came OH
board with only two small portman-
teaus and steamer trunk. In these
not trace of her identity has been
gained"
But still began.
Monsieur Guijean cut me short.
NM" p" haL yOu nVdid Guy. l. "
fling her into the sea like this is n
horror. My friend, the second officer
is grinding his teeth. But he can do
nothing. The captain-you've seen
him, with his red whiskers and burly
frame, and his arrogant Scotch scowi
lis imperious and also impervious.
The funeral Qf one may dignity it by
such name) will take place at mid
night. l am sworn to secrecy by the
second officer, though / told him l
might break~my word to you, because
of the interest that poor creature has
reused in YOU"
INTEREST," groaned. "Say, rather,
Unreasonable pity! Think" 1 went
on, what an anguish this brutal burial
may cause to parents. sisters. broth
ers-possibly to some one of nearer and
dearer relation-who may now be
awaiting her arrival in Scotlandv'
Monsieur Guijean nodded.
'The second officer has pleaded with
the captain in just those terms. But
he is not only a. boor of vulgarity. He
is also a bigot OF grossest supersti-
tion''
Superstition
Eyes. in this way: He believes that
to carry corpse on the ship will bring
it i'll luck"
"And he cannot be reasoned out Of
this folly?"
Can the despotism of cyclone be
reasoned cut of it's savagery? He will
have it so; that is all. If you are en-
the lower deck at midnight you will
see the burial. l shall be there. The
not presume to oppose your presence
otherwise than by one of his grim
scowls."
Within a few minutes of IL the
preparations had begun. Ny heart
thumped against my side. as 1 stole.
in the company OF Monsieur Guijean
to certain dim lighted portion of the
lower deck. Six or seven sailors were
stanNng about a long pine box. A few
passengers, all men. had already gath
cred here. having learned the grisly
news. Heaven knew how. The sec
ond officer stood near the captain, his
head bowed. The captain with sup
pressed wrath and disgust, was MUIR
muring to him certain gruff words
which wholly failed to catch. In an
ether instant he gave the sailors n
commanding gesture. Three of them
went nimbly forward and loosed a
broad segment of the taffrail. Soon
between ourselves and the vast starlit
ocean there spread an open space
across which the least chance stumble
might have tossed you into eternity.
Then came silence. All was ready.
"IIorriblew I heard Guijean whisper
In my car The swash and rustic of
the tranquil water. plowed by our
speeding ship. gave 10 the stiffness an
accent Of awe.
The captain raised his hand. A man
near me turned away with an audible
sob. -Four sailors lifted the box. AS
they did so long. soft. voluminious
groan issued from il. The men, ahoutl
TO tumble it into the sea, dropped it
with Il sudden crash.
Il will not be east overheard like
his. Garry ME to the friends who wait
for mel. ! implore i'll command it!'
These words, clear and infinitely
plaintivc, came from the box on which
NIL our eyes were fixed. From two or
three of those assembled broke a hor-
rilied cry. For myself. clutched the
arm Of Gnijean in an agony of alright.
But he almost shook my grasp away
and hurried to the captain.
/ staggered backward. Through the
of the horror / next re-
call seeing the captains white face
with sweat. while some one,
Ia sailor, doubtleSsl rained axe strokes
upon the wooden box. Presently j
reeled forward again. Everybody was
peerins into the shattered Golfer, and
[ peered likewise. Some one had
brought Il lantern, and its rays fell full
upon the woman within. The doctor
Of the ship had stood among US all
he time. He raised in his arms the
prone shape. Its eyes were closed; It's
limbs were stiff. The face, II marble
sculpture. could not have been death
Iier.
And ye,-shc had spoken! 1t must
have been she. for we had all heard
her. The doctor parted from her breast
The garments which clothed IT. and
rested his ear against her heart.
.Dead-ubsolutcly dead" he NUT
I--cd. Not sign of life-not the
fAiutcst sign.
The captain naw seaInCd icTTiblY