The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-02-02
FOR THE SUNDAY REpueryc.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBITC.
He was the most disagreeable man on
board. ard II 1t had not been for the child,
there was scarcely another passenger who
would have troubled TO speak 10 him..
His name was entered on the ships log
as James Stirling"-"James Stirling and
ch!ld"-but beyond the fact that Stirling
was the mans name. and that a child was
with him.. nc one knew anything whatever
about him.
Our ship was tho "Arethusa" OF the p.
& o. line. and I was the ships Doctor.
Stirling and the child came on board at
Bombay
The man wore shabby clothes. end was
very rough to look at. He was the sort OF
person who might have gone as steerage
passenger, but strange to say. he Travelled
first He had n four-herth- stateroom on
the first deck for himself and the child. and
this room was in the most central position.
Tho child was scarcely s years old.
and Stirling made himself a regular nurse
TO her. She was not n bit afraid OF him.
althouLh he was rs repulslve looking a man
a. have ever seen. His face was horri-
bly, marked and scanned with smallpox. his
nose was wide and turned up. his mouth
was still wider with great coarse lips. HIS
ewes were 70 deeply sunk into his head thal
they we're scarcely visible, his forehead was
very low. and his hair coarse and grizzly.
In addition TO the homely nature of his fea-
lures. he had a most forbiddtng expression,
and a constant scowl between his brows.
The child was q very bright little crea-
ture. a perfect contrast to him. She was
shrewd and clever for her tender years. and
could talk quite well. 1t was the most pa
the,ic and at the same time comicai tning
in the world TO see her curling herself up
in this ugly brute's arms, and calling him
"heauty' and beauty dear" Then she
would stroke his disflgured cheeks. and
press her velvet lips to his. As she sat on
his knee. her baby chatter went on inces-
sanity. -.
stirling wa, entirely devoted to the child
-he was her playmate. nurse ano rather III
one. When he entered the dining saloon
little Victoria always sat perched up on his
shoulder. It was useless to suggest that ba-
bies d,ncd at a separate table. Victoria sat
with Stirling and dined with him or not at
ell. During meals she sat on his knee while
he fed her with the daintiess tit-bits he
could lay his hands on. She made a perfect
picture seated thus with her fair head
pressed against his breast The man was
dressed roughly. but little Victoria was
dainty in her clothing, end the ladies on
board were all much attracted by the bright
little creature. It was useless. however. to
lavish anectfonate or friendly words on her.
To all endearments she had but one form OF
reply.
NO. no-ko way, natty lady. Vic 'tay
with Beauty-Dear. Vic not 70 to natty
lady
Neither bon-bons nor seductive words
would induce her to stir from the safe
shelter Of beauty DEAR" and by and by
the ladies on hoard the Arethusa left her
alone.
But one day a strange thing happened.
Little Victoria lay and cried in her state
cabin-she cried necessarily. and softly to
herself. and at last the stewardcss came
IN search Of me.
Doctor Grant she said. there is some
thing wrong with little Miss In cabin ~.
You know the baby child who belongs to
AR. Stirling? She In lying IN her berth with
her face turned to the wall. and won't
speak to anybody: she cries all the time
and is quite alone"
But where is StirlingT' I asked.
Il don't know. sir. I never saw the child
deserted before. She won't touch her
breakfast-they are a queer pair. both Of
them
1T is odd that Stirling should have for
gotten the child" ] made answer. Y will
60 and look for him-he I, probably ON
deck or In the smoking-room."
But though ! searched the smoking-room
there was no Sterling. and though / went
from end TO end of the deck. neither could
] find him. Al last. tust as I was about
TO return to inform Mrs. Harris of my
nonsuccess. a rough hand stretched itself
out from an unexpected hiding place be-
tween the upper and the lower deck. and
Stirling dragged me toward him..
For Gods sake come and speak to me.