The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-16

hoped that / might have reached Malta
before the disease broke out, for 1 guess
ed, of course, that I was infected / am
dying now, and I'll never see that little
angel again. atone for everything when
I die without seeing her. Oh, God! to
man like me could any punishment be
more! She is the one bit of humanity
that ever touched me-"
His voice trailed away to the faintest
whisper I gave him a stimulant, and
after little he said:
'Dosyou ask if l repent-no, not q bit
of it
sat with Stirling for hours. BY and
by went back to my cabin. Mrs tar-
rls met me with her face quite white,
and tears in her eyes
I'VE cannot find her anywhere, doctor.
Do you think the poor little dear could
have slipped over board?'
@oh. no, Mrs. Harris, she must be on
the ship"
well. sir, every sailor ON board is
searching high and low; we are all in
taking
The panic about little Victoria spread
rapidly, and by lunch time the saloon
passengers were in a state of excitement
They knew that Stirling was i'll, although
the real nature. of his illness was care
fully kept from them. One lady came TO
My little Doris is Victoria's age. If
the poor baby could be found she might
come to my cabin to play with Doris''
But Vics chosen playmates were of
different sort, a broken down and batter
ed doll, and broken-down and battered
man, black as pitch except for that little
streak of gold which his love for. her
caused to shine through his nature
Towards evening we entered some of
the cross currents off the coast of Malta
The wind rose and the "Arethusa'' was
tossed on the waves. In Strings cabin
the molten was felt good deal
The dying man was now in a state of
stupor, ana could scarcely be reused to
take nourishment L arranged once again
to spend the night with him
BY o'clock in the morning we should
reach Malta. Could he possibly live so
long?
Night settled down over the big liner,
and Stirling breathed heavily. About an
hour after midnight, he dropped into a
stiH deeper sluGlber. His breathing be-
came fainter, and once / bent towards
him, wondering if the last moment had
come AS / did so he started up, fresh
strength animated his frame. he opened
his eyes and looked around him-then he
uttered a laugh
1T is time for the Pussy CALL he said
How queer that 1 should have forgotten.
Little Victoria will wonder; well, never
mind, Victoria, better late than never
He half raised himself on his pillow.
and forming his lips into an TO-. he
began to make the queer purring sound
of large cat.
This curious noise had not continued
more than half minute before there
came ruStling from under the berth
and the next instant, to my horror,
little white face and a dirty white frock
appeared in EiPTv hafax sr9 o7o
ing a broken doll in her arms, looked
straight into the CHASTITY face of Stirling
Ise come, Beauty Dear said little
Victoria. sPussy's come; take l in your
arms, Beauty Dear. cause Use so tired
Before I could prevent him the man
leaps forward, snatched at the baby. got
her into his arms, and pressed her to mis-
heart.
Stay close to Beauty Dear, little Vic. :,
he said. Send Beauty Dear to Sleep,
Hush hush, Beauty Dear. Go sound
as'eep," said little Victoria.
But with that last embrace. and those
last words, Strings spirit departed 1t
was with some difficulty I could take
the child from his arms
Wonderful to relate, the poor habv
never took the plague. We reached Malta
the next morning Owing to quarantine
laws no one could come on board ana
Victoria's mother could only be seer az
the neighboring quay
But all in good time the little girl. well
ana nearly, was pressed in the loving
arms Of Mrs Angelo. When this toox
place the child looked very solemr,ly- ~
her mother.
Beauty Dear as'eep. Don't talk too
loud, mummy. Don't wake Beauty Dear.
Copyright in the United states Of
America by D. I. Pierce.