The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-16


He was the most disagreeable man on
board. and if it had not been for the
child. there was scarcely another pas
senger who would have troubled to speak
to him
His name was entered on the ships
log as James Stirling Games Stirl-
Ing and child'-but beyond the fact that
Stirling was the mans name, and that
a child was with him. no one knew any
thing whatever about him.
Our ship was the Arethusa, of the P.
& o. line, and / was the ships doctor
Stirling and the child came on board at
Bombay.
The man wore shabby clothes, and was
very rough to lcok at. He was the sort
of person who might have gone as a
steerage passenger. but strange to say,
he travelled first. He had a fourth berth
stateroom on the first deck for himself
and the child. and this room was in the
most central position.
The child was scarcely three years old
and Stirling made himself regular nurse
to her. She was not a bit afraid of
him. although he was as repulsive look
ing man as ever seen. His face was
horribly marked and scanned with small
pox, his nose was wide and turned I'D.
his mouth was still wider with great
coarse lips. His eyes were so deeply
sunk into his head that they were
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 most forbidding express
sion, and constant scowI between his
brows
The child was very bright little crea-
ture, a perfect contrast to him. She was
shrewd and clever for her tender years,
and could talk quite well. It was the
most pathetic and at the same time
comical thing in the world to see her
calling him beauty" and beauty dear"
Then she would stroke his disfgured
cheeks. and press her velvet lips to his.
AS she sat on his knee, her baby chatter
went on incessantly.
Stirling was entirely devoted to the
child-he was her playmate, nurse, and
father in one. When he entered the din
Ing saloon little Victoria always sat
perchth upon his shoulder. 1t was use
less to suggest that babies dined at a
separate table. Victoria sat with Stirling
and dined with him or not at all. During
meals she sat on his knee while he fed
her with the daintiest tit-bits he could
lay hands on. She made a perfect pic
ture seated thus with her fair head
pressed against his breast. The man was
dressed roughly, but little Victoria was
dainty in her clothing, and the ladies on
board were all much attracted by the
bright little creature. 1t was useless
however, to lavish affectionate or friend
Iy words on her. To all endearments
she had but one forru or reply.
NO, no-go way, natty lady, Vic 'tay
with Beauty-Dear. Viv not go to natty
lady"
Neither bon-bons nor seductive words
would induce her to stir from the safe
shoulder of beauty dear and by and
by the ladies on board the .ausa
left her alone.
But one day strange thing happened
Little Victoria lay and cried in her state
cabln-she cried necessarily. and SOFTLY
10 herself, and at last the stewardess
came in search of me-
Dr. Grant, she said, there is some
thlng wrong with little Miss in cabin
a. You know the baby child who he.
iongs l TO Mr.. Stirling She is lying in her
perth 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 Stirling" | asked
l don't know, sir. L never saw the
enid deserted before She won't touct
ner Drea kfast-they are a queer pair
both of them" P-
forgotten the child" 1 made answer
will go and look for hfm-ha +
probably on deck or in the smoking
ROOM" 8
But though I searched the smolzino
ROOM there was no Stirling. and thouoI
Went from end to end of the deck
lei1ner could | find him. At last. insr
was ABOUT to return to inform
MIS-. Harrs of my nOn-success a ro,1oF
mana stretched itself out from an mn
expected hlding-place between the ,,nna,
ana the lower deck and Stirling dro,yoreF
me towards him. % -
OF God sake come and speak 70 mo
Dr' Grant; l did not dare to send .
messenger for you. l have got If apc
& 1lie eHlIu must have nothing more to az
win me Put me anywhere away fro,,-
the other passengers. 1 am snre 70 = an Ti,
nul that does not matter. | am on1r
ClllnklhS about the child She is no. =,
IecIed so far. hoped that we rotor,,
nave reached England first. bnt T. vT,a.
NOT the VIII Of the Almighty. For csodss
aShe ma some corner for me where
may be isolated
asked. with your
There was no one near ar tba r,o
TO hsten to our words. (which
.y,ttot oN at me doctor he made renlv
t5 mI1at DO 1 look like? Healthy and
handsome, aye" il"S' aho
wbat lou a. look & III, very Ill.," I replied. .BYt
~ Oh rear
de bent forward ana u,bi-,,
started and felt nyseIf fprni'Io. d word
No l said, Impossible ;, p''e
POSSIBLE, very: In fact-oar+,.
was exposed to the infection inst hafov1
ledVlng for England A friend of s..
Gled , OF it He left the child in NV namo a,.ie
ne enid was not infected then ana 81 I.
- not infected now. VIII someone a1~o ,1..o
look after her?" else
Then she is not your child"
en- AN expression of ageny crossed his
am taking her home to her mother >,
s"iu once she is nut into her
nan1ot 1l5qI,let care my sorrows cease. II
she IS not my child, but I love ba, -. ~ r
love no other creature on earth To+
someone take care of her. and npt No
Where can be out of the wav.'
stay where you are for a poonoa,+ -,
tmo' l answered. rushed off to where
Nrs' Harris the stewardess. was wait
ing for me. vas wait
DO what you can for the child -
said. IN be back presently"
saw the captain in his state-roon,
and told him briefly what had oocnrret
what he cried "a case of R,ho,,.-
plague on board-Good Godr :
"hatever happens. Captain" 7 made
answer: answer we must keep panic at bav
Ihere IS that cabin in the stern of tbs
Iower deck which is unoccupied. STAT
room roc No. I it is quite out of the way
!! nave Stirlmg conveyed there
He had no right to come ~, -.
after subjecting himself to infsotso1, ts eosru q
said Captain Ross. The whole thi,,er IN,
otsgFaeeful-and the chiId.-you saw tbs
LUG tin,, J.. was subjected to the same infec-
he says the child is safe"
- sac % said the Captain, he would saw
- 20 screen her. LIE must he rIosa,..