Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-06-05

he has determined to bury her at once
toll ight-before the passengers get
: wind of her DEATH"
"Bury her!' / gasped.
Don't you understand? Throw her
into the sea, cased in 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 trials?"
mo evidence has been found that she
possesses any friends either in Glas-
gov or elsewhere. She came on board
with only two small portmanteaus and
n steamer trunk In these not trace
of her identity has been gained"
"But, still" began.
Monsieur Guijean cut me short
81 know what you would say. To
fling her into the sea like this is hor-
ror My friend, the second officer, is
grinding his teeth. But he can do moth
Ing. The captain-you've seen him.
with his red whiskers and his burly
frame, and his arrogant Scotch scowl--
Is imperious and also impervious. The
funeral Qf one may dignity it by such
name) will take place at midnight
am sworn to secrecy by the second
officer, though | told him might break
my word to you, because of the interest
that poor creature has reused in you"
interest" I groaned. "Say, rather
Unreasonable pity! Think" went on
what an anguish this brutal burial
may cause to parents, sisters brothers
possibly to some one of nearer and
dearer relation-who may now be
awaiting her arrival in Scotland!
Monsieur Guijean nodded.
'The second officer has pleaded with
the captain in just those terms. But
he is not only boOr Of vulgarity. He
Is also a bigot of grossest supersti-
ton"
Superstition
eyes, in this way: He believes that
to carry corpse on the ship will bring
it Ill luck"
"And he cannot be reasoned out of
this folly?'
Can the despotism of a cyclone be
|
have it so; that is all If you are on
the lower deck by midnight you will
see the burial. ! shall he there The
captain may not like it, but he will not
presume to oppose your presence other
wise than by one of his grim scowls."
Within few minutes of IL, the prep
arations had begun. Ny heart thumped
m n on To-
pany of Monsieur Guijean, to certain
| dim lighted portion of the lower deck.
Six or seven sailors were standing
| about long pine box. A few passen-
| gers, all men, had already gathered
here, having learned the grisly news,
heavens knew how. The second officer
stood near the captain, his head bowed.
The captain with suppressed wrath and
disgust was murmuring to him certain
gruf words which l wholly failed to
catch. In another instant he gave the
sailors commanding gesture Three
of them went nimbly forward and
loosed broad segment of the taffrail.
Soon between ourselves and the vast
starlit ocean there spread an open space
might has tossed you into eternity.
Then came silence. All was ready.
"Horrible! | heard Guijean whisper
in my ear. The swash and rustic of
the tranquil water, plowed by our
speeding ship, gave to the stiffness an
| accent of awe.
| The captain raised his hand A man
I M l.
sob. Four sailors lifted the box. AS
they did so long, soft, voluminous
| grOan issued from it. The men, about
! to tumble it into the sea, dropped it
with sudden crash.
Il Will not be cast overheard like
this. Carry me to the friends who wait
for me! / implore it, command it,"
These words, clear and infinitely
| plaintive, came from the box on which
all our eyes were fixed. From two or
three of those assembled broke a horri-
fed cry For myself l clutched the
arm of Guijean In an agony of alright.
But he almost shook my grasp away
and hurried to the captain.
staggered backward. Through the
bewlderment of my horror l next re-
call seeing the captains white face
glistening with sweat, while some one
"a sailor, doubtless) rained AK, strokes
upon the wooden box. Presently |
reeled forward again. Everybody was
peering into the shattered Golfer, and
peered likewise. Some one had brought
a lantern, and its rays fell full upon
the woman within. The doctor of the
ship had stod among us all the time.
He raised in his arms thep rome shape.
Its eyere were closed; its limbs were
stiff. The face, If marble sculpture,
could not have been deathlier.
And yet-she 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 absolutely dead" he NUT
tered. mot a sign of life-not the
faintest sign"
The captain now seemed terribly agi-
| tinted. | saw him wave his hands to