The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-04

MON
wove tale about the blue eyed silent
| officer pacing the lonely deck-how anx-
| ions he was TO do something for the lit
| tie invalid; how eagerly he had gone and
| ordered for her and superintended the
| preparation OF that dainty little supper:
! how he had hidden the stewardess TO
| stay by her and soothe her and was
| deeply Interested High and low, rich and
| poor they love romance, these tender
| hearts and for that reason, doubtless. no
reference did Nine Flores make OF the IS
| gold piece that had found its way 10 her
ready palm.
And he spoke Spanish beautifully, did
the Senor Teniente." said Nine. Flores.
whereat did Panchas heart begin TO
futter anew, for that meant that he
must have heard and understood her
pfeadfugs.
And so IL happened that till long after
midnight the child lay wide eyed and
awake listening 10 that steady. meas
and sad and eventful had been that young
life thus far. What strange, new thing
had fate In store for her now?
The Idaho dropped anchor at San Lucas
and put off a passenger and took on the
mails--two bags. with TANKS as nat as
the sandy strand on which the long,
white line of breakers beat in ceaseless,
glistened under the sunshine OF anosher
day. and late in the afternoon one or two
pallid and attentuated shapes were aided
to the deck where Pancha had been re-
clning ever since noon. and the captain
had come and rallied her upon her big.
pathetic eyes and hollow cheeks and
coaxed her to promise 10 play her guitar
that evening and the purser had been
polite, and the stewardess had brought
up an appetizing lunch and Colonel Turn
bull had put In an appearance toward
| sundown-a grewsome face was his-and
| all this time Mr. Loring was either brisk
| ly pacing the deck or reading in a shell
] tered nook back OF the pursers cabin. but
never once did he address her or intrude
| upon her meditations. Pancha's spirits
! and courage--or was II innate coquetry?
| began TO ferment. That evening no
fewer than five passengers appeared al
table. though all Ave did not remain
| through the several courses.
That evening Pancha was again tucked
| in her chair. and Cousin Inez was aideo
| from her room and placed beside her, and
| very attentive was Mr. Traynor, the
| purser, though fair Inez was but lam
guild and unresponsive still and kept her
veil about her face. and Colonel Turnbull
came and poured champagne for both
with lavish hand and vowed II was
specific against further assaults OF the
salty seas, and still Mr.. Loring never
| spoke a word with the sparkling sun
| shine OF yet another day the little maid
was early on the shining deck. fresh from
its matutinal ablutions, and there was
Loring taking his early exercise. strld
ing up and down. up and down, and
drinking in the glorious. inYigorating sea
| air, but even now he came no nearer
| and she who feared at first 10 venture
| TO her accustomed seat lest he might
take advantage Of her solitude and come
and ask things or say things she could
not bear TO hear finally sidled along one
side. while he was patrolling the other.
made her timid way TO the stern and
stood there clinging 10 the fiagstan and
became absorbed In the rush OF foaming.
boiling waters unrollng gradually mar
rowing streak OF dazzling white through
the blue green waste OF billows, ali
sparkling In the santing sunshine
Wheeling In tapping circles overhead.
skimming the crested waves. settline
down and lazily floating on the heavinR
flood so many dots OF snow upon the
sapphire. the flock OF guls sailed onward
| with tho ship, white scavengers of the
sea, and sometimes dropped so close
| 20 the rail on wide extended wing thai
Pancha could plainly see the eager little
| red beads of eyes, could almost bury her
soft cheek in the thick plumage OF their
fieecy breasts. Away out toward the
| invisible coast three master was bowl
ing along under full speed Of canvas. and
| midway between some huge black FISH
were plunGing through the swelling brine
Early as IL was the deckhands had cast
astern the stout trolling line. and far In
their wake the spinning. silvery bait came
! leaplng and flashing from the northward
slope of each succeeding wave and Pan
cha, who had seen the previous day a
dolphin hauled I'm 10 die In swiftly chang
ing brilliant hues upon the deck tested
the taut lanyard with her slender fingers.
wondering whether she alone could tri-
umph over the frantic struggles OF the
| splendid nsh. or what she would do n
| she found she could not.
II was an hour 20 breakfast time. only
Loring and herself had yet appeared on
deck. and she stole n peep az him. There
he was trampng up and down. as
though he had TO finish thousand
APPS within a given time and stood
at least n hundred laps behind.
Four days earlier the child look
ed with terror TO the possibility 81 his
even drawing near her. Now sne was be
ginning 90 wonder u he never would
again Five days before she could have
sobhed her heart out. praying not 10 he
subjected 20 the possibility OF his asking
her n question Now she was wondering
" he did not even care 20 ask. II indeed
she would ever have a chance 20 tell.
She did not know. poor little maid. that
] late the previous evening. after consults.