The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-06
CHAPTER XII.

3
at her and her awful plight
She finally rose from her recumbent
position, and slowly managed TO walk
to the stern OF the vessel. Leaning upon
her arms on the taffrail. she gazed out
into tho fast gathering dusk.
What would IL all come to? Her mind
whirled as she thought of the prospect.
To be that man's-phaugh! could IL pc
possible that such things could be
permitted? And yet she feared that what
Cunningham had said was but TOO true,
Women counted for little IN this part
of the world.
"My Godl NV God Better to end II
here and ncw.: she said half aloud, as
she looked out on to the still water
of tho harhor, and then down at the
boat floating idly at tia stern.
At this moment her thoughts were IN
terrupted by soft voice at her elbow.
"Dis Miss Montague, aint it?'
She turned quickly to sec tho negro
that had been left to guard the schooner
and her.
The man stood in respectful altitude.
his old straw hat in his hand, his great.
soft animal-lille eyes fixed upon her.
Yes I am Miss Montague" she re-
piled, wondering what the man could
want with her, and yet treasured by his
air.
you don remember mo, Miss Kate!"
The girl hestated.
no" she replied, after wracking her
brain. mo, l am sorry to say that I
do not. Where have ! seen your
You save de life OF my little gal. My
name Price. use work on de planta-
ton, live down beyon' dc sugar house..
20. remember now! The little girl
11o t,ar rnu Kafa
plucking up courage.
Yes. mistress. Rosetta was her name.
Mistress In great trounle?" he added,
stepping nearer to her.
Great trouble, Price was the tremb-
ling reply
Il goin' to help Yer. mistress"
You! Q, Price
flush, mistress. You save my little
gals life. Dis Cunningham. know
him. He damn rascal. We get into
little boat astern and row ashore. I
know where. I hide you with some peo-
Pile, an he no find you. o, nor he
chuckled triumphantly.
'You will, Price, Thank Cod Thank
God!"
Come mistress. haul DO boat 'roun'
to de side an den you can get in. Den
we go shore an Cunningham he go
hang!"
He quickly unhtched the painter from
the stern, passed the boat alongside. and
making 1t fast, carefully helped the girl
to seat in the stern. It was now dark.
Quietly thrusting the oars into the row.
locks. with a few strokes of his brawny
black arms he sent the boat away from
the side Of the vessel and toward the
shore and liberty.
CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.. Montague sat upon his cool We
randa the day after the destruction OF Ill
feted ST. Pierre, awaiting his daily mall.
1t had been lowering and sultry. but as
the latter part of the afternoon ap-
It was always cool upon the veranda..
even in the hottest Of weather. and Mon
tague, relying upon Jennings proved
ability, took more and more Of his ease.
He had. he said. worked hard for nearly
thirty-f1ve years, had a great deal more
than enough to live on, and the plantn-
ton was making money all the time.
What moro could he ask. and why should
he slave himself when he had such a fine
young man to do 1t for him?
He sat and gazed out upon the superb
expanse of land and sea in front of him,
and had settled back comfortably In his
chair. when the servant, riding Hates
chestnut mare, came cantering up to the
stable with the mail bag slung over his
shoulder.
Mr. Monta que reused himself and, as
the man came forward, took the contents
Of the bag from him.
He looked over the small pile OF let
tiers, selected one from Kate, and, open
ing 1t, commenced to read.
"rhe little woman has no time to
write" no said to himself. as he ran
through the pages. when It is not too
hot they are very gay down there. This
spot will seem terribly slow to her. /
fear after SO much gayety. All, we'll.
she Is young and life Is at it's beginning.
Let her get all there is out of It,"
He put the letter back in its envelope
and laid it upon the table by his side.
1.-THE others can walt" he said, half
aloud, as he took UP the paper. "Now
lot us see-Good God!-" but the sentence
remained unfinished. for he had read the
dreadful headline telling OF the annihila-
ton of st. Pierre. His hand dropped
nervously by his side, his eyes were star
| ing into vacancy.
1t was in this position that etalph
| found him when he came up from MS
bath In the river.
"Mr. Montague! What Is the matter,
sr?" he asked, breathlessly.
| At first the older man could make no
answer. Then. raising the paper from the
floor where it had dropped, ne pointed
with shaking hand to the page when con-
| tdlneQ the aWtul Ilc"S'
est, Pierre destroyed" cried Ralph. the
yeranda swimming before him. Good
| God Kate!"
choking, -
ashen his staring eyes il*ed upon the
| printed page before him: :,
'st, Pierre annihiated by me volcano!
he read Thirty thousand people -! Kll'eo
| a., J7ayu. II any, eSCapeQ.
He could read no more.
MY God Mr.. Montague; what can we
do? Kate He buried his face in his
hands. and then, with streaming eyes
and parched tongue. he looked up.
"Aye. lad. who could help it?" said the
other, duly. ;,
"But ! have asked her to , marry M me-"
manded the other, fercely =,
her 60 sTG How sn 19ua s help It t
when she returned" He choked ant
could not go on.
/ rnW--pOO0 God Eh