The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-21
CHAPTER v.


all pervading. Up and down the deck
OF the Dolphin, up and down, two fig
ures paced
One that OF a man. square-built.
white-bearded, energetic in movement;
the other woman. small of stature,
graceful of carriage. yelled and crepe
clad from head TO feet.
They were very silent. these two, as
they walked the length Of the ship
and back again-once. twice.
All day had turbulence rufTled the
breast of the mighty Atlantic. All day
had dark clouds gone scudding gloom.
lily over the sky. All day had the
winds wierd voices been muttering
aloft in the rigging.
And all day had rebellion ruled the
heart of the sailors. Dark frowns had
crossed and crowded their rugged,
sun-burned faces; from stem to stern
had their voices been Kissing and
whispering fierce discomfort.
And the lurid sun had at last gone
down in the waters blood red. And the
night was come.
II am sorry the weather is so I'M
pleasant the first evening you have
ventured on deck" the captain said to
his companion.
She put up one hand suddenly, and
flung her veil aside with a quick,
sitting cry.
Eyes, yes! what night II Is! And
yet, l could not stay below. IL feel
smothering! 1t is so still--so awfully
calm and still. and-and ominously OPP
pressiven
ut is ominous, this quiet" In mourn
full acquiescence. "The storm will be
upon Us soon. And--why, how you are
trembling! You have been III? l
thought so the first day you came on
board-when you fainted!"
II remember" YEARLY. II saw
face that"--speaking with an effort
shat was like another knew we'll
OF course there could be no connection
between the two, for he-he of whom
] speak, Is gentleman OF wealth and
position. while this man was only
only common sailor"
"On this ship?"
Eyes. | caught barely glimpse Of
him, but | was still weak from recent
illness, and II unnerved me-"
WAS it not rash to venture on SO
fatiguing a voyage SO soon?" he ques-
toned, kindly.
aOh," and the sweet. childish voice
was very low and heartsick, 81 wish
hadn't come! | don't know just how
Il happened that did! My father
died." with a queer break In the
young voice, very suddenly, and the
shock was too much for me. For
while l was ill--seriously Ill. When
recovered they told me-papa's old
friends-=th.:a.t: ! ;H;ii;uiss. . so 10 my grand
father. who wanted me-to America"
She lifted one slight hand and
brushed the soft hair off her forehead,
rs II its touch oppressed her.
Il refused at first to go; but they
talked SO, they argued so, they said he
was my only living relative, and--and
- Oh" with a long, quivering sigh,
@it seems all so vague and confused
10 me yet! But I camel"
my poor child"
And then for while again there
was silence.
"You are faint" the old captain
cried, suddenly, noticing with quick,
salf-renreach. her tagging step. az
have quite tired you out Forgive mel"
He drew forward camp stool and
made her sit down.
6XQf1 aro haffar Mise II orr,a-vct
are sure you are better?" and the
gruff voice had grown as gentle as
woman's. Lord. Lord. child. they
shouldn't have let you cross the ocean
so soon! Perhaps shouldn't talk so
much about your affairs-perhaps 1t
isn't my place; but I've daughter at
home just about your age-and some
time 1t seems to me-" growing ingram
NAUTICAL In his fervor, "that you are
her"
A man emerging from the compan-
ionway paused as the sound of Capt
Merricks apologetic voice, and the
low, protesting murmur that followed
It, fell upon his ear. Then he moved
stealthily across the deck, till he stood
but few feet behind the speakers,
the dense darkness screening him
completely.
He dropped his lighted cigar into the
black food below. Perhaps a few
wreaths he had puffed had fioated to
the quiet figure before him and had
brought him to her recollection, for
she looked up suddenly.
"Captainl"
"Yes."
who is hsf You know who mean
your only other cabin passenger.
Who Is he?"
"Yca dc ret know. know him :" aiiiazediiy.
mo, how should I? But I-oh,"
with quick. hysterical catching Of
ne. breath, II am afraid of him--I am
afraid Of him.
"You are afraid Of him." blankly--
"of him? has he" In swift, fierce sus-
picion. spoken to you-offended
you"
"Oh, no. no, no! have only seen
him few times In passing through
the cabin. cannot explain 1t. Ihave
s~--S - c,,ch VAIN au- -f~>~1foh era 49,,