Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-11

years CT careless freedom. In any
event why should Lady Tozer pry an(
robe?
And finally. Why did the steward
,h. poor old Sir John. What would
have lGp"encd if tie ice had slid dowI
his nec..: Thoroughly comforted by
lis g'eefui hypothesis. Miss Deant
eZed favorable opportunity to dar
across tie starboard side and see Il
Captain I.o;s' 'heIyy bank Of clout
IN tie northwest had put in an ap
ea:"nce.
II. flere it was. black, Ominous
-ig Ytic. rolling rp over the horizon
lie so.Nc monstrous football. AROUND
it tie sky dee1ened into purple, fringet
with a wide belt of brick red. She hat
never seen such beginning of gale
From what she had read in books she
imagined that only in great deserts
were clouds of dust generated. There
could not be dust in the dense pail now
rushing with giant strides across the
trembling sea. Then what was It!
Why was it so dark and menacing'
And where was desert of stone and
sand to compare with this awful ex
panse of water? What a small dol
was this great ship OH the visible sur
face! But the ocean itself extended
away beyond there, reaching out to the
infinite. The dot became mere speck
undistinguishable beneath celestial
microscope such as the gods might
condescend to use.
Iris shivercd and aroused herself
with a startled laugh.
The lively fanfare Of the dinner
trumpet failed to fill the saloon. By
this time the Srdar was fighting reso,
lutcly against stiff gale. But the
stress of actual combat was better than
the eerie sensation of impending dan
ger during the earlier hours. The
strong. hearty pulsations Of the en-
gines, the regular thrashing Of the
screw. the steadfast onward plunging
Of the good ship through racing seas
and flying scud. were CHEEKY. confident
and inspiring.
Miss Deane justified her boast that
she was an excellent sailor. She
smiled deiightedly at the ships sur
geon when he caught her eye through
the many gaps in the tables. She was
alone, so he joined her.
"You are credit to the company
quite n sea kings daughter" he said.
Doctor, do you talk to all your lady
passengers in that way?'
"Alas, no! Too often can only be
truthful when I am dumb"
Iris laughed. IF I remain long Oh
this ship will certainly have my head
turned" she cried. Il receive nothing
but compliments from the captain
down toto
"The doctorw
NO. You come good second on the
list"
In very truth she was thinking of the
ice carrying steward and his queer
start of surprise at the announcement
of her rumored engagement. The man
interested her. He looked like broken
down gentleman. Her quick eyes traT-
eled around the saloon to discover his
whereabouts. She could not see him.
The chief steward stood near, balanc-
ing himself in apparent defiance Of the
laws of gravitation, for the ship was
now pitching and rolling with mad
zeal. For an instant she meant to in
quire what had become Of the trans
gressor, but she dismissed the thought
at Its inception. The matter was too
trivial.
With wild swoop all the plates.
glasses and cutlery on the saloon Ia
bles crashed to starboard. Were 1t not
for the restraint of the fddles every
thing must have been swept to the
floor. There were one or two minor ac-
cidents. 4 steward, taken unawares,
was thrown headlong on top Of his
laden tray. Others were compelled to
clutch the backs Of chairs and cling TO
pillars. One man invOluntarily seized
the hair of lady who devoted an hour
before each meal to her coiffure. The
Sirlar with frenZied bound tried to
turn somersAult.
a change, of course observed the
doctor They generally try to avoid
it when people are in the saloon. but a
typhoon admits of no labored polite
ness. AS its center is now right ahead,
we are going on the starboard tack to
get behind it."
81 must hurry up and go on deck" !"
said Miss Deane.
"You will not be able to go on deck
until the morning"
She turned on him impetuOusly. I'm
deed l will. Captain Ross promised
me-that is, asked HIM
e The doctor smiled. She was so charm
ingly insistent! 1T is simply impossi-
ble," he said. "The companion doors
are bolted. The promenade deck is
swept by heavy seas every minute. A
boat has been carried away. and sew
eral stanchions snapped off like car
rots. For the first time in your life.
Miss Deane, you are battened down."
The girls face must have paled some
what. He added hastily: There is no
danger, you know, but these precau-
tions are necessary. You would not
like to see several tons Of water rush
ing down the saloon stairs; now, would
you?"
Decidedly not" Then. after pause:
ut is not pleasant to be fastened up in
a great iron box, doctor. 1t reminds
one of a huge coffin"
"Not bit. The Sirdar is the safest
ship afoat. Your father has always
pursued splendid policy in that re.
spect. The London and Hongkong
company may not possess fast vessels,
but they are seawOrthy and we'll found
in every respect"
~L