The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-07-26

HE HUNG FOR MOMENT BETWEEN SHIP
uen,, u.en, oANRs NAIEh. ...-,. ----
had two children with her. n boy OF
five and IA girl OF three, Every day
she sat OH deck In steamer chair,
while her children played about her.
| paced the deck, passing the group at
every turn. trying TO make up my mind
to scrape an acquaintance and begin
my prylng. One day when the sea was
running high wave much higher than
the rest struck the ship, and for mo-
ment the deck was almost perpendicu-
lar. was leaning against the gun
vale, and the boy was thrown ON to II.
He hung for moment between ship
and water and would have gone over
had not darted to him and caught
him.
You can imagine the feeling OF his
mother. Her first act was TO clasp her
child In her arms. her second TO take
my hand and look up In my face with
unspeakable gratitude. II was now
not necessary to plan for an introduc-
tIon or to win her confidence. from
that time she treated me as friend.
have always. as you know, been
fond OF children. Jack, the boy, was
as pretty and bright little fellow as
I ever saw, while Alice, the girl, was
tiny madcap. Her big blue eyes and
tumbed hair shall never forget. Chil-
dren are always glad to make friend,
and these two teased me continually 10
play with them, tell them stories ana
repeat rhymes. Dear little tots.
wish had them with me now.
Tho voyage was half finished. and ]
had not made single effort to nnd
out what was sent TO discover One
night lay In my berth thinking on the
situation. Ny expenses and my salary
were being paid for certain work
which was not doing. This was dis
honest. Suppose should return and
report that | had been bafiied. This
would be stIll more dishonest. And IL
n should become known that hnd de-
lIberately thrown away my opportuni-
" II might be inferred that was IN
league with the criminal. No; couin
not retreat
The next morning, while sitting on
ieck with Mrs. Petersen. ] gave her
every opportunity to tell me on what
ernnd She was bound and II she ex'
pectcd to Join her husband. but on
these matters she maintained an abso'
lute silence. Good woman" said TO
myself "Tr,ie blue. Stickto your nus.
hand and the father OF your children
This was not the mood for a detective,
| should have rather said. You're very
retlccut hut I'll find out way to
spen your mouth and set your tongue
going" Then comes Jack and wants
me 10 turn him upside down. and Alice
climbs up aud sits on my shoulder, and
between the sweet, patient smile OF the
young mother beside me and the cbll'
dren's arms about me my resolution OF
the night before went Oh with the
wind
Well we were coming 10 the end OF
oar Journey. and had made no head
way With what had been hired TO do,
Instead Of braclne up for an effort !
pu, the matter OF, siipuiailng with
my self tha, ! would do better when
we were ashore aud would not lie 10
ultimately connected with my Victims
Tlsere / would DO some hne sparring
f.s.Fs a slsgfarasss
One morning We stood on the ships
deck ID flse harbor u Maniia taking
leave Of each other. The mother gave
ms hand warm grasp, assuring me
slAe would nevsr forgat that her hoy
was spared 10 her oaiy through me.
Roth the children elainored for kissesi
aud Il SEEMED they would never loosen
their arms froa. about MY neck. When
wen, down the gangway they fol.
lowed 10 the gunwale. Jack climbing
of the risk of falling overheard. Alice
bid up By her mother. all waving and
sks0uEtng goodbyG