Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-04-20

know" said a rich, soft voive at his
elbow.
1t was Sarah Purfoy emerging from
her cabin.
I'VE were talking of your eyes. my
dear" cries Blunt. They're the finest
eyes I've seen in my life, and they've
got the reddest lips under IN that"
Let me pass, Captain Blunt, if you
please. Thank you, doctor"
! And before the admiring commander
could prevent her, she mOdestly swept
out Of the cuddy.
She's a fine piece of goods, Ell ?"
asked Blunt, watching her ~ don't
know where Vickers picked her up, but
I'd rather trust my life with the worst
of those rufians tween deck than in
her keeping, if I'd done her an injury.
don't believe she'd think much of stick
ing man, either. But l must go on
DECK, doctor" :
Pine followed him more slowly. II
don't pretend to know much about wom-
en-" he said to himself But that girls
got story of her own, or I'm much mis-
taken. What brings her on board this
ship as a lady's maid is more than
can fathom." And as he walked down
hatchway, and turned to watch the
white figure gliding up and down, he
saw 1t Joined by another and a darker
one, he muttered, She's after no good"
At that moment his arm was touched
by soldier in undress uniform, who
had come up the hatchway.
What is it?'
IF you phase, doctor, one of the pris-
oners is taken sick and as the dinners
over, and he's pretty bad, 1 ventured to
disturb your honor"
why didn't you tell me beforeP'
In the meantime the woman who was
the object of the grim old fellows sus-
picions, was enjoying the comparative
GOODNESS of the night air, Her mistress
and her mistress daughter had not yet
come out of their cabin. The awning
had been removed, the stars were shin
ing in the moonless sky, and Miss Sarah
Purfoy was walking up and down with
no less person than Captain Blunt
himself. She had passed and repassed
him twice silently, and at the third
turn. the big fellow, peering into the
twilight ahead somewhat uneasiy, obey
ed the glitter of her great eyes and join
ed her
"YOu weren't put out" he asked, Eat
what | said to you below. was a bit
rude, l admit"
Il? Oh, dear, no. You were not
rude"
Glad you think sou returned Phin-
cas- Blunt, little ashamed at what look
ed like a confession of weakness on
his part.
Sarah Purfoy laughed low. fulton
ed laugh, whose sound made Blunt's
pulse take jump forward, and sent the
blood tingling down to his fingers ends.
Captain Blunt" said she, you're
going TO do a very silly thing"
"What?"
"You are going to fall in love with
girl of nineteen
who is that?"
"Myself!' she said, giving him her
hand and smiling at him with her rich
red lips.
81 believe you are right" he cried
Il am half in love with you already"
THAT is your affair."" she said; and
as the head Of Mr.. Frere appeared above
the companion, Blunt walked aft, feel
Ing considerably bewildered, and yet not
displeased.
"she's fine girlg' he said cooking
his cap, land I'm hanged if she amt
sweet upon me-"
And then the old fellow began to
whistle softly to himself as he paced the
deck, and to glance toward the man, who
had taken his place, with no friendly
eyes. But a sort of shame held him as
yet, and he kept aloof. Maurice Frere's
greeting was short enough
"Well, Sarah" he said, "have you got
out Of your temper7"
What did you strike the man for?
He did you no harm"
HE was out Of his place. What
business had he to come aft? One
must keep these wretches down, my
girl"
"or they will be stoO much for you.
est Do you think one man could capture
a ship, Mr.. Maurice? What could they
do against the soldiers1 There are Fifty |
soldiers"
"YOu are a strange girl; can't make
you out. Come" and he took her hand, |
tell me what you are really"
"Lady's maid in the family of a gen
tleman going abroad"
Sarah, can't you be serlous?'
Il am serious. That was the adver- |
tisement l answered"
"But l mean what you have been. !
You were not a lady's maid all your |
life Have you no friends2 What |
have you beenT'
She looked up into the young mans |
face-a little less harsh at that moment |
than 1t was wont to be-and, creeping |
closer to him, whispered:
do you love me, Mauriee?'
he raised one Of the little hands that |
rested on the taffrail, and, under cover
Of the darkness, kissed It.
'You know do" he said. ssYou
may be a lady's maid, or what you like.
but you are the loveliest woman I ever
mat