The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-05-17

mutiny at Macquarie Harbor. The pris-
oners took the ship and put Mrs. Wick
ers and Sylvia ashore somewhere. Cap
tain Frere was with them, too. The
poor things had q dreadful time, and
nearly died. Captain Frere made boat
at last, and they were picked up by
ship. Poor Mrs. Vickers only lived a
few hours, ana little Sylvia-she was
only twelve years old then-was quite
lightheaded. They thought she wouldn't
recover She's quite strong now; but her
memory's gone. She doesn't remember
anything about the three or four weeks
they were ashore-at least not distinct
ly."
Its a great mercy" interrupted Mrs.
Protherick, determined to keep the post
of honor. "Who wants her to remem-
Der these horrors? From Captain Frere's
account. it was positively awful.
bolter'-that's what we call an escaped
prisoner, Mr.. Meekin--happened to be
left behind, and he found them out, and
insisted on sharing the provisions-the
wretch. Captain Frere was obliged IT,
watch him constantly for fear he should
murder them. Even in the boat he tried
to run them out to sea and escape. He
was one of the worst men in the Harbor,
they say. But you should hear Captain
Frere tell the story"
"And where is he now?" asked Mr..
Meekin, with interest
Captain FrereY'
mo. the prisoner"
"Oh, goodness, 1 don't know-at Port
Arthur, / think. l know that he was
tried for boiling. and would have been
hanged but for Captain Frere's exer-
TONS"
Dear, dear! strange story. indeed
said Mr. Meekin. And so the young
lady doesn't know anything about it?'
.sOnly what she's been told. of course.
poor dear. She's engaged to Captain
Frere."
Really! To the man who saved her.
How charming romance. Her
girlish love clings to her heroic protec-
tor. Remarkable and beautiful. Quite
! the-hem!-the ivy and oak, dear led
dies. All, in our fallen nature, what
sweet spots l think this is the
gate"
A smart convict servant-he had been
a pickpocket of note in days gone by
| left the clergyman to repose in hand
somely furnished drawing room. whose
sun blinds revealed wealth of bright
| garden fecked with shadows, while he
went in search of Miss vickers. The
major was out, his duties as superin-
tendent of convicts rendering such abb
sences necessary; but Miss Vickers was
| in the garden, and could be called in at
once. The Reverend Meekin, wiping
his heated brow, and pulling down his
spotless wristbands, laid himself back
on the soft sofa, soothed by the elegant
surroundings no less than by the cool
ness of the atmosphere. He was dis
| turbed by the sound of voices in the gar
den; and going outside saw a young
girl talking to one of the servants She
turned, and Mr.. Meekin, bowling his
apologies, became conscious that the
young lady was about seventeen years Of
aye, that her eyes were large and soft,
her hair plentiful and bright, and that
the hand which held the little book she
had been reading was white and small
Miss vickers, l think. My name is
Meekin-the Rev. Arthur Meekin."
How do you do, Mr.. Meekin?" said
Sylvia, putting out one of her small
hands, and looking straight at him
Papa will be In directly"
for his absence, my dear Miss vickers."
II don't like fattery Mr.. Meekin, so
don't use 1t. At least" she added, with
a delicious frankness that seemed born
of her very brightness and beauty, mot
that sort of fiattery. Young girls do
like fattery. of course. Don't you think
| soY
This rapid attack quite disconnected
Mr.. Meekin, and he could only bow and
smile at the self-possessed young lady.
"You have not been here long. Mr..
| Meekin," said Sylvia, after a pause.
mo, only a week; and / confess am
surprised lovely climate, but, as l
| said just now to Mrs. Jellicoe, the trail
| of the serpent-the trail of the serpent
my dear young lady"
IF you send all these wretches here.
you must expect the trail of the SER
pent.s said Sylvia. 1T isn't the fault
| of the colony. But don't let US talk
about this, Mr. Meekin." she added,
pushing back a stray curl of golden hair.
papa spys that am not to talk about
| these things, because they are al, done
| according to the rules of the service. as
he calls IT,"
IAN admirable notion of papa's." said
| Meekin. mash relieved as the door open
ed. and Vickers and Frere entered
vickers' hair had grown white, but
| Frere carried his thirty years as easily
| as some men carry two-and-twenty.
my dear Sylvia" began vickers,
| there's an extraordinary thing.' And
| then, becoming conscious of the presence
| of the agitated Meekin, he paused
you know Mr.. Meekin, papa?" said
| SYRIA mr.. Meekin, Captain Frere."
Il have that pleasure" said vickers.
"Glad to see you, sir. Pray sit down."
| Upon which Mr.. Meekin beheld Sylvia
| unaffectedly kiss both gentlemen; but be-
! came strangely aware that the kiss be-
stow ed upon her father was warmer than
| that which greeted her afianced hus-
band,
Warm weather, Mr.. Meekin." said
Frere. Sylvia, my darling, hope you
have not been out in the heat. You
have! My dear, I've begged you"
| Its not hot at all" said Sylvia, pet
| tishly. Nonsense! I'm not made of
butter-I sha'n't melt. Thank you, dear;
you needn't pull the blind down." And
then, as though angry with herself for
her anger, she added, you are always
thinking of me, Maurice" and gave him
| her hand affectionately.
Its very oppressive, Captain Frere,"
said Meekin land, to a stranger, quite
| enervating."
"Ay, to be sure" repeated vickers
Il hope Sylvia has not been attacking
you with her strange theories, Mr..
Meekin"
"Oh, dear, no; mot at ALL" returned
Meekin, feeling that this charming young
lady was regarded as a creature who was
not to be judged by ordinary rules. I'VE
| got on famously, my dear major-quite
famously."
That's right" said yickers. "She is
very plain-spoken, is my little girl. and
strangers can't understand her some
! times. Can they, Poppet ~
Poppet tossed her head saucily. Il
don't know" she said. 'Why shouldn't
| they: But you were going to say some