Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-06
CHAPTER III.-(Continued.)

eANP' ASeuA hSu
"Ah! doctor, you don't mean that, /
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 m. 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.
shes fine piece of goods, ehT'
asked Blunt, watching her. 81 don't
know where Vickers picked her up, but
I'd rather trust my life with the worst
of those ruffians tween deck than in
her keeping, if I'd done her an injury.
l don't believe she'd think much of stick
ing a man, either. But / must go on
deck, Doctor"
Pine followed him more slowly. 81
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 l
can fathom." And as he walked down
the now deserted deck to the main
hatchway, and turned to watch the
white figure gliding up and down, he
saw it 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 plase, doctor, one Of the pris-
oners is taken sick, and as the dinners
over, and he's pretty bad, ventured to
disturb your honor"
why didn't you tell me beforeT
In the meantime the woman who was
the object of the grim old fellows sus-
picions, was enjoying the comparative
coolness 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 We're 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 uneasily, obey
ed the glitter of her great eyes and join
ed her.
you weren't put out" he asked, Eat
what l said to you below. l was bit
rude, I admit"
az? Oh, dear, no. You were not
rude"
"Glad you think so!' returned Phin-
cas- Blunt, little ashamed at what look
ed like a confession Of weakness on
his part.
Sarah Purfoy laughed a 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"
"WhatW
"You are going to fall in love with a
girl of nineteen"
who is that?"
Myself" she said, giving him her
hand and smiling at him with her rich
red lips.
II believe you are right" he cried
81 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
dispeased.
"She's a fine girl" he said, cooking
his cap, 'and 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' 5
greeting was short enough.
"Well, Sarah," he said, "have you got
cut of your temper?"
"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 too much for you,
es? Do you think one man could capture
a ship, Mr.. Maurice? What could they
do against the soldiers2 There are fifty
soldiers"
You are strange girl; l can't make
you out. Come" and he took her hand,
"tell me what you are really"
"Lady's maid in the family of gen.
tleman going abroad"
Sarah, can't you be serious?"
"I am serious That was the adver-
tisement l answered"
"But l mean what you have been.
You were not lady's maid all your
life. Have you no friends? What
have you been?'
She looked up into the young mans
face-a little less harsh at that moment
than it was wont to be-and, creeping
closer to him, whispered:
"Do you love me, Maurice"
He raised one Of the little hands that
rested on the taffrail, and, under cover
of the darkness, kissed it.
"You know l do" he said. "You
may be lady's maid, or what you like,
but you are the loveliest woman l ever