The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-04-13
Tor The Term of His Natural Life

BY MARCUS CLARKE

90 anything. ana even cOnvlctlSm Silu
its foul mouth in her presence. Run
ming to her fathers side. the child chat
tered with all the vOlubility of fattered
self-esteem. She ran hither and thither
asked questions, invented answers
laughed, sung, gamboled, peered into the
compass case, felt in the pockets of the
man at the helm, put her tiny hand
into the big palm of the officer Of the
watch, even ran down to the quarter
deck and pulled the coat tails of the
sentry on duty.
At last, tired of running about, she
took a little striped leather ball from
the bosom of her frock. and, calling to
her father. threw it up to him. He
returned it, and shouting with laugh,
ter. clapping her hands between each
throw, the child kept up the game.
In the midst of this mirth the officer
of the watch, glancing round the fast
crimsoning horizon, paused abruptly
and, shading his eyes with his hand
looked out intently to the westward.
Frere, who found Mrs. Vicker's CONVEX
sation a little tiresome. and had been
glancing from time to time at the com
panion, as though in expectation OF
some one appearing, noticed the action
what is it, Mr.. BestY
II don't know exactly. 1t looks to me
like a cloud of smoke" And taking the
glass, he swept the horizon.
"Let me see," said Frere, and he
looked also.
On the extreme horizon, just to the
left of the sinking sun, rested tiny
black cloud. The gold and crimson
splashed all about the sky, had over
flowed around it, and rendered a clear
view almost impossible.
Il can't quite make it out" says
Frere, handing back the telescope. 1--WE
can see as soon as the sun goes down
little"
By and by Captain Blunt appeared
and taking the glass from his officer
looked through it long and carefully
Then the mizzen top was appealed to-
and declared that he could see nothing
jerk, as though it had slipped through q
slit in the sea, and the black spot, swal
lowed up in the gathering haze, was
seen no more.
As the sun sank, the relief guard came
up the after hatchway, and the relieved
guard prepared to superintend the de-
scent of the convicts. At this moment
Sylvia missed her ball. which. taking
advantage Of sudden lurch of the yes
sci, hoped over the barricade, and roll
ed to the feet of Rufus Dawes.
The bright spot of color rolling across
the white deck caught his eye; stoop.
ing mechanically, he picked up the bal
and stepped forward to return it. The
door of the barricade was open, and the
sentry did not notice the prisoner pass
| through it. In another instant he was
on the sacred quarter deck.
Heated with the game, her cheeks
aglow, her eyes sparkling, her golden
hair afloat, Sylvia had turned to lear
after her plaything, but even as she
| turned, from under the shadow of the
cuddy glided a round white arm: and q
shapely hand caught the child by the
sash and drew her back. The next mo-
| ment the young man in gray had placed
the toy in her hand.
Maurice Frere. descending the lad
der, had not witnessed this little incl
dent; on reaching the deck. he saw only
the unexplained presence of the convict
uniform.
Thank you," said a, voice, as Rufus
Dawes stopped before the pouting Syl
via.
The convict raised his eyes and saw
| young girl of eighteen or nineteer
years of age, tall and well developed
who, dressed in a loose sleeved robe OF
some white material, was standing ir
the doorway. She had black hair, coiled
around narrow and fiat head. a small
foot, white skin, well-shaped hands, anC
large, brown eyes; and as she smiled al
him her scarlet lips showed her white
even teeth.
He knew her at once. She was Saraf
Purfoy, Mrs. Vicker's maid, but he new
er had been so close to her before: anf
it seemed to him that he was in the pres
ence of some strange tropical flower
which exhaled heavy and intoxica tins
perfume.
Rufus Dawes was seized from behint
by his collar and flung with a shocI
| upon the deck. Leaping to his feet. hi.
first impulse was to rush upon his as
sailant, but he saw the ready bayone
Of the sentry CLEAN, and he checked him
self with an effort, for his assailant wa.
Mr.. Maurice Frere.
what do you here" asked that gen
tleman. You lazy, skulking hound
what brings you here? If l catch yo,
| putting your foot on the quarter decl
| again I'll give you a week in irons.''
Rufus Dawes, pale with rage ant
modification, opened his mouth to jus
| tify himself, but he allowed the words t,
die on his lips. What was the use?
| go down below. and remember wha
I've told you," cried Frere; and compre
hending at once what had occurred, h,
made a mental minute of the name of tn
defaulting sentry.
The convict, wiping the blood from
his face. turned on his heel without
word. and went back through the stron,
oak door into his den. Frere leaned for
ward and took the girls shapely hant
with an easy gesture. but she drew
away, with fash Of her black eyes.
You coward" she said.
The stolid soldier close behind then
heard it and his eye twinkled. Frer
bit his thick lips with modification, a
ne followed the girl into the cuddy
Sarah Purfoy, however, taking the as
tonished Sylvia by the hand. glided int
her mistress cabin with a scornful laugl
and shut the door behind her.