The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-18

but one thing for Gertrude to do
viz, to stay with the luggage. Heart
sick with disappointment and faint
for want of food-for she had not
been able to eat that morning-she
dropped into a seat on deck, but a
man came Immediately, having, ap-
parently been sent, and shouted about
her in a general way: "All who have
no business on board must leave the
ship at once"
She got up YEARLY. Would they
let me wait, I wonder, if they knew?'
she said to herself. Then, address,
ing the bawling man, she asked for
the captain.
1.-THE captains very busy, miss"
he answered, looking hard at her
purse, which she was holding in her
hand; "but 1 think 7 could manage
It," he added with an unmistakable
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES air.
Gertrude gave him half q crown,
and presently he returned, followed
by the captain, a tall, dark, thin
man, with a worried, irritable air.
well, what is it," he said, not
overcourteously.
IT came to meet my husband
Gertrude explained; "but he has gone
on shore and left nc message, and I
don't knew where to find him. He
has left his luggage, though. May I
stay here and wait till he comes for
it,"
The captain frowned. "It's against
the rules" he said roughly. Pas
sengers must all go ashore as soon
as the ships in. How'd we ever get
her cleaned up if we let you hang
about the decks all day."
Gertrade drew herself up. II beg
your pardon" she said, proudly. II
had no idea Of mountaineering you
to such a great extent" and she
turned on her heel and Immediately
left the ship, the captain watching
Aer irresolutely.
go after her and tell her I don't
mind" he reared at last at the man
she had sent to fetch him, as If the
latter were responsible for his bad
temper.
"But I do" was Gertrude's N
swer when the message vas deliv-
cred to her.
Human nature will out, and in the
midst Of all her anxiety she could
not stife her pride enough to accept
the favor Of a seat on his ship at the
hands of such q boar, so she decided
to wait and watch upon the quay.
CHAPTER XIII.
1t was an unfortunate, not TO say
a CALLING position for a young and
~delicately nurtured gentlewoman,
lettering about. on that foreign
quay, among the crowd Of sailors,
porters, and, more offensive still, the
idle loungers, with leisure to observe
her and become curious about her
object. She was afraid to 60 far
from the gangway, and there was no
seat near 1t, o even a post to lean
against. She was afraid to walk up
and down lest her husbands messen-
ger, who might be on board the ship
even then for anything she knew,
should leave 1t with the luggage when
her back was turned. Providence
had favored her search so far-she
had all but succeeded, and failure at
this last moment seemed impossible;
but her anxiety was trebled, never
theless, and an u~nbearable feeling OF
irritation, the consequence of overex-
element and the abnormal tension. of
her nerves, began to Cypress her.
She would have given anything for
a glass Of water-anything to sit
6own-yet she could not stand still.
This was the most trying expert
ence she had had yet. 1t was worse
in it's way than the burning ship. Up
and down she paced from the edge Of
the quay to the road, walking beside
the planks down which the cargo
from the ship was being wheeled, SO
as not to lose sight Of the gangway;
hustled and jostled by men carry
ing heavy weights, abused with round
oaths in the Breton patois for getting
in the way, and, worse still, admired
and openly complimented on her
good points. fortunately in terms
which she did not understand, though
she might, had she been less pre-
occupied, have guessed something OF
the matter from the manner OF
speech through it all, and feeling 1t
all in a way, she stuck to her post.
But her face grew pale, her eyes hag-
gard, her gait uncertain; and any OBJ
server with the least sympathy must
have been struck with the terrible
anxiety expressed, like Cressida's
character to the sbrewd old man in
every joint and motion of her
body"
To be Continued.
Out of Reckoning.