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

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Gertrude had got beyond all that
for the moment. This last calamity
was in reality a blessing to her, a
relief to her mind, which, when she
awoke late in the afternoon, was
probably fresher and more vigorous
than it would have been had her
voyage been uninterrupted, and no
such rest been forced upon 1T.
She was not surprised when she
awoke to see her sister-in-law sitting
in the window in her strong, self
contained way, bolt upright, working
busily but quietly at a piece Of en-
broidery.
"Is there any news" vas Ger
trude's first question.
None" was the laconic response.
Have you brought my things?"
eyes, all that you brought to my
house"
I'm that case I shall be able to
leave by to-night's boat"
II thought you would wish to.
How do you feel?"
Quite well. I shall get up at
once" a
II dare say you will be in time
in spite of the mishap," Miss Somers
said c%heerfully, as she rolled up her
work. you will only have missed
one Guernsey boat, you know, and
it is hardly likely that he would leave
by that. 1t would just be going
from one steamer to another If he
did, and I rather fancy he will be
more in the mood for lettering than
for haste"
It was in the chill gray early
morning that the steamer with Ger
trude on board touched the pier at
st. Malo next day. The passage had
been rapid, quiet and uneventful, as
generally happens the day after an
accident, but the few passengers who
had ventured to cross had been fd-
getty, frightened and troublesome, as
is usually the case on such occasions.
! The ladies refused to undress, and
everybody was on the alert all night.
The stewardess, who had been res
cued from the burning steamer, was
being taken across to come back with
another Of the company's vessels
from st. Malo next day, and Ger
trude had the pleasure Of finding
Mary Burt, the young English girl
who had behaved with such GOODNESS
and courage the night before, among
the passengers. She had left the
ship in n of the boats, had been
picked up by a passing steamer, and
landed in Southampton, nothing the
worse for the experience. Unfortu-
nately for the three, the other pas
sengers discovered that they were
survivors, and besieged them with
such attentions as the desire to hear
all about it, and to be able to tell
afterward how they had talked IA
miliarly with some one who had been
rescued from deadly peril only so
short a time before suggested. The
consequence was that Gertrude
found herself on arriving somewhat
worn, but she was ready to land at
once, nevertheless, and stood waiting
on deck while the gangway was being
got ready. The scene with it's strange
ness struck her dismally, but more
because it was strange and because
she, was there alone for the first time
in her life, without any one she loved
to sympathize with her feeling about
1t, than because Of any unloveliness
in what she saw. On the contrary,
in spite of the somewhat sombre
grayness which prevailed, all was
passably picturesque and foreign,
which is another charm. She had
not much time, however, to become
acquainted with the roadway bor-
dered with trees, the tall gray houses
with their small windows, flush with
the walls or seeming so, and the peo-
ple-mostly market women in white
caps and blue blouses-for her at
tention was almost Immediately
caught by the deafening noise that
a steamer, fastened to the pier just
behind the n she was on, was max
ing blowing off steam.
do you know what boat that isl"
she asked.
1.-THE Guernsey boat just in," was
the answer.
In a moment Gertrude's active,
practical mind was on the alert.
Just in?" Then probably he had
not landed.
She hurried on board and asked,
in her haste, for "Mr. Leslie
Somers."
1t was one of the ships officers
to whom she addressed herself. He
did not know the names Of the pas
sengers, but went politely to in
quire. The people were bustling on
shore by this time, and Gertrude
eagerly watched them while she wait
ed. Presently the officer returned
with the list of passengers and re-
marked that "Mr. Leslie Somers"
was not among them.
"Ah!" Gertrude exclaimed. did
I say Leslie Somers? I meant Law
enc Soames."
The officer looked at her as if he
thought her a little demented, but
handed her the list. perhaps you'll
know the name when you see it,"
he remarked.
"Oh, he has GOMEZ" she cried,
overjoyed. "1s he below still? !
must 60 to him at once"
I'll go and see, miss, If you like"
the officer said with a grin.
81 should be much obliged If you
would Hortru1a roiotDed HEa