The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-17

brought the tears to my eyes. 'l1She
has saved my life already" l murmured
You foolish boy!" she cried. smiling
shoulder. You got you mead broker
In my defense. 1t was a great thing,
was it not, that I did not leave you to
die in the boat? There, make haste
and get we'll. You have talked enough
how. Go to sleep, or we shall have the
fever back again."
"One thing first" I pleaded. 'Tell
me whittier we are going"
In q few hours we shall be at bort
in Holland" she answered. But be
content. We will take care of you and
send you back If you Will. or you shall
still come with US. as you please. Be
content. Go to sleep now and get
strong. Presently perhaps we shall
have need of your help again."
They went and sat down then on
theif former seat and talked in whis-
pers, while Mistress Anne shook up my
pillows and aid q fresh. coo bandage
on my head. l vas too weak to speak
my gratitude, but 1 tried to look it, and
SO fell asleep again. her I'M in mine,
and the wondrous smile of those lus-
trous eyes the last Impression of which
was conscious.
A long, dreamless sleep followed.
When awoke once more, the light still
hung steady, but the pcacefulness OF
night was gone. We lay in the midst
lof turmoil. The scampering Of feet
over the deck above me. the creaking
OF n windlass. the humping and ciat-
,tering Of barrels hoisted in or hoisted
out, the harsh sound of voices raised in
a foreign tongue and In queer keys,
suftced as l grew wide awake to tell
me We We're in port.
But the cabin was empty, and l lay
Tor some time gazing at its dreary in.
terror and wondering what was to be-
come OF me. Presently an uneasy fear
crcpt into my mind. What IL my COM
panions had deserted me? Alone. i'll
and penniless in q foreign land, what
should l do? This fear in my sick
to get up. and with Keeling brain and
nervous hands did get out OF my berth.
But. this feat accomplished, l found
mat ! could not stand. Everything
swan before my eyes. l could not take
a single step. but remained. clinging
SPAR at my heart. 1 tried to call out,
bu my voice rose little above a whis-
per, and the banging n shrieking, the
babel without. went on endlessly. Oh.
1t was cruel, cruel! They had left me!
l think my senses We're leaving me-,
700: When felt an arm about my waist
and found Mistress Anne by my side
guiding me to the chest. sat down
on II. the certainty Of my helplessness
and the sudden relief OF her presence
ringing the tears to my eyes. She
Tanned me and gave me some restora-
tive, Gliding me the while for getting
out OF my birth.
Il thought hat you had gone and
left me" l muttered. l was as weak as
a child. ~
She said cheerily: Did you leaveu us
Mhen we were in troubles? OF course
you dld not. There. take some more OF
snis. After all, 1t is we'll you are up,
for In a shor time we must move YOU
to the other boat" ~
The other boat?"
Yes. we are at bort. you know. And
we are going by h WAL, a branch OF
,he Rhine. to Arnheim. But the boat is
here. close to this one, and with helm l
think you will be able to walk to it,"
II am sure 1 shall IL you will give
me you arm" | answered gratefully.
But you will not think again." she
replled, that we have deserted you?''
ways"
1 wondered why a shadow crossed her
race at that. But l had no time to do
more than wonder. for Master Bertram.
coming down. brought our sitting to an
end She hustled about to wrap me up,
carried. L was got on deck. There 1 sat
down on a bale to recover myself and
felt at once much the better for the
fresh. keen air, the clear sky and
wintry sunshine which welcomed me
to u foreign land.
stretched a wide expanse of turbid
water. five or six times as wide as the
Thames at London. and foam heaiel
here and there by the up running tide.
on the other side was a wide and spa
cious quay, paved neatly with round
merchandise, but possessing, by virtue
OF the lines Of leafless elms which bor-
dered 1t. a quaint air of rusticity in
the midst of hustle. The sober bearing
Of the sturdy landsmen. going quietly
ABOUT their business. accorded well with
tne substantial comfort Of the rows OF
TAIL, steep rooted house I saw beyond
the quay and seemed only made more
homely by the occasional swaeger and
uncouth cry of some half barbarous
seaman, wandering aimlessly about.
Above the town rose the heavy square
tower or a church, a notable landmark
where oil around. land and water, lay
SO low. where the horizon seemed SO
far and the sky SO wide and breezy.
s you have made up your mind to
come with As" aid Master Bertram,
returning to my side. He had left me
to make some arrangements. You
understand hat II you would prefer to
go home 1 can secure your tendance
here by good, kindly people and provide
for your passage back when you feel
strong enough to cross. You under
stand that? And that the choice is en-
tirely your own? So which will you
dog"
1 changed color and felt I did. !
shrunk. as being we'll and strong l
should not have shrunk. from losing
sight Of those three faces which I had
known for so short a time, yet which
alone stood between myself and loneli-
Tess. II would rather come with you,"
I stammered. But l shall be q grea.
burden to o now, 1 fear"
1T is not that" he replied. with
hearty assurance In his voice. "A
weeks rest and quiet will restore you to
strength. and then the burden will be
on the other shoulder. 1t is for your
own sake l give you the choice. because
our future is for the time uncertain.
Very uncertain" he repeated, his brow
clouding over. and to become COM
panion may expose you to fresh dan
gers. We are refugees from Eng
land. That you probably guess. Our
plan was to &C to France. where are
many of u friends. and where VIC
could live safely until better times. You
know how that plan was frustrated
Here the Spaniards are masters
Prince Philips people-and II we are
recognized we shall be arrested and
sent back to England. Still my wife
; and I must make the best of 1t. Thu
hue and CRY will not follo>u NC for ~ -