The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-04-16

! shafp win ~ BE- fhuuderyi whc
! lsolsi mas unwilling to face the ssart
: nEaln Tbe mnn feak their cae fros
, ms Imperative tune Gray cihsyacd lss
hei 10 BIS arms and lifted her tosll
, through Tbs doorway The Others 20
lowed bis example soou The thrW
womcu nerr with Elsie IN the cahln
isoisl ~ sheer reaction fron. her prs
tloas hHsiogla. was snllen COW an,
heeiless ~ al considerations save be
Own misery When she SCI eyes OF
Elsie she snapped out.
"fou hcreY
Yes Captain Courtenay broagh
me 20 bis cabin after our return from
the fore salon
'uh dld hey And be lcft mc with
those devils beneath
They both heard Courtenays bur
ried order
Leave the ladies here until We car
come for them Follow me at once"
The door slammed behind the men
Elsie helped Mrs. Someryiile to d chair
Then she turned 20 Isobel and said
gently
~ " a slight thing 10 discuss when
any moment may be our last. bot the
captain placed me here while be went
10 bring you He had gone only a few
seconds when the ship struck
The crest OF wave combed over the
upper works and pounded the solid
beams and planks OF the cabin until
they creaked The ship lifted some
what MS the sea cnveloped her.
"0h. this Is awful" shrieked lsobel.
III ! must die let me die quicklyl 1
shall go madl'
Calm yourself, dear. There must
be an end OF our sutfcrlngs soon Fer,
haps we may escape even yet"
Yes, know. IL any one is saved II
viii be you. You left me down there
TO take my chance among those tends
You have been here hours with your
precious captain, no doubt. Were he
looking after his ship this might not
have happened. Why did ever come
on this wretehed vessel. and with
you, who ran away from yentanai u
should have been warned by It When
he could work me no other evil he
sent you. oh, you have taken fine
vengeance. Pedro ventanal May you
be denied mercy as / am denied It
nowl Go awayl II you touch me I
shall strike you! hate you'll tell
you ! am losing my senses Do you
wish me TO tear your face with my
nailsp
Elsie, who would have soothed her
distraught friend with loving hand,
drew back In real fear that she was
confronted by maniac. The utter |
Of this new infection
brought tears TO her eyes. Yet she |
choked back her grief for the sake OF |
the others.
Another heavy sea pitched on board. |
The Kansas trembled and listed sud.
denly. lsobel screamed shrily and
burst into storm OF dry eyed sobs.
Her mood changed instantly into one
Of AFFECT submission. She sprang to-
ward Elsie with hands outstretched.
"Oh, save me, save mel" she walled.
God knows, am not fit TO die!"
There are some noble natures which
ind strength In the need to comfort
he weakness of others. Elsie drew
he distracted girl close to her and
placed an arm around her neck.
1t was thus that Courtcnay found
hem when he appeared at the door
Ifter lapse of time which none Of
hem could measure.
Now, Miss Maxwell you first" be
aid, with an air of authority which
etokened some new move Of utmost
Importance.
"First-for what" she managed to
SIX.
you are going off In a boat. 1t In
our best chance. Please be quick"
mo Miss Barring goes before me.
len the others. l shall come last"
Have 1t as you Will l addressed
on because you were nearest the door,
ONE along Miss Barring"
He waited for no further words. He
rasped Isobel's arm and led her out
Ito the darkness. II seemed to be a
cry long time before he returned.
Now, Mrs. Somerville," he said. but
lat unhappy lady was SO unnerved
lat he had to carry her.
"Can you manage to bring the
add" he asked over his shoulder to
Isle. She stopped over the maid, but
e girl wrestled and fought with her
frantic dread Of the passage along
e deck and of facing that bowling =
a In a small boat.
Elsie herself was almost worn out
hen Courtenay came back. He took !
the situation at glance. He picked
, the shrieking maid In his strong
ms.
'You won't mind waiting for me-"
said to Elsie. Don't attempt to
me alone. You are too exhausted"
II was fine thing to do. but she
lled at him to show that she could
II repay his confidence.
! shall wait" she said simply.
80 she was left there oil alone again
thout even the dog to bear her com.
ny.