Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-08

| The giant steamship tossed and
| pitched. The decks were wet with
Ipray from the angry waves. and you
could count the passengers on deck on
one hand Two husky men Mrched
against each other as they turned the
corner. both muilled TO their ears. pun
Ing vigorously at their pipes to produce
welcome speck OF warmth
BEG pardon-dldn't see you In this
rotten fog" said the younger OF the
| two.
Rotten don't describe II. sir. It's
well, I'll he hanged My pipe went
ont in that collision. guess. Got a
match?"
out here? A torch wouldn't stay light
ed in this wind. Come inside a minute
and light her up
They were back on deck in a mo-
mcnt and. as so often happens on
board ship. In that time seemed to
have made friends Arm In arm this
| time they braved the wind and wealth
err The older man was talking
II suppose you think a man OF my
age ought to be IN his cabin night
| like this. But. you see, my wife is
sick in one bunk and my daughter
down and out In another. Guess you
and | are about the only ones to ven
ture out. aren't we!''
Guess we are. sir. unless, of course.
the girl with the sable coat is on deck.
| Nothing keeps her below"
Girl in sable coat. Who's she?" de-
manded the elderly man. his attention
| somewhat aroused.
well. don't know. She Is the
usual mystery found aboard a boat OF
! this character. Captain says she's Il
titled woman from the continent going
over 10 see the States. Whoever she
is. she's a sumner old man. Here she
is now" he whispered as the figure OF
woman passed them
The old gentleman turned. but too
late TO see anything save the outline
of a woman. clad In n long sable coat.
which enveloped her from head to
heels
Looks pretty good in the dark.
young man. I'll take better peek in
the daylight and In the meantime
guess I'll go below and look after my
sick. Good night. sir
Good night" said the younger man.
as he left his newly made friend at the
companionway
Efnfnn a va
lish syndicate and bound for New
York was not ready to turn In. He had
no one below 10 look after and fell
into long. steady stride around the
deck. lie pulled at his pipe and won
dered what the girl In the sable coat
was doing. He didn't want to appear
officious. but he could not help Won
dering. and as he walked he kept his
eyes we'll open for the fur clad figure
He did not have to look long. for she
passed him very soon Try as he
would he could find no plausible ex-
cuse for speaking TO this evidently self
reliant young woman OF title. so on he
strobe.
Just amldship he heard a voice-such
voice that today he can shut his eyes
and hear 1t In his demonstrating:
"Oh. | beg your pardon. but would
you help me TO open this door? I sim
ply cannot do IT,"
He sprang to her side in an instant.
but the door did not yield SO easily.
$40 you want to go in? You know
the moon is Just coming up. and 1
think the storm is all over" Hollis
had grown bold OF sudden
well, really, do not want to go
In. but you know my maid is dreadful
~ Ill. and It seems cruel to leave her
alone" answered the sweet voice
"oh, bother the maid. Take my
arm and let's see how II goes driving
double-you can fight the wind so
much better with two abreast" urged
Hollis, as he extended his left arm.
She looked up at the strong features
and then at the gllmmer of the moon
breaking through the clouds. hesitated
for just moment then without
word took the proffered arm, and Off
they went
The next morning broke clear and
bright. and the girl In sable had chang
ed her raiment TO a suit which bespoke
the art OF Englands best tailor That
night her gown was Of soft. clinging
material which showed her figure TO
perfection, while the cloak that COW
cred her shoulders was the envy OF
the women passengers. With every
gown were bits OF jewelry that seemed
TO belong to them and TO just suit her
who wore the gorgeous raiment Hol-
lis stared as did the rest. then shut
his eyes and lived over again the walk
OF the night before. with her frail arm
clinging close TO his strong one and
that sweet. distracting voice chatting
In his ear
He started up as from n reverie as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him a cigar.
Il say, purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothes!"