The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-19
A sTowAwAY.

.ttt ft cistiou.l
We were but day out from Bre-
nisn when seaman stepped up to me
shd saluting. said, Air Warren, one
sf the msn On the lower deck heard a
cough smezs the freight and after. q.
search tS stewswAys pulled cut a
siflD
"A sitlri exclaimed surprised.
Yes. sir. "a girl"
| directed the stowaway to be
brought ub On deck IL order to look
her over With view to determining
how much work she could stand and
what Kind OF work TO give her. for our
orders wefe to work stowaways so
hard as to render that method OF gain
ing free transportation undesirable.
The girl came up frightened. but after
A Rlnnce at the ocean. seeing TINT we
were we'll away from land. look OF
triumph crossed lIer features. Know
Ing by my rniform that | was an Off
Ger, she stood demufeiy before Inc.
with her eyes on the deck. She was
very falr-indeed. so fair that I knew
she came from my native north
"What have you done this NJ"
asked her. Don't you know that we
work stowaways harder than those
who hire themselves to us honestly"
She did not reply. Only faint flush
passed over her face. The longer
looked at her the more her delicate
beauty grew upon me. Her features,
especially her mouth. could not have
been more exquisite IL they had been
chiseled by an artist, and. though her
clothes were soled and torn. she. had
not been long enough in the hold TO
show the effects usual TO stowaways.
There was Something piteous about the
slender, shrinking figure that deferred
me from visiting the usual hardships
due to such offenders.
whats your nsmef' asked
"Gretchear
We'll, Gretchen. you have been q
hard. aud II you can't show that YOU
can support Yourself when you get to
New York you viii be sent Erc,;;
Al fhat moment the captain came
along ard. taking in the situation, re-
licyed me of all responsibility. He
was terror 90 stowa ways and sent
tic girl away to be worked day and
night. shuddered, for | knew the
delicate frame before me conld
scarcely stand the ordeal. Any word
OF protest from me would only result
! I'm a heavier strain for the girl
We lad stormy weather all the way
over. Gretchch, though seasick was
| forced TO conlinue at her duties Eg.
cry moment OF The day and much of
| THE night she was eifher at work IN the
galley under tie bend cook or In he
Icabins nndar the stewardess. and both
were orlereti 20 make her life misera-
| BILE. The weather Kept us all husN
Hand saw nothing ~ her till We
4 kreached New NorE Then ON tie day
/ of ohr arrival saw well. lt was what
rsmalned cf the poor gifl In i've
| ys her ueluty had departed Her
cheeks were sunken and had taken on
a .bmlsh white TIM. Her eyes wore
a'.lunfed look; her arms were bones
4 covered, only With a. bloodless skin.
\ She was tottering to the gangway 10
90 ashore with the immigiahts she
4 carried no bags or bundles like the
= 3rest--indeed, she would not have been
able 10 carry them II she had pos
4 sessed them.
! / was OF duty and. going up to her
took her arm and steadied her down
j the gRngwas. went with her into
/ the room where the disembarked i'm
migrants Assembled for examnatiap
Suddenly she gave cry and. break
ing away from me, ran toward a young
m2t standing with his hands In his
pockets watching the crowd come into
tue room.
Hans" she called. 81 am herew
The young man drew back from this
|skeIeton OF girl in filthy rags and
with unkempt hair.
II am Gretchen. Oh, Hans, don't
you know meT'
Hans stared at her curlously. Grad
uaily he showed signs OF recognizing
her. She was his betrothed ana hat
come as a stowaway TO marry him. HI
knew OF her coming and was there 4
meet her. But the sight OF her aftei
q her torture was too much for him
#without a word he turned and left thu
k}plaee.
a Gretchen fell fainting into my arms
She was deperted IN the same shil
in which sue had come over, but sh'
hid not work her passage. The gov
crnmeut attended 10 tlnt
All One night whlleI was on duty / saw
In woman's figure come up compan
Ionway and make 4 dash for the gun
walc she was holf over when
81 caught her and dragged her back
She was Gretchen.
"A placed her IN deck chair an'
1uestioned her learned that she ha'
II lived in the German province fron
(which had come. secured prom
se that she wonld make no fnrthe
y attempt on der life, | also got SOM
better clothes FOR her and berth Il
the second cabin on the day W
reached Hamburg was leaning owe
) The rail OF The bridge. looking down a
some second class passengers on thei
ieck watching Tor land Suddenly m
Rcau mar fhoaa ~ Gretchen DccQutl