The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-04-23
CHATTER vi


had been hooked back 10 keel
II wide open. 50 wind aud sea invaded
the trim privacy OF tho cabin. spra,
leapcd over the ship In such dense
sheets that a considerable quantity OF
water quickly lodged on the port side
where Courtenay's bunk was fixed
There were no means Of escape for II
In that quarter. and the angle at which
the Kansas lay would permit depth
OF NJ least two feet TO accumulate ere
the water began TO fow out through
the door 90 the starboard.
At the great crises OF existence the
stream Of thought is apt to form
strange eddies. Courtenay when the
ship Strickland II was possible that
each second might register his last
conscious impression himself
coolly reviewing various explanations
OF the existence OF an uncharted shoal
In a locality situate many miles from
the known danger zone. Elsie, strung
half consciously TO the highest tension
by the affrighting probability Of being
set adrift In a small boat Mt the mercy
OF the sea roaring without--a sea
which pounded the steel hull OF the
Kansas with such force that the
great ship seemed TO finch from each
blow like creature In pain Elsie,
then, faced by such an intolerable
prospect was prey to real anxiety
because the wearing apparel scattered
by Courtenay on the floor was becom.
Ing soaked In brine.
She actually stopped to rescue coat
which was not yet saturated beyond
redemption. AS she lifted the gar
ment packet of letters tied with
tape fell from its folds. She placed
the coat on the writing table and en-.
deavored to stun the letters into a
pigeonhole. They were too bulky, 80
she laid them on the coat. In doing
this she could not avoid seeing the
words, "Your loving sister, Madge,"
written on the outer fold OF the last
letter In the bundle.
And that brought a memory Of her
previous visit to the captains state.
room. She was incapable OF reasoned
reflection. She felt that II she were
fated to live to- a ripe old age she
would never forget single detail Of
the furniture and decorations of the
room. She would hear forever the do
lorous bowling of the gale, the thump-
Ing Of the waves against the quiyering
plates, the rapid, methodic thud OF the
donkey engine, which. long since de-
lerted by its cowardly attendant, was
doing its work and flooding
the ship with electric light.
Not thinking In the least what she
was doing, she scrutinzed the closely
bed packet. She wondered idly why
he treasured so many missIves. Each
md every one, oddly enough, was
written on differently sized and vari-
,usly colored note paper, and II could
be seen at glance that they were
rom as many different people. The
outside letter was the most clearly WIS.,
BILE. Miss Courtenay wrote a well
'ormed. flowing hand. II handwriting
we're clew to character she was
,andld, generous, open minded woman.
But what was this? Elsie suddenly
.hrew down the letters. She had read
/ sentence at the top Of the page twice
before she actually grasped its pur.
,ort. When its significance dawned
IN her she flushed violently. for this
vas what she read
Il am glad of II, too, because under
10 other circumstances would ! wish
o greet and embrace the woman des.
ined TO be your wife"
The knowledge that she had fnvolun-
arily intruded on Captain Courtenay's
'rivate affairs brought her back with
certain slight shock to q sense OF
ctualities. The storm. the horrible
langer she was In, emerged from shad.
'wland Why had he not come for
Ier2 Surely there must have been
ONE further mishap! Heavens! Was
he alone on the ship, alone with the
cad men and the dying vessel7 Her
ead swan with strange faintness.
nd she placed hand to her eyes.
Then Joey sprang In through the
oorway and, with that splendid disre-
ard for sentiment displayed by a fox
prrier that has Just come out OF first
ate fight. shook bis harness until 1t
attled.
But he eyed the thrush OF the sea
nth much disfavor 30 be leaped up
n the table beside Elsie and looked
I her as though he would ask why she
ad permitted this sacrilege.
Though the dog was apparently un-
rathed and In the best OF condition,
Is head and fore paws were blood
tanned. His advent dispelled the mist
Thlch was gathering In the girls
rain. She feared tragedy, yet Joey
ssuredly would not be 80 cheerful, 80
aintily desirous TO avoid the splash
lg water in the cabin II his master
'ere injured. The mere presence OF
,e dog was guarantee that Courte-
ay had not quilted the ship.
''oh, Joey" she said, II wish you
,uld speak,
The sound OF her own voice startled
err She was yielding TO nervousness
gain and was on the point Of yentur.
* out, at least as far as the deck
ouse ran, TO see II she could distin-
uIsh what was taking place on the
tier part OF the vessel, when DIR.
hristobal entered.
Il suppose you thought you were for
ottenT be cried. with q pleasant
nile, for Christobal would have q
nile for a woman even on his death.
"a. There. now. don't try TO ex-
ain your feelings. You have had .
FRY trying time, and ! want you 10
,llge me by drinking this."
This" was Q glass Of champagne
hIch he hurriedly poured out OF
nall bottle he was carrying into a
ass which be produced from q
,cket The mere sight OF the wine
FUSED Elsie TO realize that her lips
"a palate were on Ere with salt At
se moment she had not the slightest
,gnifance Of her suffering. Al the
Ut abe felt that speech was impossi-
!