Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-05-11
CHAPTER I.-(continued.)


tablished in professions
The captain had also heard rumors
that the man to whom she had been en-
gagged had behaved badly, and backed out
when he had found how small her means
were to be-
Hound ~
well, yes. 1t was mean trick to
play a girl"
Where was she going to now?"
The captain rather thought that she
was going to Paris, where she had stud
led painting before the marriage of an
elder sister had made her presence at
home necessary.
These were the facts elected by Stew
art and present in his mind now, as he
sat in the usual corner, amongst the
group around the tea things.
The short day was darkening in the
early twilight of those all but Arctic re-
gions. The ship rolled in long weary
heaves, as though tired by her weeks bat
tie with wind and waves.
The teapot and milk jug required to be
each barricaded into their own separate
corner of the hddles, while biscuit plate
and sugar bowl slid harmlessly from side
to side
Charlie Hudson had just made a rath-
or late appearance, which was explain
ed by the Respondent pink-and-white
frosted cake he carried.
'There, Miss Thorne ne said, tri-
umphantly. you see | was not going to
be done out of my Christmas cake. Wake
up, you fellows Don't you know that
it's Christmas eve?"
l hardly perceive a motive for wake
fulness in that loudly proclaimed fact
| should rather consider it an incentive
to a little more sleep, and little more
slumber,'" was Stewards languid re-
tort, while Captain Kerr put the ques-
ton:
Where did you secure that booty,
youngster? trust that you have not
been plundering the galleyY
"A small but judicious donation to the
cook, my friend | was not going to be
done out of my Christmas cake. Miss
Thorne, allow me to present humble of
fering at the shrine of friendship" and
with low bow, he placed in front of
the girl the cake, on which in pink let
ters ran the words, "a Happy Christ
mas"
As Miss Thorne looked up at him with
q silent smile, the youth was seized with
terrible misgivings that his friendly ac-
ton might bring about the awesome eff
feet of burst of tears.
Captain Kerr also fiuttered nervously
under the same dread. Stewart alone
guessed that that pathetic surface smile
had as little to dc with any emotion "a
the wan SUI kat had fickered through
al l.. 1
mother eartbs kindly warmth.
II would give FLYER to know how that
girl spent last Christmas Day." was
what he thought What he said was:
Here is a knife to cut it with, o gen.
tie president of our humble feast After
all, the boy does occasionally have u
happy inspiration. Give me large
slice, please, and l will try to revive some
of the lost joys of my youth. 1t ma.
make me feel young. 1t most probably
will make me feel twice my usual age
through the pangs of Indigestion"
Meanwhile young Hudson had edged
himself on to the seat on the sofa next to
Miss Thornes corner.
you don't know where | have been.
he said, con6dentially. Down into the
steerage to buy a Christmas tree. or
rather to hire it, for some of the meu
are taking them home to their families.
which will be little too late for the
fair. AT any rate, l have secured one
fer this occasion only"
Whatever are you going to do with a
Christmas treeT' his listener asked in
surprise.
''Bave a party, to be sure, and try to
get the ghost of a smile out of those two
goblin ancient mariner children. | war;
you, all of you, that if don't have some
species of entertainment tomorrow you
will have me committing suicide, and
leaving demned. damp moist, unpleas-
ant body on your hands"
Bodies are easily disposed of at sea, =
was Stewards laconic comment.
''Weil-but to business" Hudson wen
on. Il have the tree in an empty cab,
next to mine. The head steward SAYS
that after dinner we may put it on the
end of that far table and decorate it to
night. and thai he will screen it off with
flag, and II can be all ready for to-
mcrrow's dinner table"
Dinner table It's to be a public af.
fair, and you contemplate the bestowal OF
gifts on al the smoking room? SO mucl
for the COURAGE of youth! And where are
these sane gifts to come from?"
Gently, my friend! One thing at a
time ~ rejoined Hudson. patting Stewart
on the hack THE public element is cas-
lily managed. Every one at the saloon
table win be asked to contribute one
sift. so that there will be present 70,
each person. These will be marked witt
numbers, duplicates of which will b.
drawn. Besides these. any personal gifts
can be marked by name, such as toys for
tie children. The steward has promised
me fruit and sweets for ornamental pur.
poses, but | don't see any way to the
toys. Do you think"--with an insinuat
ing appeal 10 Miss Thorne-'that you
could help me TO make two dolls this
EVENING""
Dolls the two men listeners simulta-
reously exclaimed. The lady stared a
him for an instant. then, breaking into q
laugh with a reckless echo, while there
came fash into her eyes and bright
pink spot on each cheek, she said;
20, yes: why nots All yea ask Is tc
make a happy Christmas TO order. likF
the cake: and dolls in the mid-Atlanti,
without materials One task seems
equally feasible with the other, so whs
should we not attempt them both? Lei
me see, The doctor can surely furnish {
supply of cotton wool sufficient for tn,
internal economy of each doll. l think
that / have some old white kid gloves
which will make their heads and arms
You must so and beg for some rope yarn
for hair. and see if any of the officer
can lend you water-colors with which Is
do their faces"
Il can supply the paints" put in Cap
tain Kerr, beginning to be interested.
Inat's right. And now for the at
tire" Miss Thorne went on
II have a red and green silk muffler
said Charlie Hudson. whose gorgeous at
tire had been standing joke againsi
him in his ''tendorfoot' Gays.
''Oh. it's s pity to use it. | dare say
that l can find some scraps" and Mis-
Thorne hurried of to her cabin TO rum