The Washington herald., 1909-08-22


TO stand. For two years he had been
FIRST officer Of an inter-isand transport,
Kept at full nervous stretch day and night
by the responsibility OF guiding his ship
through the reef-strewn waterways Of
the Philippines. and picking up anchor
ages in uncharted bights and treacherous
tide-swept rOadsteads. and handling
boats with men and cargo in the surf on
coral beaches. and all the numberless
duties which fall 20 an executive who Is
navigator and watch officer too He
had wearied OF the life till II seemed TO
him he had wearied OF the sea as we'll.
homo in a>liner as one Of the elect who
need not know a sextant from a signal
ballard. he had seized on II.
And for a while he was not disappoint-
ed It was indeed pleasant TO see the
China coast at last as a traveller sees
It. lying irresponsibly In a deckchair
while the ship was maneuvered through
the tortuous entrance OF Horgkong
and the long turn which leads to the
anchorage behind the green peninsula OF
Amoy-where the houses CLINT so very
white among the trees-and sharing in
the adventurous excitement OF his fellow
passengers as they explored new cities
IN the lazy voyage up the coast
But when the Hankow's stubby bow
spirit was once pointed fairly eastward
and pale. rosy Fujiyama had faded into
the darkness Of the sky astern. and the
/, last wandering fishing junk had been
dropped below the horizon, Grierson be-
gan to learn that al unattached sailor
aboard ship IS the most superiuous
~
ficers. friendly as they were were too
busy with their duties-duties which all
at once began 10 strike the exile as rath-
er desirable things-to snare much time
10 him. And the passengers, he discov-
cred, belonged 10 a world which he had
almost forgotten, with interests quite diff
ferent from his. They expected from
him, so far as they expected anything,
only marvellous yarns. and when Grier-
son. being both modest and taciturn,
failed to meet this demand, they drop
ped him unceremoniously. He seemed
likely 10 pass many hours IN solitude
until little Miss Mlnturn discovered him,
and. unlimited. and unencouraged, made
Of It a solitude a deux.
She was soon occupying the larger
share Of Grierson's waking moments.
being present in his thought even when
she was absent IN flesh. Her ready
friendship puzzled rather than fattered
him. In the eight years OF his life since
he had left the schooship. he had seen
little OF women. and, like most sailors, he
was wary OF what he did not understand.
Why Miss Miaturn. who was both pref
" and popular. should take the trouble
to seek him out in the lonely hooks he
haunted and spend hours questioning him
on the greater and lesser mysteries OF
cB In, hs FNr
there seemed little in common between
her life. past or future, and the brlny
and tarry problems she brought him for
solution. She was a slender girl IN the
early twenties, apparently. and until this
journey round the world-which had come
to her through the rather obtrusive gen.
crosby OF an overrich uncle and aunt
who accompanied her. Grierson learned
as one learns things aboard snip-she had
been a consistent landswOman. with a
nautical experience confined to the sum
mer waters OF the New England coast.
John wondered, somewhat suspiclously,
what interest a girl Ike that could have
in the stOwage. say. Of a mixed cargo OF
railroad iron and grain in bulk
The logical explanation that she asked
out Of pure eagerness 10 be Informed did
not strike him as logical. for the informa
ton could be Of no possible use 10 her.
And yet he was at loss for any other
motive which seemed adequate SO he
held himself watchfully aloof. and was
more taciturn than ever. But as she
continued 10 question him. quite undis-
mayed by his reticence, he was obliged
20 answer. and a one-sided intimacy was
created. which amused their fellOw-pas-
sengers vastly, all save the uncle and
aunt OF plethorlc purse. who had the
al ftro
future OF their poor but highly attractive
niece. To them, as 90 the other onlook-
ers this was a particularly unblushing
case OF the filtration which seems In
separable from life on shipboard. and
which must be endured unless it threat
ems 10 go too FAR and follow its willing
victims ashore OF n morning before
breakfast, GriersOn was quite sure 70 be
lounging I'm the bows. and Miss Minturn,
after few strategic turns up and down.
was quite as sure TO happen 10 Join him
and begin a conversation which lasted,
save FOR the interruptions Of mealtimes.
till the deck lights were doused and the
ship settled down for the night Cen
orally there Is but one theme which can
bear the strain OF such continuous con-
versational handling as that without be
coming attenuated. and the HankOws
passengers, especially the aunt. thought
they remembered what that theme was.
They would have been astonlshed and a
bit disappointed, perhaps, even the aunt.
could they have overheard the talk which
filled those long hours II was OF a most
impersonal kind. always OF the sea and
ships. and Il ranged over many topics.
The second forenoon out Miss Ninturn
succeeded IN boxing the compass. against
the sun. by quarter points. In the after
H. Al - A..
rigging at pinrails and flferails, and next
day went on with undated enthusiasm TO
the art OF lacking an imaginary ship.
calling out at last a triumphant Main
sail haul" which drew q CHEEKY supple
ment OF Now she hllsi Smartly han
died Miss Minturn." from smiling Mr.
Sullivan on the bridge There was moth
ing 10 worry the most watchful OF child
less aunts In such very youthful pastimes
as that
Still later. when she had known John
almost four days, she displayed a huge
interest IN knots and spices which COM
PEELED her half-unwilling mentor to Dor
row a ropes end OF the solemn Chinese
boatswain and go back 10 his own early
days on the gundeck Of the sch0olship
Miss Minturn proved an apt pupil and
even puzzled out what the boatswain
looking over her shoulder. pronounced a
shipshape Matte Walkee." Nothing IN
that. surely, 10 disturb the euuanimlty Of
Gorgon relatives.
But It all paved the way to an intimacy
which was not one-slded, and before he
knew It John found himself quite at home
with her as they lived over together the
days which are gone forever. With
Etu'nsails set and the freshness OF the
trades about them. they rehearsed IA
nous runs or lay at anchor to watch tall