The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-07-29
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.
"The sounds ceased directly.


I'VE called to the mate, but re-
ceived no reply for long time. At
last Wylie came out of the gun
room looking rather pale, and
asked what was the matter.
II told him he ought to know
best, for the blows were .spSrd
where he had just come frcsn.
"'Blows!' said he; I believe you.
Why, a fierce of butter had got
adrift, and was humping up and
down the hold like thunder He
then asked us whether that was
what we had disturbed him for, en-
tered his cabin, and almost
slammed the door In our faces.
To-day H. r. was on deck for
several hours, conversing sweetly
and looking like the angel she is.
But happiness soon flies from me;
steamer came in sight, bound for
Sydney. She signaled us to heave
to, and send boat. This was done,
for her. 1t seems they took us for
the Shannon, In which ship she was
ev--. I'D
1.-THE letter was from him. How
her cheek flushed and her eye
Deameu as she took il. And o the
sadness, the agony, that stood be-
side her unheeded."
At this point we beg leave to
take the narrative into our own
hands again.
While he tries to relieve his
swelling heart by putting it's
A throbs on paper (and in truth, this
is some faint relief, for want of
\ which many a less unhappy man
than Hazel has gone mad), let us
stay by the lady's side, and read
her letter with her.
Russell Square, Dec. IL, 1866,
My Dear Love: Hearing that the
Antelope steam packet was going
to Sydney by way of Cape Horn,
have begged the captain, who is
under some obligations to me, to
keep good lookout for the Shan
non, hOmeward bound, and board
her with these lines, weather per-
hitting.
News l have little. You know
how deeply and devotedly you are
loved-know 1t so well that | feel
words are almost wasted in repeat
ing4t. Indeed, the time, l hope, is
at hand when the word love will
hardly be mentioned between us.
For my part, think it will be too
visible In every act, and look, and
word Of mine, to need repetition.
We do not speak much about the
air We live in. We breathe in and
speak with 1t, not of 1t.
Looking forward to this. and
my own still greater happiness, di-
verts my mind awhile from the
one ever pressing anxiety. But,
alas! it will return. BY this time
my Helen is on the seas-the ter
rible, the treacherous, the cruel
seas, that spare neither beauty nor
virtue nor the longing hearts at
home. have conducted this office
for some years, and thought
knew care and anxiety But find
! knew neither till now.
II have two ships at sea, the
Shannon and the Prosperine The
Prosperine carries Is chests of
specie, worth G130,O0O. / don't
care one straw whether she sinks
Or swims. But the Shame carries
my darling: and every gust at
night awakens me, and every day
l go into the great room at Lloy DIS
and watch the thermometer. 0
God! be merciful and bring my
angel safe to me! o God! be Just,
and strike her not for my offenses!
But ] must not sadden you with
my fears; let me turn to my hopes.
How bright they are! what. Joy,
what happiness, is sailing toward
me, nearer and nearer every day!
! ask myself what am | that such
paradise should be mine.
Must l close this letter? Must
! say no more. though have
scarcely begun?
Eyes, will end, since perhaps,
you will never see II.
when | have sealed il, l mean
to hold 1t In my clasped hands, and
SO pray the Almighty to take II
safe to you, and to bring you safe
to him who can never know peace
nor joy till he sees you once more
Your devoted and anxious lover
Arthur Wardaw."
Helen Rolleston read this letter
more than once. She liked 1t none
the less for being disconnected and
unbusinesslike. She had seen her
Arthurs business letters; models
OF courteous conciseness. This one
she did, She smiled over 1t. all
beaming and blushing; she kissed
n 1t, and read 1t again, and sat with
1t in her lap.
But by and by her mood changed
and. when Mr.. Hazel ventured
upon deck again. he found her with
her forehead sinking on her ex.
tended am. and the lax hand of
that same arm holding the letter
She was crying.
The whole dropping attitude was
30 lovely, so feminine, yet so sad
that Hazel stood irresoute. looking
wistfully at her.
Il am going to tell you a little
secret; one | have kept from my
own father 1t is--that | have NOT
very long to live"
He received them with amaze.
ment at first; amazement. that
soon depend into horror. what
DO you mean?' he gasped. what
n words are these?"
THANK you for minding 40
much" said she, sweetly. II will