The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-22
CHAPTER I-(Continued }

the only sufferer, as her mother was
long since dead and her brothers we'll es-
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 20
well, yes. 1t was a 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, az 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 fiddles, while biscuit plate
and sugar bowl slid harmlessly from side
to side
Charlie Hudson had just made a rath-
er late appearance, which was explain
ed by the resplendent pink-and-white
frosted cake he carried.
There, Miss Thornev he said, tri-
umphantly. You see l was not going to
be done out of my Christmas cake. Wake
up, you fellows. Don't you know that
it's Christmas eve?"
Il hardly perceive motive for wake
fulness in that loudly proclaimed fact.
l 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 galley?'
"A small but judicious donation to the
cook, my friend. L 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
tiers ran the words, ~ Happy Christ
mas"
As Miss Ihorne looked up at him with
a silent smile, the youth was seized with
terrible misgigings 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 10 do with any emotion a.
the wan sun that had fickered through
the clouds at noon had to do with any OF
mother earth's kindly warmth.
II would give a flyer to know how that
girl spent last Christmas Day." was
what he thought. What he said was:
Here is a knife to cut il with, gen
tie president of our humble feast. After
all, the boy does occasionally have
happy inspiration. Give me a large
slice. please, and will try to revive some
of the lost joys of my youth. 1t may
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 1 have BEEN"
be said, confdentially. Down into the
steerage to buy a Christmas tree, or
rather TO hire it, for some OK the men
are taking them home to their families,
which will b. a little too late for the
fair. At any rate, l have secured one
for this occasion only"
Whatever are you going to do with a
Christmas tree" his listener asked in
surprise.
Have a party, to be sure, and try to
get the ghost of a smile out of those two
goblin ancient mariner children. / warn
you, all of you, that if l don't have some
species of entertainment tomorrow you
will have me committing suicide, and
leaving a demned, damp, moist, unpeas-
ant body on your hands"
Bodies are easily disposed of at sea,
was Stewards laconic comment.
"Well-but to busine ss,' Hudson went
on Il have the tree IN an empty cabin
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 that he will screen it off with
a flag and it can be all ready for TO-
morrow's dinner table,
Dinner table, It's to be public af-
fair, and you contemplate the bestowal of
gifts on all the smoking room? SO muci
for the courage of youth And where are
these same gifts to come from?'
Gently, my friend, One thing at q
time, :" rejoined Hudson, patting Stewart
on the back 1.-The public element is cas-
lily managed. Every one at the saloon
table will be asked to contribute one
gift. so that there will be a present foi
each person. These will be marked witt
numbers, duplicates of which will be
drawn. Besides these, any personal gifts
can be marked by name, such as toys for
the children. The steward has promised
me fruit and sweets for ornamental pur-
poses, but l don't see any way to the
TOYS. Do you think'-with an insinuat
ing appeal to Miss Thorne-"that you
could help me TO make two dolls this
EVENING""
Dolls 20 the two men listeners simulta-
neously exclaimed. The lady stared al
him for an instant, then, breaking into q
laugh with reckless echo, while there
came a fash into her eyes and bright
pink spot on each cheek, she said
20, yes; why not? All you ask is to
make a happy Christmas to order, like
the cake: and dolls in the mid-AtlantiC
without materials One task seems
equally feasible with the other, so why
should we not attempt them both? lie;
me see. The doctor can surely furnish 2
supply of cotton wool sufficient for tht
internal economy of each doll. | think
that 1 have some old white kid gloves
which will make their heads and arms
You must go and beg for some rope yarr
for hair, and if any of the officer
can lend you water-colors with which t.
do their faces
Il can supply the paints" put in Cap
tain Kerr, beginning to be interested.
Inats right And now for the at
tire" Miss Thorne went on.
Il have a red and green silk muffler,
said Charlie Hudson, whose gorgeous at
tire had been standing joke against
him in his ''tendorfoot" Gays.
"Oh, it's a pity to use it. 1 dare say
that | can find some SCRAPS" and Mis-
Thorne hurried off 20 her cabin to rum
mage while CAPTAIN Kerr started Drep-