The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-21
CHAPTER III.

Krp or HEN VOYAGE.
""IvE bells. miss! It'll soon be
daylight. II you wants to see
the cross. now's your time!"
Iris had been called from
drea mless sleep by a laundering rat
tat on her cabin door. In reply to her
half awaked cry OF can rightr the
hoarse voice OF q sailor told her that
tho Southern Cross had just risen
above the horison. She resolutely
screwed her knuckles into her eyes
and began TO dress. In a few minutes
she was on deck. A long coat. a tam
o'-shanter and a pair Of list slippers
viii 60 far In the way Of costume at
night I'm the tropics, and the Androm-
eda's seventeenth day at sea had
brought the equator very near. At
dinner on the previous evening-in
honor of the owners niece fashiona BILE
hours were observed for meals-Mr.
Watts mentioned by chance that the
cross had been very distinct during
tho middle watch. or. In other words.
between midnight and q. m. Iris
at once expressed a wish to see 1t. and
Captain Coke offered a suggestion.
MIR. Hozier takes the middle watch
tonight" said he. I'VE can AZ I'm to
send q man to pound on your door as
soon as IL rises Then you must run
up 10 the bridge. an ell tell you all
about A."
IL Iris was conscious Of q slight feel
ing OF Surprise she did not show II.
Hitherto the burly skipper Of the An
dromeda had made II 80 clearly urtier-
stood that none Of the ships company
sAve himself was to enjoy the society
Of Miss Iris Yorks that she had .ex-
changed very few words with the one
man whose manners and education OBJ
viously entitled him to meet her on an
equal plane. Even at meals he was
often absent. so Cokes complacency
came now quite unexpectedly, but Iris
was learning to school her tongue.
"Thank you very much." she said.
~when shall see himT
~Oh, you needn't bother. I'll tell
I'm meself."
she was somewhat disappointed at
this. Hozier would be free for an hour
before he turned In. and they might
have enjoyed nice chat while he
smoked on the poop. In her heart Of
hearts she was beginning to acknowl-
edge that voyage through summer
seas or a cargo vessel. with no other
society than that Of unima ginative
sailormen. savored Of tedium, indeed
almost Of deadly monotony. Her rare
meetings with Hozier marked bright
spots In dull round Of hours. During
their small intercourse she had discov-
cred that he was well informed. They
had hit upon a few kindred tastes I'm
books and music. They even differed
sharply In their appreciation Of favor
fte authors. And what could be more
conducive 10 complete understanding
than the attack and defense OF the
shrine OF some tin god of literature?
While. therefore. It was strange that
Captain Coke should actually propose
q visit TO the bridge at IN unusual
time-at a time. too. when Hozier
would be on duty--it struck her as far
more curious that he should endeavor
30 prevent an earlier meeting.
81 shall be delighted 70 come at any
time. have often read about the
Southern Cross. yet three short weeks
ago little thought
You reely didn't think about It ut
all" broke IN Coke. IF you 'ad you'd
ave known you couldn't cross the line
without seem A."
Here was another perplexing ele-
ment In the sklpper's conduct. That
Iris was q stowaway was forgotten.
She was treated with the attention
and ceremony due TO the owners
niece. Coke never lost an opportunity
OF dinning into the ears Of Watts or
Hozier or the steward or any mem.
bers OF the crew who were listening
that Miss Yorke's presence I'm their
midst was preordained circumstance.
thing fully discussed and agreed on
as between her uncle and himself, but
carried out I'm an irregular manner
owing TO some girlish freak on her
part. The portmanteau. with Its
change OF raiment. brought convincing
Testimony. and Iris own words when
discovered In the lazarette supplied
further proof. II that were needed.
A keen. invigorating breeze swept
the last mirage OF sleep from the girls
brain rs she fitted silently along the
deck. A wondrous galaxy Of stars
blazed I'm the heavens. In that pellucid
nir the sky was a vivid ultramarine.
The ships track was marked by
trail OF phosphorescent fire. Each rev.
olution OF the propeller drew from the
ocean treasure house opulent globes of
golden light that danced and sparkled
In the tumbllng waters. Ii was
night that pulsated with the romance
and abandon OF the south. night
when the heart might throb with un-
utterable longings and the blood tingle
In the veins under the stress OF an
emotion at once passionate and mystic
VaI. A.