El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-25

| look hack. For moment the woman
| stood gazing helplessly after him, then
! turned and came slowly on board
| Helen wonders.
| And Helen. looking down upon one
/ pathetic little scene after another
/ wondered if it was always like this
when a ship sailed. or had the horror
| of the recent ocean tragedy made the
partings harder.
ooh, there they are-there, just be-
yound that post.' and stout middle
! aged woman who was leaning over
| the rail beside Helen. waved her bunch
of roses at some one on the dock be-
low Cant you see them anXiOusly,
! to the man who stood behind her.
There's Belle. tOo-and Howard u
And she took out her handkerchief
! and waved it with the flowers.
Helen thought She could distinguish
in the crowd below the little group
that were waving back one of them
trying to shout up some last message
through a megaphone hastily impro-
vised out of a newspaper.
Where is he2 Oh if we could only
see him" and a young woman with
Redeemed eyes was trying eagerly 90
find a place by the railing.
Warren stepped back to give her
his place, and then ne drew Helen
away.
And Helen understood. There were
others who had a better right, who
were leaving some one near and dear,
ito whom they were eager to wave
Dear. YOU are very thoughtful"
pressing lovingly against his arm, for
she was always quick to appreciate
his slightest act of thoughtfulness or
Her Comment Ignored.
Warren always ignored any such
comments: they irritated rather than
pleased him. And now he said CURLY:
4 want to go down and see if there's
any mail"
He guided her down to the saloon
deck. to what seemed like a regular
hotel office with two clerks asserting
the mails.
rem briefly.
"Oh, dear? did you know we would
get so many2' whispered Helen de-
lightedly, as the clerk handed out
number of letters and postcards. And
there were two telegramsH'
Warren tore one Of them open and
she read it over his shoulder.
pleasant voyage. Don't hit an lee
berg. Mr.. and Mrs. l. e stevens"
'oThe Stevensesi Wasn't that nice of
them?" exclaimed Helen, as he tore
open the other
Best wishes for pleasant trip and
safe return. J. R Curtis"
thoughtful" murmured Helen, al
though at heart she felt rather indiG-
nant that none of his people had
come to see them off.
\ sudden blast of a horn, A long
deep whistle. Then a faint throoblnS
of machinery, and curious, trembling
shudder of the ship.
Warren thrust the unopened letters
into his pocket and grasped Helen's
'Here-over this way! We want to
But the crowd was SO great they
could lor get near the railing on that
deck, and ne hurried her to the one
abOvel
ION, how wonderful cried Helen,
as she caught the first glimpse of the
cheering mob below. For by this time
they were opposite the open end OF
the pier to which the crowd had
turned face, and the mass was alive
with waving handkerchiefs, hats and
flags.
The band was playing a lively march,
and the five decks of passengers
were waving back their farewell. Hell
eth was athriH with it all, and as
she chung to Warren's arm her eyes
were wet with tears.
Perhaps there was something in the
scene that stirred Warren also for he
drew her little nearer to him.
When she turned and looked out
over the harbOr past the Statue OF
Liberty to the sunllt waves beyond.
Helen thought of the great ocean that
lay before them and wondered if this
trip might not bring them closer than
they had ever been.
To be alone together in a strange
country-What possibilities of near
ness and COmpaniOnship might that
not hold?