The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07

high spirits and he was the gayest OF
all of us.
Il expect he saw that I was rather
blue. And he followed me on deck soon
after dinner, and there We had our last
talk. lie told me that he thought
everything would he done quite quietly:
he meant to tell the purscr where to
find him in case OF inquiry and to be
| ready to go ashore at once he was sure
they'd take him ashore. but II by chance
they didn't he would stay in his cabin
so that anyhow this was good-by.
So l said good-by and wished him good
| luck.
"'Are you going TO sit up?' he said.
! looked at him for a moment and then
said. NO He smiled in an Apologize
| sort Of way and gave that little wave
of his hands. It's foolish of me To care,
| suppose. but-thank you for that
Il was a little surprised because
really hadn't thought he would mind my
seeing; but | was pleased too. He held
out both his hands and took them and
pressed them Then | opened my hands
| and looked at his as they lay there. He
was smiling at me with his lips and his
eyes Slim Fingered Jim he whis-
pered. Don't quite forget him. little
friend
~ suppose l shall never see you
agan?' l said.
BETTER not he told me. But let's
remember this voyage. Wen put a
little fence around it, won't we, and
keep all the rest of life out. and just let
this stand 10y itself-on Its own merits?
| Shall We. dear little friend?"
Mrs. Pryce stayed her narrative for
a moment. But my curiosity was merci-
less
What did you say" I asked.
| Il don't know. / think | murmured
something like oh, my dear. my dcar!'
| and then | let go of his hands and
| turned away to the sea, and when I
| looked round again he was gone" -.
| And that was the end?"
| No. The end was lying in the berth
| above mamma-whO was sound asleep
and-well, snoring rather--lying there
and feeling the ship slowing down and
then stopping. and hearing the mailboat
come alongside. and all the noise and
the shouting and the hustle. l knew
could hear nothing-there would be
nothing to hear-but | couldn't help lis
tening. | listened very hard all the
time, but OF course / heard nothing.
| And at last-after hours and hours as
1t seemed-we began to move again.
That was the real end. He wasn't at
breakfast. But luckily nobody on the
ship-none Of the passengers. | mean
found out about 1t iii we got to Liver
pool. and as mamma and weren't go-
ing ON To London, 1t didn't matter"
And he got on?"
Yes, he got THAT time"
I'm afraid this great man had one
> e.. Al. ..l..
those hands. Well, Cesar didn't like
getting bald-so learned at school"
Il always remember them as they lay
: in mine" she said. His hands and his
eyes-that's what I remember"
Ever see him again?"
"Of course not" She sat where she
was for a moment longer, then rose
= "Shall we go in?"
? II think We may as we'll" said I.
So We went into the billiard purlor
They were still playing pool. ] made
for the whiskey and soda and mixed
myself "A tumblcr and drank thereof
: When ! set the tumber down and
turned round To the table, Charlie Pryce
g was engaged in making shot of crit
= zeal Importance. Everybody was look
5 ing at him. His wife was standing at
. the end OF the table and looking at him,
y Nbb' one
D the shot as any of them. But was she?
p For before he played she raised her eyes
4 and looked across at me with queer
4 little smile. I couldn't help returning
II. knew what she was thinking. The
4 billiard table Is IA high trial.
h When Charlie had brought or his shot,
a which he did triumphantly, his wife
:. came aud kissed him This pleased him
= very much. lie did not recognize the
Y kiss penitcntial, which IL, however. q
;. well ascertaincd variety.
d I'm afraid that the magnetic current
t OF immortality which seemed to emanate
= from Mr.. James Painter Walsh passed
= through the sympathetic medium of
!. Mrs. Pryce's memory and infected In
h some small degree my more hardened
@ intellect For even now / can't help
hoping that Slim Fingered Jim Is being
= put to some light form Of labor But
% IT'S difficult business! Even the laun-
u dry--a most coveted department. as I
= am given to understand. would spoil
= them hopelessly.
y Copyright on The North American