Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-08
HINTS ABOUT GARDENING, PRIZE SUGGEST
The Daily Story
Shipmates

until It struck out into the open Atlantic
he hardly noticed her, but once at sea.
she spent every day on deck, and al
ways alone
1t was Coford's own loneliness which
forced him, half unconsciously into a
silent comradeship OF sympathy with her
Ten years abroad in the Austrian con-
sular service had made him feel like
foreigner, now that he was among his
own cOuntrymen again. Nearly every one
else on board had friends. or made them
readily, but for some reason-thcir own
disinClnaton, he thought-the two re-
manned apart.
She was in mourning. The soft cling
ing black made her look even younger
| and more girlish than she was, and yet
1t gave her certain forlorn dignity
Once he passed her on a windy gray
morning up forward 1t was early, and
there was no one else on deck. AS he
| came abreas. of her the wind, in a
vagrant frolic, blew her long chiffon veil
across his eyes. II was a clingy. cxas-
| pcrating veil. BY the time Coltord was
! disentangled he was angry and ombar-
| rassed until he met her laughing eyes
| After that he raised his cap when they
/ met, and she acknowledged the silent
| greeting shyly one night a wild spring
! tempest broke in sudden fury over tho
gray sea. II was after midnight. Colford
| stumbled into the cabin drenched with
! spray and met her face to face. Her
face was white. and she held n sobbinE
| child in her arms. soothing him gently,
while the mother had Mysteries in
' corner
( There is no danger" Colford said She
/ looked up at him smiling.
81 am not afraid There Is never
/ danger when one does not fear
| BY the time Sandy Hook was reached,
the sixth day, Colford knew he was over
board. IT was her shy dignity that at
tracted him. her air of absolute self
reliance and reserve, when he knew she
was fororn and desolate, She told hin
her story the day after the storm. 1t was
n simple bit of tragedy, tragedy Of cir
cumstance. She was an Austrian and an
orphan. Her father had been Ntennese
surgeon.
And after he died year ago." she
had told Colford, leaning over the bull
wark, her gray eyes dteamily watching
the long. swelling waves sweep back from
the steamers sidee, 1--WE lived at BrazHa'
on the coast, mother and |. 1t was her
old home, and there was nothing else to
do"
And then" said Colford, as she
paused.
Then a month ago. she left me also.
She told me to come to America. | nave
an uncle my fathers brother, who Will
meet me in New York He is the only
relative I have in the world
Are you sure he will meet you?'
II cabed him l was coming. He is
physician. also." she said Eravely. He
loved my father dearly. l know he VIII
meet me-"
"And if he does not?"
She glanced up with troubled eyes.
But he will There is no one else In
all the world who would help me-
"One other"
Colford spoke quietly. but a trihc
urstcadily as he looked down into her
serious, chdlllle eyes.
"You must not say there is no one else
I. too, am alone in the world. Does not
cur mutual loneliness give us claim on
each other? Surely you will let me help
you?"
A faint color rose slowly to her cheeks.
She looked back at the sea.
II think I should, perhaps"
When the steamer swung from the Hud-
son into its slip on West street. Collord
sought her for the last time. The rest
of the passengers crowded the bow of the
boat half crazy with JOY. rs they recog-
nized friends and relatives on the pier
but the girl in black stood aft. looking
back at the sunlit river. back toward the
open sea, and Austria.
Are you sorry it is over
"Europe?" She spoke wistfully.
NO; the voyage Has 1t been moth
ing at all to you? Do YOU care. Helene?'
The purser came hurriedly from the
cabin, a telegram in his hand.
Helen Norga?"
She opened it slowly The message
was brief Colford caught the paper
as it fluttered from her hand. 1t was
from a city hospital and merely stated
that Josef Vorga, physician, had died
six months previously.
There is no one else" she said, help
lessly.
Coiford led her to the cabin.
10 forget,
told her. Let me be the one, Helene"
She waited where he left her, tear
less. helpless, yet with the quaint dig
nifty that seemed to enfold her ike a
magic cloak of separation from the
world It was half an hour before Col
ford returned. There was a new look
on his face as he bent over her, look
of protection and determination.
Dear heart, this glorious land of
the free refuses to let little foreign
maiden all forlorn land on its shores
You are a waif, sweetheart a friend
less, pennlless waif. according to the
officials downstairs, and as such, they
propose in a friendly, courteous way
to ship you over TO Ellis Island as an
unwelcome immigrant, and deport you
to Austria on the first steamer sail
ing"
She smiled for the first time, a faint
ghost of a smile, though her eyes were
filed with tears.
ut is terrible. know she said
He took her hands in his. THE land
Of the free is willing to allow girl
immigrant to enter, providing some one
marrles her. Helene, it's Ellis Island
or me- Can you choose, sweetheart"
The steward came up the stairs, saw
the two figures and vanished. Out on
the river a tug whistled shrilly.
when one is alone" she began.
Colford raised the hand he held to
his lips.
when two are alone" he corrected,
they cannot possibly be alone, They
have each other The voyage has only
begun, little shipmate,"