Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-08-03
ward, seemed unquestionably to bt
dictated by the kindliest spirit.

WAfu, seemed unqueStlOnaDly LO "
dictated by the kindliest spirit.
''I'm glad you think so-or have thu
grace to say so, at least. So that's
settled. Now tell me more about your
self. Is this your first crossing?"
"It's my first trip home"
Plainly no help for it: with this per
sistently friendly body catechizing her
she might as well now as later stanG
and deliver some account Of herself.
"Your first trip home? That means
you've been over long timer
"All my life" the girl admitted. 81
was born in London, and when | was
very young my parents returned tc
America, leaving me behind because
they expected to be gone only little
time. Then my mother died in New
York; and my father went into bust.
ness there, and thought me better OIL
where I was, in the care of friends
than with him."
''But surely" this in hooked expos
tulation, che came back to see you =
ooh, indeed he did, often; that is.
considering the difficulties, the long
voyages, and the fact that he-isnt
a rich man. But l haven't seen him
recently-not in several years."
"And now you're going to join him?'
s'Yes," Miss Carteret affirmed in a
voice that betrayed more doubt than
she suspected.
But before her astute inquisitOl
could take advantage Of the weakness
her tone suggested there befell an in.
terruption. 1t was nothing more ex.
traordinary than knock on the state.
room door; but it brought Miss Car.
teret to her feet with a start, again
pale and trembling.
"Oh!" she cried in alarm. "Oh. what
is that?" Involuntarily she stepped
back as if to put as much space as
possible between herself and the door,
Mrs. Beggarstaff watched her in
open wonder.
''It's only the stewardess. rang
for her some time ago.
ooh, If that's all" Miss Carteret
Sat uOWu dSulI.
Zone moment, stewardess." Mrs.
Beggarstaff looked back at the girl
"You don't object to my letting her in
ooh, no, mop Miss Carteret insisted
hastily. please don't mind me. I'm
very nervous-haven't been-well. ]
was startled-that is ALL"
$50 1 see," said Mrs. Beggarstaff
with quizzical accent. "Come in ~
The door opened, admitting a smil-
ing, apple-cheeked, middle-aged Eng
lishwoman.
"Shut the door-there! SO many
people running up and down."
But when they were alone again.
much to the relief of the girl, Mrs.
Beggarstaff failed by any word to
refer to her recent betrayal of alarm
something hardly to be explained
other than by open confession-Which
wouldn't in the least suit Miss Car.
teret's book.
SNOW" said the elder woman placid
ly, folding a veil over most palpable
wig, but still a most becoming one,
"nOw I'll hurry on deck and see about
our chairs, and then interview the sec
Ond steward about seats at table. ]
know most Of these people, stewards
and all, and generally manage to get
just about what I want" Mrs. Beg
garstaff added with grim self-conceit
& presume you've no objection to sit
ting beside me? Not that you won't
see all you want of me-and more
probably-right here"
"Please," the girl begged, laughing
s:I'll be delighted with whatever ar
rangements you're kind enough to
make"
Every good. then. And for dinner
If you please, put on your prettiest
frock. Peter Traits aboard, and he's
q dear-well worth dressing up for
The bang of the door as Mrs. Beg
garstaff went out might have been q
signal; Immediately the girl became
conscious that the ship was in mo-
tion-vibrant and sonorous with the
drOne of it's turbines.
The voyage Of the Alsatia was be.
gun, and-nothing had happened. She
had eluded pursuit, was freel