Not Pretty, But Precious

ng The

thampton, found the brief period of their stay at the latter port almost unendurable; and while some paced the wet decks impatiently, others grumbled both loudly and deeply in the cabins, or shut themselves up in their state-rooms in sulky discomfort. Those who remained on deck had at least the amusement of watching for the steamboat which was to

of age, who seemed almost insensible. She would have fallen had not one of her fellow-travelers, a lady evidently not much her senior, thrown her arm around her; thus aide

our state-rooms in a moment. Miss Marion Nugent--Miss

?" interrupted the taller girl, who was still lending the

, please," murmu

hey could take possession at once of their state-room, into which he proceeded to usher them. It was more spacious than such apartments usually are, and abounded with all those little contri

" exclaimed her companion. "This poor thing seems ve

f health, so delicate were the features and so large and blue the half-closed eyes, but it was ghastly pale, and a livid, bluish tinge had settled around the small mouth, whose ruby hues had fled to give place to a sickly purple. The steward speedily returned with some brandy, the bull's-eye

ntly; to her companion when they were again le

emn-looking German, who shook his head and looked very grave as he listened to

anchor, I should have counseled you to return to shore. But it is too late now, and you must try to keep as quiet as possible. I would advise you to retire to your berth at once: it will probably b

e state-room, and its two occupants, being

more appropriate attire. Her face was beautiful, with a singular and weird beauty which owed nothing of its fascinations to the ordinary charms of delicate outlines and dainty coloring. Her features were small and attenuated, and her complexion was of a sallow paleness, whose lack of freshness seemed caused by dissipation and late hours or by the ravages of illness. Heavy masses of soft silken hair, black as midnight, with bluish reflections on its lustrous waves (bleu à force d'être noir, as Alexandre Dumas describes such tres

asked. "The rocking of the ship is increasing, and we had better, early as it is, sett

empted, with trembling hands, to disembarrass herself of her apparel, but it was not without much assistance from her companion that she was enabled to remove her traveling costume and make her preparations for

. I can reach the upper one without any trouble, a

and watched the other for some minutes in silence, as she quietly and quickly gathe

for me to lose that letter, for the lady with whom I am going to live as governess has never seen me, and she might take me for an impostor were I to come without it. An English lady who was her most in

a

u friend

on

mong our fellow-passengers, but I

N

ur name yet. Mine is Mar

etty a one--R

hat she did so. The threatened gale was by this time blowing in earnest, and the ship was commencing to roll fearfully; so, after securing all the boxes and bags as well as possible, and hanging up all the scattered garments,

ly on, though rocked and tossed like a plaything by the whistling winds and angry sea. Then midnight came: the lights in the state-rooms were extingui

nd it encountered her companion's face. It was deathly cold, and the features quivered as if convulsed under her touch. Again she called aloud--still no answer; and then, thoroughly frightened, she caught up a cloak from the sofa, threw it around her, and opening the state-room door, she rushed into the cabin. It was almost deserted. The lamps swung heavily overhead, swayed by the unceasing rolling of the ship; a drowsy waiter slumbered at one of the tables, his head

motionless in her berth, her face tinged with a livid bluish hu

lamation. The doctor came. One look at the pallid face, one touch on

I feared some such catastrophe when I saw her last e

ed kind-hearted Captain Wessels, looking d

d brought

he read--"Miss

upant of the state-room, who had sunk back as if exhausted on the sofa

after a moment's hesitation--came wit

is Marion