The Argosy — page 247: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

232 Fenny Morris's Voyage. This was remarkably reassuring, and Jenny received it with inward surprise and outward dignity: but when it transpired, as it presently did, that this sympathy was lavished on her in consideration of her heartless desertion by that deceiving wretch, Dacey,—indignation and laughter struggled for mastery in Jenny’s face. The latter gained the day, and she broke out into a merry peal that rang in the saloon. ‘“‘Of course it was a planned thing,” said Mrs. Webb; ‘a deep laid plot to get away from you, Jenny. Now that we are nearing San Francisco, he might be afraid that you would hold him to his atten- tions.” Another merry peal of laughter from Jenny. The ladies decided by private signs among themselves that it was ‘‘ put on.” ‘“‘ Hysterics, poor thing,” said Mrs. Webb, nodding confidentially. ‘‘T can feel for her as a Christian should, without regard to the past.” Day after day passed by, and the Zzg/¢ning sailed on and on; but it was never crossed or overtaken by the Z/iza Jones. ‘They had been voyaging on the stormy deep for nearly four of the longest months Jenny had ever known, when something occurred to Madame Freep of a really startling nature. She had been gradually becoming nervous and irritable for some time past, and had followed the captain’s brother on deck, and walked and talked to him there in an excited way. One afternoon she left him in dreadful anger after an interview of this kind, and hurrying down the companion-way, past where Jenny and Mrs. Webb were sitting, cursed him loudly and in terrible language, as a deceitful villain. That night she took rather too much wine and worked herself into a fury. Mrs. Webb took refuge from the dreadful scene in Jenny’s room. ‘ Who would have thought it,” she cried, “oh, who would have thought it ? And yet do you know, Jenny, I remember warning Mr. Bumble, after we got to an end of that Muscat wine she had, that she seemed one to be doubted. Old Bumble is not as atten- tive to me as he might be, and he would not listen.” Disturbance reigned all night. Madame Freep, maddened ands en- raged, paraded the saloon with a pistol in her hand, like a female pirate, threatening to shoot Mr. Perkins. Daylight and unconsciousnall over- came her valour, and she tumbled down in a heap during the scene of her valiant outbreaks. She was carried to her room ; from whence she issued no more until the Golden Gate was entered and San Francisco lay in sight. What a breathless company gathered on deck to view it, as a bright sunshiny December morning disclosed it to their eyes ! Jenny neither spoke nor moved. Her eyes were fixed on a boat that slowly approached them as they lay anchored out in the bay. It neared, came alongside, and bounding from it up the side of the vessel came two gentlemen, who scarcely had the grace to wait and assist a lady who accompanied them, and who was apparently as eager as they, At last she reached the deck and Jenny’s arms the same instant. ‘Elsie, Gomilecbooks.co m - =