Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

60 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. from the shore to the vessel’s side, and with eager steps and a beating heart, inquired of the first man she saw, who proved to be the steward, for the captain. “ He's ashore, maam,” was the answer, civilly given; “won't | be here till to-night at ten.” “T wished to inquire for some one,” said Minerva, as the man made a motion to go on, “ if the stewardess is on board —she is a friend of mine. Can I see her?” The man stopped instantly at this, and a change came over his face. He was a slightly built German, of a very fine com- plexion and handsome countenance, and Minerva had noticed more than once on her furmer voyage that he took an unusual interest in the pretty stewardess. Now he regarded the speaker narrowly, before he replied in a lower voice— “ Bandola, we do not know what has become of her.” “Not know what has become of her?” repeated Minerva, slowly and in extreme surprise. “No, madam—you are a friend of hers, perhaps you will be © interested to hear. If you will please take a seat in the cabin, in a moment or two I will be at liberty.” Minerva went slowly down the steps leading into the cabin. It did not seem the same now that it knew no longer the be- nign presence of Captain Wyllies. How overwhelmingly the past came to her memory! There was the state-room taken by Herman yet never claimed. How mournfully empty it seemed! The recollection of that first morning at sea rushed across her mind with dizzing force. How had she survived the knowledge that she was alone, and deserted—going a stranger to a comparatively strange land ? Now in the short space that had intervened, the good captain had gone—Her-~ man was lost to her and Bandola missing. The steward came in in the midst of her painful reflections, “I don’t know what to tell you of Bandola,” he said. “ She was always free to leave the vessel, and always returned in safety. But this time we waited there, four hours, but no Bandola. She went away as usual, and said she should be back in time for dinner, but she was not. I did not grow un- easy, however, till four o’cleck ; then I thought she ought to be on board, and I went to look for her. She had two or three friends, I knew them and went to their houses. They had comliclooks.com