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Authors: Robert W Service
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gulls flapped
their wings hard in the face of it. The wolf-pack of the sea were snarling
whitely as they ran. The decks were deserted, and so many of the brawlers were
sick and lay like dead folk that it almost seemed as if a Sabbath quiet lay on
the ship. That day I had missed the old man, and on going below, found him lying
as one sore stricken. A withered hand lay on his brow, and from his lips, which
were almost purple, thin moans issued.
"Poor old beggar," I thought; "I wonder if I cannot do anything for him." And
while I was thus debating, a timid knock came to the door. I opened it, and
there was the girl, Berna.
There was a nervous anxiety in her manner, and a mute interrogation in her
grey eyes.
"I'm afraid he's a little sick to-day," I said gently; "but come in, won't
you, and see him?"
"Thank you." Pity, tenderness and love seemed to struggle in her face as she
softly brushed past me. With some words of endearment, she fell on her knees
beside him, and her small white hand sought his thin gnarled one. As if
galvanised into life, the old man turned gratefully to her.
"Maybe he would care
for some coffee," I said. "I think I could rustle him some."
She gave me a queer, sad look of thanks.
"If you could," she answered.
When I returned she had the old man propped up with pillows. She took the
coffee from me, and held the cup to his lips; but after a few sips he turned
away wearily.
"I'm afraid he doesn't care for that," I said.
"No, I'm afraid he won't take it."
She was like an anxious nurse hovering over a patient. She thought a
while.
"Oh, if I only had some fruit!"
Then it was I bethought me of the box of grapes. I had bought them just
before leaving, thinking they would be a grateful surprise to my companions.
Obviously I had been inspired, and now I produced them in triumph, big, plump,
glossy fellows, buried in the fragrant cedar dust. I shook clear a large bunch,
and once more we tried the old man. It seemed as if we had hit on the one thing
needful, for he ate eagerly. She watched him for a while with a growing sense of
relief, and when he had finished and was resting quietly, she turned to me.
"I don't know how I can thank you, sir, for your kindness."
"Very easily," I said quickly; "if you will yourself accept some of the
fruit, I shall be more than repaid."
She gave me a dubious look; then such a bright, merry light flashed into her
eyes that she was radiantin my sight. It was as if half a dozen years had fallen from
her, revealing a heart capable of infinite joy and happiness.
"If you will share them with me," she said simply.
So, for the lack of chairs, we squatted on the narrow stateroom floor, under
the old man's kindly eye. The fruit minded us of sunlit vines, and the careless
rapture of the South. To me the situation was one of rare charm. She ate
daintily, and as we talked, I studied her face as if I would etch it on my
memory forever.
In particular I noticed the wistful contour of her cheek, her sensitive
mouth, and the fine modelling of her chin. She had clear, candid eyes and
sweeping lashes, too. Her ears were shell-like, and her hair soft, wavy and
warm. These things I marked minutely, thinking she was more than beautifulshe
was even pretty. I was in a state of extraordinary elation, like a man that has
found a jewel in the mire.
It must be remembered, lest I appear to be taking a too eager interest in the
girl, that up till now the world of woman had been terra incognita to me;
that I had lived a singularly cloistered life, and that first and last I was an
idealist. This girl had distinction, mystery and charm, and it is not to be
wondered at that I found a joy in her presence. I proved myself a perfect
artesian well of conversation, talking freely of the ship, of our
fellow-passengers and of the chances of the venture. I found herwonderfully quick in the uptake. Her
mind seemed nimbly to outrun mine, and she divined my words ere I had
their wings hard in the face of it. The wolf-pack of the sea were snarling
whitely as they ran. The decks were deserted, and so many of the brawlers were
sick and lay like dead folk that it almost seemed as if a Sabbath quiet lay on
the ship. That day I had missed the old man, and on going below, found him lying
as one sore stricken. A withered hand lay on his brow, and from his lips, which
were almost purple, thin moans issued.
"Poor old beggar," I thought; "I wonder if I cannot do anything for him." And
while I was thus debating, a timid knock came to the door. I opened it, and
there was the girl, Berna.
There was a nervous anxiety in her manner, and a mute interrogation in her
grey eyes.
"I'm afraid he's a little sick to-day," I said gently; "but come in, won't
you, and see him?"
"Thank you." Pity, tenderness and love seemed to struggle in her face as she
softly brushed past me. With some words of endearment, she fell on her knees
beside him, and her small white hand sought his thin gnarled one. As if
galvanised into life, the old man turned gratefully to her.
"Maybe he would care
for some coffee," I said. "I think I could rustle him some."
She gave me a queer, sad look of thanks.
"If you could," she answered.
When I returned she had the old man propped up with pillows. She took the
coffee from me, and held the cup to his lips; but after a few sips he turned
away wearily.
"I'm afraid he doesn't care for that," I said.
"No, I'm afraid he won't take it."
She was like an anxious nurse hovering over a patient. She thought a
while.
"Oh, if I only had some fruit!"
Then it was I bethought me of the box of grapes. I had bought them just
before leaving, thinking they would be a grateful surprise to my companions.
Obviously I had been inspired, and now I produced them in triumph, big, plump,
glossy fellows, buried in the fragrant cedar dust. I shook clear a large bunch,
and once more we tried the old man. It seemed as if we had hit on the one thing
needful, for he ate eagerly. She watched him for a while with a growing sense of
relief, and when he had finished and was resting quietly, she turned to me.
"I don't know how I can thank you, sir, for your kindness."
"Very easily," I said quickly; "if you will yourself accept some of the
fruit, I shall be more than repaid."
She gave me a dubious look; then such a bright, merry light flashed into her
eyes that she was radiantin my sight. It was as if half a dozen years had fallen from
her, revealing a heart capable of infinite joy and happiness.
"If you will share them with me," she said simply.
So, for the lack of chairs, we squatted on the narrow stateroom floor, under
the old man's kindly eye. The fruit minded us of sunlit vines, and the careless
rapture of the South. To me the situation was one of rare charm. She ate
daintily, and as we talked, I studied her face as if I would etch it on my
memory forever.
In particular I noticed the wistful contour of her cheek, her sensitive
mouth, and the fine modelling of her chin. She had clear, candid eyes and
sweeping lashes, too. Her ears were shell-like, and her hair soft, wavy and
warm. These things I marked minutely, thinking she was more than beautifulshe
was even pretty. I was in a state of extraordinary elation, like a man that has
found a jewel in the mire.
It must be remembered, lest I appear to be taking a too eager interest in the
girl, that up till now the world of woman had been terra incognita to me;
that I had lived a singularly cloistered life, and that first and last I was an
idealist. This girl had distinction, mystery and charm, and it is not to be
wondered at that I found a joy in her presence. I proved myself a perfect
artesian well of conversation, talking freely of the ship, of our
fellow-passengers and of the chances of the venture. I found herwonderfully quick in the uptake. Her
mind seemed nimbly to outrun mine, and she divined my words ere I had
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