Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-18

| storm Wenf on, and even he eXhIOtsed +
visible signs Of agitation. Florence had,
al fitst retired, bat as the night deepen
ed, the temprs: h ad increaspd to such'a
pitch that she could not sleep and atti-
ring herself ia white morning wrapper
had foined her father who had remained
up. Occasionally Mr.. Harold left her
10 90 on deck Iof: few minutes 1t was
/ aftef one Of these nomentary absences
THAT be returned more SrIiou$ than ever. |
iISsitfe storm worse9' said Florence,
Iahxiou>ly. fNf t-t
yes! replied the parent Sill, the
ship Is stout one, and we have but lii |
tie 10 fear e a' ~
/ '4Then there Is danger cried Florence.
'0hlpa .ell me all. You@ould not >ay
az much as you have, unlessyoG thought
the peril very great. Speak. i can bear
lit Sc H e
4 Prepare for fhe worst then,' said her
father, clasping her in his arms, while a
tear started to hi. manly eye. 'Unltss
the gale abates, the ship will not hdld
oui tllI morning; for every spar is already
strained. and frightful leak has just been
iiScovered.'. @
J Florence turned whittier than ashes at
! these terrible words Life was dear TO
her, for youth and love were hers; and
. death WAS d+t outly terrible, because she
] cuuld not bi Frank farewell. Her first
fl thought wa< ol the long. long years he
!. would wait for her. in thr vain hope that
] She might yet reach America in safety:
{ Her next was how To die. She murrnur
! ed prayer TO heaven. hurxips. her face
J, on her ialher' sbosorn. At last she spoke.
/ Clasp me- cljser, dear father, wrir
y her words, let mr. feel youf arm around
ri me.i We viii die together. Even thr
y varacioas ocean shall hot separate us. ~
+ OltFs Whl be The same grayes blessesi
y thoughl,r, fz.f 81 i ,sss. ; ~ a
Y ,dr Halold's broad breast shook witt
u sebs, He had expected despair, he has
" Ieared gals weakness; but he litilt
IN knew Els child ; aud this .heroisln thi,
n divine resignation completely oveipow
cred hfn Y 'e' - ,-ti t.9
ho Yout me how TO die, Florence,
IN ht said- Cod bless ou, dearest ofinaf
lr- tyrs' But hark @ sa 70
70 He started To hisfret as lie spoke. Al
y awful claIroi thunder had bul>t overhra
nd almost stunning those v hn heard it.-
y simultaneously -qpall seemed to has
ne struck The vessel. Tor >he keeled over
"a while on deck was coniu>inn, TO judg
Or Nv the loud orders Of the captain and III
Re hurryIng Of lert.
~ ] must leave you for moment sal
~ Mr.. Harold, placing Florence in secnI
20 position i may be Of service on decs
~ II not will return az once He ru>he
~ up the galtgway as he spoke, eneeunte
ing torrent Of water, that came PouFln
=" down. .-,f... ,.-zrE 7.tI ~
:. Minute after minute. passed yet |
did not return. Thr cabin Was now ha
ba full Of water, but Florence was clingir
-. IN secure pnSitioR, on the upper
~ weaiher-side, and was but little imcor
~ moded. The shouts an trampIng OF ie
~ continued followed, alter an interval,
The etlfipd noise of axes, as il used
=. cutting under water Then there was
- sharp crack and the ship began 10 rigt
-, But still MIR. Harold did not make
apprarafice. For about minute. aft
the merchantmen recovered an even ke
Ia the noise on deck continued: and. tn
To- came staggering blow against the sh
rb;. as 1t some unusually gigantic wave h
80, struck il. A, cataIa act OF water slmnlis
eously poured down the companion Wa
bin till the cabin was waist deep with
briny element. Florence Believed II
so the crisis had come. She expected II
,sr :, = rnenily 10 bp suffocated in the food, a
closed her eyes in horror.
NO " But, in ten instants the rush of
nee. decenGng huid was over and Foren
that gathering hope, listened to hear W
had was happening on deck. All was stIl
,omp there, as il by enchaniment. NJ hun
cries no iramping feet Were heard
ons only the rush OF water and the howl
he OF the wind. Florence listened 10. va
Judo. The silence, thus continued, was IN
,nk7. appalling than all the noises which I
co,. crded it. Florence had heard Of VII
obey crews being swept over board sometii
-iohi by single wave, and her heart fT
. YOU with terror as the Thought suggested
self that this had happened now.
were Five minutes, ten minutes Qua
d his of an hour elapsed. and, Al last, m
Id not TO endure the suspense. Florence grp
! less her path TO the companion way. bra'
ssihle the floods Of water in the cabin,
eyes. finally struggled 10 the derk. Here
Rant violence Of the wind almost yprostri
an-ol- her, The. first object that caught
vision was the stump of the miEen-n
which had been broken off close to
deck; It was the nearest thing she
wind 10 which TO cling and in moment
rain was clasping it with both arms.
the She now cast an anxious, afrig
e gal. look around Her worst fears were