Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-15

ful daughter and" a.u
Naturally she of course did ditto,
interrupted the mate.
Yes, and affairs went on at first as
such delicate matters generally do
replied the captain, that is, there was
mutual exchange of loving vows be-
tween the two, proposed engagement
on the sailors part, and a reference of
the proposition on the young lady's
part TO the will of her wealthy father
"Pll bet dollar that stranded the
whole consarn," observed the mate.
Precisely so," responded Captain
Bruce, !" when the sailors fair proposal
was duly laid before him, Mr.. White
stormed like madman, turned Norris
at once out of his house and employ,
and made his lovely daughter misera-
ble for life"
He'sa villain, and ought to be hung
without judge or jury" interposcd the
mate.
Although the poor girl outwardly
conformed to her fathers will" contin.
ued Capt Bruce, the disappointment
preyed bitterly upon her lonely heart,
her rosy cheek grew pale, and her
health in spite of the best medical skill
that could possibly be procured, grad
ually declined, until, as last resort
she was sent to Havana for its restora-
tion.p "....s s.Ef
"What became of her lover,' inquir-
ed the mate
He went to California" answered
Bruce, "made snug little fortune ira.
ding up and down the Norwest Coast,
and is now on his passage home as
master of fine large ship"
land may marry his old sweetheart
after ALL" replied the mate. "Who
knows ! Hollo, here she comes now,
out of the forccastle, by thunder"
A moment afterwards pale, but
beautifully formed young lady, her
dark eyes sparkling brilliantly with
rnwonted excitement, came quickly aft
from the forecastle gangway, and ad
dressing the Captain, said
"Two men in the forecastle have
suddenly been taken sick with what
fear is yellow fever! am going sir
with your permission, to the cabin fol
medicine"
My dear young lady" exclaimed
Capt. Bruce, you shall do no such
thing. 1t will be more than your life's
worth"
Which is but very littlc," answered
Elsie White with 4 sickly smile.
Little or much, you must not ex.
pose yourself to yaller jack respond.
ed Miller, " If he gets hold of you,
away you'll go overheard in quarter
less than no time
Notwithstanding the weighty obiec-
tions put loquaciously forth by the
Captain and mate, Elsie did go into
the cabin, and after procuring from the
medicine chest such articles as she
thought suitable for the sick mans use
returned to the forecastle with Bruce
and Miller following closely in her
wake.
After feeling the sick mans pulse,
and rigidly scrutinizing his pallid fea.
lures, Mr.. Miller said
1aller Jack has booked this poor
fellow for a cruise aloft, and its of nc
more use for you to give him medicine
miss, than to give it to shovel nosed
shark"
Give me something, for Gods sake
or shall die" said a weak voice from
an adjacent berth.
What's the matter Tom ?" inauir.
ed the Captain.
Heat, and headache sir"
Fever again, by thunder" exclaim-
ed the mate.
Yes it's here, sure enough" re-
sponded Capt Bruce, "and we must
do the best we can to keep it from
spreading farther. Miss White | must
insist upon your leaving the forecastle
forthwith"
Finding she could do no farther good
by staying, Elsie in obedience to the
Captains order Immediately retired
In less than six short hours thcreaf
ter, the two men who had been first
attacked with that dreadful scourge of
southern climes, the yellow fever, died,
two more were stricken down, and
Capt. Bruce was conveyed to his state.
room in fit of wild delirium.
1t was then midnight. When morn.
ing dawned but three living persons,
Elsie White, the mate and colored cook
were left on board the brig.
Towards noon of that eventful day
the cook sickened, fingered till eight
o'clock the same evening, and then, de.
spite of the herculean efforts of the
mate and Elsie White, slept with his
former shipmates, the icy sleep Of
death.
AS she saw the last but one of the
doomed briggs company committed to
the deep, Elsie's brave heart sank with.
in her, and turning to the mate with
fearful eyes, she said
"Oh, Mr.. Miller what shall VIC do /? I"
Trust in God my dear young lady,"
replied the brave old mate, " and the
chance of being fallen in with by some
strange sail. Thank fortin the wealth
er is calm now, although the rising
clouds seem to threaten heavy squall
All | can do is to lash the helm aport,
take in the lighter sails, settle the top
sails on the caps, and keep the brig
to the wind while you go below and
get some rest"
Being greatly fatigued, Elsie taking
the mates advice retired to her state
room, threw herself without disrobing
upon her couch and soon fell off into a
troubled sleep.
Some two hours afterwards, a tre-