The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-04-29

/ met, are going out in the Hettie Hill
grove tomorrow: you must COM
with us. You shan't say 70, as yol
always do. III not listen to it.
II intend to say yes, and thanh
you," said 1, quickly; and Ben tos
sed up his cap. 1 could have tossed
up mine also in my joy at being SC
readily provided with an excuse tc
run away from Maria, laughing at me
with her boorish escort.
1--WE go on board tonight at nine
and have supper in the cabin" said
Ben. you'll be there"
"Yes," said.
"Good-by until that time, then,
said Ben. "You know where she
lies? 1 thought so. Don't fall and
and he was off like a shot.
! They were waiting for me when ]
returned to the riverside. Miss
Maria and her escort chose to tease
me about my long delay. 1t was all
of a piece with the rest. / flung hel
back retort that sounded merry
enough, and climed to a seat beside
Cato. 1t was a pleasure to take the
reins from his hands and drive the
horses at their full speed. The
Readlong race did me good. Once
there l hastily reapeated Ben's in Vi
tation. "But you are not going?'
said my aunt. you've just come to
see u.s."
81 can not refuse Ben this time, -
I said; ''indeed l can not, aunt.
"Why should you my boy?" asked
my uncle.
"Why indeed, mamaf" said Ma
ria. Imagine the luxury Of living a
week in an atmosphere of smoke and
whiskey, afar from civilized society!
"Pretty high parties some o them
yachtin' ones, said the farmer.
Every one to his taste, though
$50, say I. leave You to keep
each other company" l answered,
and left Maria and her Orson togeth-
CT.
Anime / was as merry as the rest
in Ben Hillgroye's pretty cabin
over a supper that would not have
disgraced DelmOnico's.
At dawn the yacht was on hel
way, as graceful and fair a thing as
sailed the waters.
Had we too much smoke and whis-
KEY aboard? Were Ben and his
crew not after all the sailors they
thought themselves l can hardly
answer. l was desperate with sup.
pressed emotion, ready for any wild
excitement. The rest were reckless
merry, high-living young fellows all
of them. 1 only remember this pos
itively- We had three days of calm
bright weather, then a storm begar
to gather; we went on deck to watch
it, We admired the sky, the sea, an6
rejoicd in the excitement of The
tempest. We were at supper wher
it was at its worst that night. Lat
er, every man save Ben and the sail
ors was in his berth.
! 1 slept soundly. l was awakened
by some one shaking me by tn
shoulder.
"Who's that?" l cried.
u, Ben. The Nettie is sinkin!
| Paul! Can you swim
"Yes."
$50 can every one on board
There's a chance for rs. God gran
no harm may come to you! 1t woult
seem my fault. l induced you t.
come"
The merry fellow was serious as
deacon now. l grasped his hant
and went on deck; strange, startled
faces that 1 hardly recognized look
ed pale in the Pickering lanterl
light. One, a young fellow 0
+ twenty, stood close to me.
81 don't fear death, l hope h
said, turning to me. I'm no NOR
a coward than most men; but there
a girl at New Haven who'll take i
hard, I'm afraid, if this is the last o
me-and no boat can live in such 4
d sea. I'd like to see her once again;
and his voice choked into husk,
whisper and he turned away.
1t gave me no comfort to lno'
that Maria would not grieve for mt
We took to the boat in binding
bowling tempest. Half an hour al
ter the yacht went down. / remem
} ber nothing else.
: "He's a coming to.
"Lord be praised. / thought b
! was gone!w
"Be ye better, Mister?
l Iopened my eyes. l was lyin
upon the sea-sand in the light c
: dawning day, Some roughly clat
weather-beaten people were besid
: me. One held a flask of liquor t
my mouth. l remembered all in a
instant, and feebly gasped, "Wher
are the rest!
: 'sYour mates?" asked a man.
''Yes-my friends"
: "Don't tell him." whispered q wO
: man, and | knew the worst. Al
2 hour later / saw the three who ha
} been tossed on shore with me lyins
decently cared for in a fisherman
al shanty. Ben, with his black eye
j closed forever. The youth who ha
t spoken Of his sweetheart, and
' young Virginian who had SCENE
' the merriest off all. I am no
t ashamed to say, / wept as l ben
d over them. Those about me, use
as they were to the perils Of the see
seemed to feel grieved and horror
striken.
r "They're all SO young, YOU see,
q sobbed an old Woman-''mother
: BOYS no doubt, every one Of them!
And now, as 1 grew stronger, | fe
). it my duty to hasten back to OaE
dell, bearing the sad news. A trai
|. passed through the village at nool
D and 1 availed myself of it. Th
e moon was rising when it stopped 8
< the familiar station, and started o
foot for my uncIe's home, wonde
o inc if some survivors had not alrei
II dy brought the news, how l coul
S break it to Ben's old mother
r- The house was unusually dark :
Il l approached: no light in the parlo
n none in the library. The gloom whic
O wrapped it told me that the new
d had come. As l opened the ga
/ softly I heard Cato's voice.