The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-13

1t must seem very wonderful. Have
you been there, Captain Powell p"
Yes" answered Powell, casting hiE
eyes urcamily around. "Wonderfu
indeed that endless day, where there
are no nights-no dreadful night
wish | was thcre-and you piM me,
he added in q scarcely audible whis.
per.
Kate Ellis was startled. The last
words had not escaped her quick cars
"Kate," said he, suddenly seizing
the girls hand" answer me one ques.
tion. You wished just now to know
where we are; let me first hear from
you where l am, and whether there
is the smallest hope left for me that a
fair breeze will again fill my sails and
blow me into port p
II do not understand you, Captain
Powell" said Kate, trying to take her
hand away Rut he would not let
her; he continued to hold it whio- he
spoke, his voice hoarse with agitation
Do not evade ME longer-not now,
at least be assured from this
moment l will not disturb you with a
single word. Tell me only this one
thing-is it really true that you are
new Fastening to the arms Of a bride
groom? Your mo- her says it. is. Is
it true that he is waiting impatiently
fer you in Ehgland?-that this ship
is bearing you to him?"
For a moment Kate Ellis's face was
us white as his. And then she raj.
Ii d h.r courage to avow the simple
truth, decmi & that it might put an
end to the trouble for once and all.
1T is quite true, Captain Powell
I am soon to be married to Mr. o.
terson; think You know him. You
were told this in New York"
"But I could not believe it," he an
swered with strange emotion. "I-I
could not think that I stood at the
gates of Heaven only to see them
closed against mo" -.
captain Powell"
He flung away ner hand, and look
cd at her. She looked back at him.
Trembling though she was with dis
may, she did not shrink from what
she had said. -~-s. .
"It is well, Miss Ellis" said be,
calmly drawing his pea-coat closer
about him, as though he felt cold. I
thank you you. at least, that you
have been siraigbtfor ward with me.
l shall keep my promise. I will not
trouble you with any further ques-
tons"
"And will you now answer III" ?"
she yet gained courage to cay. When
shall we reach our destination ?"
"Soon, Miss Ellis-soon. You will
see l shall not delay. I can't control
the winds You know butt am in Il
hurry myself leave it to me-"
With his eyes fixed on her, he rails
cd his oilskin hat and went below.
There was something very strange
about him; Kate could but see it. In
half an hour, during which time he
broodcd over his chart, he was on
deck again and gave orders to set the
top gallant sails.
This was soon done. But the
Mary Burton could not keep the
same course with her upper sails set.
She now stood exactly north-north-
east. ~.
Some of the passengers noticed the
change, and supposed that it indicat-
ed that. the captain, having been driv-
en- too much to the south, was about
to take the channel round the north
Instead of the channel south Of Ire.
land. This hypothesis caused great
JOY among the passengers, and sever.
al bottles Of wine were brought from
private stores to celebrate the occa-
sion. But the commander was gloom
ier than before, and would take no
part in the convivialisy.
The second mate shook his head
over this new course; it was not at
all clear to him. But he was an ig-
norant fellow, as was already said,
and careless as well. The chief mate
remained very i'll.
As the days went on, the wind
became more and more favorable.
They now have sailed due east, but
the yards were squared, and the bark
still held her northerly course. One
Of the passengers, an American land
agent, had some experience in navi-
cation, having once taken charge Of a
coasting schooner from Boston to New
Orleans. After while he became
exceedingly dissatisfied with 6his con-
tinred progress towards the north,
which b. ought them no nearer to
their destination. One night he no.
ticed tho polar star higher in the
heavens than he had ever seen it be-
fore. The nights also began to be
extremely cold. They must have
already gone far north: The matter
began to look suspicious. He did not
understand the captain; but it was
time that something should be done.
The next day when it was the cap
tain's watch on deck, he went stealth
ily to tho mates berth. The chief
officer had now recovered consciou S.
ness, and the fever was gone; but he
was very weak.
"a word in confidence, Mr.. Mate
began the American. "Do YOU know
in what latitude we are ?"
"No; I've lost my reckoning" was
the feeble answer. "How's her
head"