Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-09-21
Alb AT SEA-.

Alb AT YEA.
It was the afternoon OF dull, cloudy
day near the End of October. The car.
riagc, in which Eleanor Grant was seated
alone, drove down to the pier al South
ampton, at which she was TO take a vessel
for the United States. Upon reaching the
vessels deck she was somewhat startled 10
meet the last person she expected or desir-
ed to zee, Philip Armstrong. Six years
ago, Eleanor Grant WAS Twenty-Five, the
beautiful and only daughter Of one Of tie
richest merchants in New York Philip
Armstrong was poor young LAWYER, Just
beginning to make his way In the profess
sion which had since proved fortune 10
bin. They were engaged with the full
consent OF everybody their marriage
day was fixed, and they would have been
rspturously happy but for one cloud in
their sky. Philip was proud aud sensitive
the idea that he might be even suspected
by the world Of having sought the wealthy
heiress from mercenary motives CALLED him
to the quick, and when he chaneed to
Overheer sneering comment upon the
shrewd thing Armstrong was doing for
himself In making sure of the heircss, he
was foolish enough to trust himself In
Eleanor's presence while smarting from
this thrust. As III luck would have II, her
mind was full OF matters relating to their
prospective housekeeing, and she FASTENED
70 consult him on some point involving
considerable outlay of money. He forgot
both his prudence and his good breeding.
'For Heavens sake, Eleanor" he said,
don't ask me TO begin spending your
money until We are married II is the
misery of my life already, and l cordially
wish that you had not a penny"
If Eleanor had known the annoyance
under which his pride was still chaang
she might have forgiven even this but
she did not know it, and her anger famed
pp. She answered, haughtlly;
81 really ask your pardon, sir, for
troubling you. had not supposed that
my money was consideration 80 much
more important TO you than myself"
The words were scarcely uttered before
she burned to recall them, for she saw how
he might interpret them. But she was
proud as well as he, and she sat silent.
His face turned white to the very lips. He
arose and took his hat from the table.
His voice was husky and thick.
''lf such he your belief, madam" he
said, "the sooner take my leave the bet
ter. Allow me to wish you good.even-
ing"
She bowed coldly, but without speaking
and he walked out Of the house.
After this they never met until this even
ing, when they bowed to each other across
Captain BarrOw's dinner table in the
cabin OF the Grey Eagle. No one would
have dreamed, from the demeAnor Of either,
that they were other than strangers.
Eleanor looked pale and said little to any
one-to Philip nothing. She seemed rath-
er weary and Indifferent, and retired early.
Philip talked, though it was with great
effort. He did not address Eleanor, talked
science with the surgeon, theology with
the clergyman, and drew out one of the
captains best stories.
Eleanor WAS much alone. Her deep
mourning dress protected her from frivol-
Gus intrusion, and she would sit for hours
in her iavorite place on deck, reading, OF
looking away over the blue waters. They
had now been more than week at sea.
The wind was favorable, and they were
crowding sail at night and day. II seemed
to Eleanor that they were making splen'
did progress, yet she could not rid herself
of vague feeling that something wal
wrong. The weather was fine, but che
noticed that Captain Barrow studied th'
barometer with constant, and, she thought
anxious attention. His manner, too
usually so hearty and free, had growr
gloomy and abstracted he WAS nervousl,
watchful for every little circumstance, ,anG
was often In apparently anxious consulta
tion with his officers. Something wa
wrong with the sailors, too. There wa
whispering and looks of sullen discomfort
and perpetual sound Of hammering an'
carpenter work seemed to be golug on v
some part of the vessel.
It was just before sunset OF the mint
day out. Eleanor waa sitting in tho usus
place. The Captain was standing befor
his barometer, when Philip Armslron
came by and spoke to him. They were S
near that she could easily hear what the
said, though her face was turned frol
them, and her eyes fixed on her book.
"What docs the glass say, Captain Z"
'set fair" replied the other cheerful
80 far, good everything seems favo
able for us. think we shall have
quick run"
"God grant it," said the Captain, car
estly.
"You speak with fervor. Does mn,
hang on the speed Of our voyage ~
The captain threw quick glance arouu
and lowered his tone as he answered
Everything depends upon our speed no
We are running for our lives"
"What do you mean :" demanded Ph
Up, stemly.
IL mean that the ship has been on
for three days"
The appalling announcement struck Pi
ip dumb. The captain went on' "a
passengers had a right, perhaps, TO hs
known this before but kept hoping q
we should conquer the flre. You see
had a quantity of coal in ballast, and
mischief is there. We have battened {
smothered ii down, and II We should
sure of keeping tho air from it, wo
not be afraid for another :orlni ght'
have known ship go sally tito port v
Ore In her hold that burned three wet
But we have an innammable cargo, an
ii reaches that we are gone"
"But surely, we must meet come
sell"