Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-03-25
Selected from Burrows Monthly Souvenir.
A PERIL OF THE SEA.

| FIFTY years ago the little viii
lage OF Malburg, on the Allan
tic-washed shore of a New England
State, consisted of twenty or thirty old
fashioned houses. One of these was the
tavern without which no village CT
any pretentions would have held up
its head. Like many hotel of later
and more extended note it had its pc
culiar renown for certain dainties of
the palate, and various in degrees of
character were the numerous parties
from the neighboring towns and farms
which, upon every legitimate holiday,
were wont to assemble at the mansion
of mine host of the tavern at Malburg
in order to feast upon eel-pie, and
grow merry over cider. But upon that
| especial day on which We are to intro
duce our reader into the narrow con-
fines of its bar-room, the said room
was crowded with persons of very
different description from the peacea-
| bic idlers who were ordinarily wont
to empty mine hosts larder, and for
get the price of corn over the divine
inspirations of bad cider or New Eng
land rum. Instead of the INDECENT,
satisfied air of the saturnalan merry
maker, the vagrant angler, or the far
(; mer, instead of the quiet, yet glad
! cOuntenances of such hunters of pleas
ure and eaters of eel-pie, or the more
| obstreperous JOY of urchins let loose
| from school TO taste some brief and
| perennial recreation, and mine hosts
delicacies at the same time; instead of
these, the little room presented de-
cidedly martial aspect. In short. it
was general training,n which in those
| days meant gathering, for drill and
| inspection, of the militia organizations
of two or three counties. Malburg.
for the first time in history. had been
| chosen for the place of meeting, and
| great was the connection within its
! limits thereat.
The country people had fiocked in
| to see the Pageant, and among them
| came many women-mothers, sisters.
! and sweethearts of the men who made
up the ranks of the militia. But of
all who viewed the show that day there
was no prettier girl than Pet Barnlee,
the tormenter of half the hearts in
Malburg and its vicinity. Not that
| she was flirt or coquett, for no truer-
hearted girl ever trod New England.
but her beauty attracted a plentitude
| of lovers, none of whom found eXoep.
tional favor in htr sight-save one
| The exception was VIII Burton, who
held proud possession Of her heart. 1t
was his form, in all the glory of blue
coat, red pants, and gilt buttons, that
alone brought the spark to her pretty
eyes that day. He stood five feet ten,
and was heavily built-a strong. elastic
sort of man, such as one would not
care to run against, and in one whom
every confidence could be repOsed if
once friendship were established. -
| Not man to set the world on fire, to
| be sure; but most excellent person
| to put out such an undesirable copfla-
grafton should some hair-brained ia
matte succeed in applying the torch.
The parade was over at last, and in
one room Of the Malburg tavern the
| brigade officers were dining upon the
| Best that the little village could fur
nish. Among the half dozen officers
was Colonel Louis Pangborn, man
of great wealth and resident of
neighboring city. He was not hand
some man, nor attractive in any way
except TO his boon companions over
the bottle, and when under the influ-
| ence of pOtations he was noted for his
utter recklessness. Neither was he a
stranger to the people of Malburg,
where business and pleasure had fire.
! queutly brought him. He had met
! with Pet Barnlee and woOed her,
whether with honorable or dishonora-
| BILE motives the girl cared little, for
she repulsed him without hesitation.
When the party of officers had fin
| ished their meal it was after dark
! They had drank freely, aud the effect
/ nj ink xricfhIo e
| had sailed across the bay in Colonel
Pangborn's yacht, a schooner Of con-
! siderable size, and the uuartette now
left the others and started for the pier
to re-embark for home. Their way
led past Pet Barnlee's cottage-home,
which was outside of the village and
close to the waters edge.
"Do yod know, fellows" said the
Colonel, THAT the prettiest girl in the
state lives there ?''
His companions did not deny the as
ser.ion. A sudden idea struck the half
| druken colonel.
81 say" he half mumbled, "do you
want a lark?n
They were Just drunk enough to
snap at any proposed adventure.
Then follow me,n and he led the
way witout knocking, into the cottage.
Pet was alone, and the colonel walk
ing up to her, as she arose from chair,
rudely tried to kiss her here. She re-
pulsed him quickly, and gush of rage
swept over his features. He had met
| with coquetry, with vanity and pique,
with ambition and intrigue, ia those
whom lie courted either seriously or
otherwise, during his roue life, but
this girl had calm dignity, a genuine
repugnance, that made her ten thou
sand times more desirable to his way
ward fancy. The difficulty of win
ming enhanced the value of the prize
in his drunken Imagination, and he
again tried to kiss her. She looked
prettier than ever as she stood at bay.
She was of medium height, fair, with
bright laughing eyes, and golden hair.
folded in graceful masses about her
head; could mount steep hillside
without stopping to take breath, and
active as deer. The resistance that
she offered was too demOnstrative to
be pleasant, as an ugly scratch across
the colOnel's cheek gave evidence
The pain infatuated him, and, with
cruel blow he felled her to the floor.
the blood flowing from her mouth and
nose.
Frightened at what he had done, and
dreading an exposue. he stood stupidity
gazing at the now unconscious girl.
1--WE mustn't leave her here TO tell of
it,h he finally said lets take her to
the boat. Perhaps we can buy her off.
Anyway, we can leave off the conse-
quences until we are sober.n
Two of them lifted the girl between |
them, bore her unperceived 10 the |
yacht. and placed her on a bed in the |
cabin. They found the yachts crew
as drunk as themselves, but sail was
quickly set, ana they sped away.
When Pet became conscious, she felt |
the motion of the vessel and so knew |
that she was on the water. All was
dark, however, as she felt too bewil-
dered to think clearly. Again she
slept, waking to realize that the vessel
was being tossed about in frightful
storm. 1t is partially light now, and
seizing of moment OF lull. Pet rises
from the berth and essays to reach the