The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-12-10
6aVED BIZ 4 CCTTLE. FISH.

The bark Celise lay swinging in th'
surge, on the ocean path whsch leads
from San Francisco 10 Shanghai, in :
dead calm,
The ocean was not a; e rcst-it nevc!
ceases TO heave and swell-but there wat
not the slightest breath OF air 10 stir ths
smooth surface Of the long rollers upon
which The CeltSe rose and fell. ThC
officers paced the deck anxiousiy, foi
there is nothing which SO much annoys
seaman as n calm at sea. Even the
men before the mast tire Of 1t after 4
while, for there is nothing SO moneto
nous and dull as 10 sit in the tops and
feel The great shi prising and sinking be-
meath, making nOway, except the drift.
But the officers feel it most, for they
have regulations 10 sustain, and the men
who can carry ship through voyage
in the least time, without straining spars
or hull, are the men the great com
panies advance.
The captain was on deck, pacing to
and fro on his own peculiar station,
the quarter deck. lie was a young
man in years, but had passed his lie up
on the ;ea from boy hood, and knew all
the phases OF that vast expanse. Alto
gethcr but twenty-five years of age, he
had advanced, step, by step, until he
eommard ed a bark in the service Of a
great tea company.
lie was not alone upon the quarter
deck, for keeping pace with him, and
looking anXiousy at the blue sky rs he
did, in the hope Of seeing some signs Of
wind, was a beautiful woman, Mildred
Common, the wife of the captain Of the
CeliSe and she is anxious for his sake,
rs this was his first voyage as command
or, and he had a reputation to make.
Mildred Common was beautifdl--a
beauty OF face, mind and soul. She had
turned away from richer men, against
the advice Ct friends, TO link her for
tunes with those OF her sailor lover.
And, indeed, he was worthy of "A wo-
mans love and trust. Tall and strong,
with an open, manly sunbeamed face,
his clustering brown hair RISING above
= bold, high forehead, and determined
light in his blue eyes. His men loved
him, and would dare any danger for his
sake, because he never asked them to 60
where he dared not lead.
a man, leaning against the main
mast, with his strong arms folded on
his broad breast, was looking at the
pair with dark, intense gaze. A dark
haired man, full OF from strength with
fierce black eyes, which spoiled the ex
preston OF face otherwise handsome
This was Wallace Floyd, first mate of
tho Ce!tSe, who had grown up with
Edgar Conner on the sea, and had been
lis best friend through lie.
lie had loved Mildred Common, and
when he saw her married to another,
even though that other was his best
friend, he seemed TO change all at once
and from that hour the wild. fierce
black hook never left bis eyes. Let US
hope that the man had lost his senses,
and WAS not to blame for the treachcry
he meditated. Strcnghearted in times OF
danger before, he became reckless now,
and those who knew him best were as
tonishcd at the change in him.
lie hated Edgar Conner now more |
than lie had ever loved in the times
gone by. lie looks upon him as man
who had robbed him of the one treasure
which be had. If Mildred had !
even dreamed of his love il |
would haye been a different matter, but
Sic had only thought of him as Edgar's
friend, as man who loved him above
all things on earth. AL through the
voyage thus far he had been brooding
over vengeance, and forming plan so
fiendish that the human mind recoils at
it. The calm had delayed him, but he
knew that it could not last much long
er.
of [ could 90 mad at once, and for
get all the last years Of my life, it would
be better for me. I loved him once,
but when | sec them together and know
that she loves hm, aud that but tor
him / might have won her, it drives me
mad for yengehcc. twill come in time,
il only wait"
At this moment the captain called
him, and he went forward slowly.
"What do you think of the chances,
Wallie? Do you see any sign of wind!"
ave shall have it fresh from the right
quarter, in two hours" replied The =
mate.
al am glad TO hear it, for there is
nothing On earth which | hate 30 much
rs calm at sea. Not that am tired
Of MillyIyet," he added, with fond look
at bis wife, "but want to make quick
trip"
"lour trip will be quick enough said
Wallace, with doubtful look. "Yoa
will see if am not a true prophet"
There was something in the tono Of
he mans voice which struck a chill 10 :
he heart OF the captains wife in spite q
Of herself. She shGddered, and looked
At him closely to see it he had any SIMS !
Ter meaning but there was a smile mp c
On his face as she looked al him, smile Y
so pleasant that she began 10 laugh.
do you know what | thought at !
hat momenty" she said. alt was tool
Sh in me, but it seemed to me, before .
ooked into your face, that you were d
threatening Edgar in some way"
ola. ha. hap cried Connor; "that :
IS the most conieal idea | ever heard y
N my life, Wallie Floyd, who saved nv {
ite in the Ladroncs; Wa!lie, for whom h
fought at Tlen-Tsing who stabbed ;hc /
shark, just as he turned on his back TO IA
axe me in Wallie whom | saved from Il