, 1874-08-02

13-, on steamboat leaving the wharyes Of
Now York. whose destination WIS Boston.
person who has been Fortunate enough to mako
this Journey in favorable weather. need not be
told tint the trip is delightful particularly so
if it bo mato in ono of those - floating palaces "
belonging to tho " Fall River Line"
ON QUE Of these occasions, just before tie
bont started, protty girl, OF perhaps II or Is,
stepped aboard, inquired for the Steward, and
secured state-room, saying fhe r;as going
through to Boston. Her manner waH easy and
se!f-possessod; ye5 certain auducious sarcness
in her splendid brown eyes, the iaunty way LII
which sle wore her Turkish hat, her independent
air, and l. namcless suggestion OF mischief Which
appeared to 1urh in every movement, arrested
the observers attention, and seemed to Indicate
tlat she was proficient beyond her years in tho
worlds knowledge; that her tutelage, to say tho
least had partaken moro Of lenionce than Of
prudence. Her dress was rich, and exQusitcly
becoming, but with no attempt at conspicuous
ornament. Her hair was Of the samo rich brown
color as her eyes, and fell down to her waist,
resting as lovely on her fair young shoulders as
il each separate hair were endowed with electric
life.
From the moment the vessel started she was
the target Of universal attention. Tho ladies'
eyed her very narrowly, and criticised her dress
and manner With that mcrcilcss severity known
only to the gentlcr sex. The gentlemen cast
sly glances OF admiration from beneath their
hats and behind their newspapers; and the
gravest Of them looked more amablc at sight OF
her bright eyes aud childish couatenance.
As We swept out into the Sound, she came on
deck, where most of the gentlemen and
several ladies' were congrcgatcd, and di-
al full t~In eF
tion at the Captain, addressing him
in q tone OF reckless lovity and with familiari-
ty which startled the ladies and amused the gon-
tlenen; and otherwise conducting herself in
manner which left no doubt NJ to her social
status III less than ten minutes, every Indy On
board WAS her ayowed enemy. aud not at oil
afraid to lot 1t be known; but she Chartered Oh,
i'll her rollicking way, regardless Of smiles or
frowns,-aPpareutly tho irrcdecmable deyotee Of
noughslessness aud folly.
This afternoon drifted slowly by, froightcd
with delicious lanruor, as tue majestic vessel
plunged steadily onward through the waste of
waters The passengers lounEed 1istlcssly from
deck to cabin. reading, browsing. or musing, as
their various tempe1ameuts inclined them; but
nll yielding, to some extent, to tho dreamy con-
phere.
We we1e all on deck, shortly after tes, admir-
ill.,; the runset, which Hooded the seq and sky
with Il transforming spleudor It WAS gay
CuupAI9 HUI Blu 4IGo Cuuu p6 l0HIlu amongst
us all. The too intense heat of tho day had
subsidized and soft breeze had sprung up; to
breathe the air was, in itsclf. au inspiration.
Our irrcpressible and too-coufding young-lady
passenger was there, and her childish laugh
rang out above the rest. bho had selected tho
good d-natured Captain and one or two of lis
officers as the especial objects Of her tlppant,
though by no means vicious. raioty and they
permitted it, partly from ap nc1uirod habit of
alabllity toward all passengers, and partly bo-
ly{ {,nri irrn h1o
ylvacity.
TIC lady-paseengers. Of course, Stunned and
kept aloof from tier III from a noxous poison, az
if her very contact would breed pestiieuco. The
gentlemen did likewise, to great extent; more,
believe. from tender regard for feminine
opinion, than from any considerable instinct of
horror.
Suddenly the smile died on her lips, and her |
face became ine1pressibly sad and earnest, rs
she gnzed far out acIoBs the water. Her atti- |
tude and expreEsson as she stood thus, formed |
4 picture which will never fade in my memory; |
she looked so innocent. so childlike, aud SO l1l-
tense}y Borrowful.
In moment eho turned to the Captain, with /
something Of her old manner Teaching up her |
delicate white hands, sho took hold Of his abun- |
daut vhiBkers, on each side of lis faco as the |
reader has seen pettcd daughter caross her |
father, aad, looking up into his face, askc1 with
great solenlnity:
ibid you ever want to die, Captain p
swell, no, my child,'' ne replied, somerhat
surprised at her changed manner. IL cau't say
that over had d great desire to die"
''And il you had such desire, what would
you do?"
"Oh! in that case," said be- as he loosed her
bands and turned away, "I thluk. us it would be
the most available method, should jump over
board and drown myself"
Scarcely had he finished speaking, when she
whrled, put one hand on the railing, and leaped
into the Sound. The Whole movement was 80
that it WAS impossible fer any ono
to anticipate or prevent it.
4 cry OF horror went up from those who saw
tho movement. Some stood transti1ed and un-
able to move, while others hurried about III con-
fused excitement. The Captain and his crew
worked like the noble men they were, and had
the boats lowered and manned almost instantly. |
i moment after her disappearance, she came
to tue surface. There was nothing scared III her
expression and she made no struggle to save
heree}f. I saw her face distinctly, as she came
up, and fanced could detect in it the sA1no sor-
rowiul looa il had worn q few moments before !
though even that expression could not wholly de-
prise it OF a certain jaunty grace which became
it we'll.
It was only momentary glimpse which we
had Of her; for she disappeared just rs the first
boat touched the water, and We never saw her
though every possible effort Was
nade't to lind her.
tl1ins never saw sa6der men ttau those
rough sailors, when they pulled the heavy yawl
alongside, and replied, to hundred simulta-
aeous interrogatoues: We found no trace OF
!er At all" |
And those gentle Indies, who sLrank with such |
aversion from her Lnlf ELL hour before, had many
, tender utterance for her now, and could not |
,oice their pity when they knew that. while she