River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-06-04

tone. She turned as she spoke, and
walked away.
"What singular girl Miss Miles is y
remarked pretty May. II never can
make her out at all. She is going abroad
for the summer, you know; going next
week"
SIS she? SO am L."
"Reallyl Tel me about it..
And the conversation drifted away from
Helen. None the less her strange, sudden
speech had made a disagreeable impress
sion on Reginald. He would not ask the
name Of the ship in which she was to sail,
from a Discrimination to have it his own.
Nor was Helcn's feelings one of unmix-
ed joy when, on her third day out, as she
emerged from the companion way under
escort of the stewardess, his face was the
first she saw. Nothing but civilities could
pass, however.
'Nliss Miles did not know that we
were fellow passengers. Let me place
your chair here out of the wind"
Thanks" said Helen, IN her deep
measured voice, hating herself for being
unable to say anthing more apropos than
/ thanks"
"You'd best pin your shawl fast, mum"
advised the stewardess. She tucked Hell
ems feet in, put rug behind her back,
and having reduced her to the wooden
chrysalis which must be sailors one idea
of fashionable lady, went away.
"Have you been sick! Are you going
abroad for long!" So the conversation
went, never getting an inch beyond the
commonplace. Helen might have shone
more had she not been so busy thinking
Of things which were unsayable. 1t is not
easy affecting interest in weather, when all
the while you are putting inward ques:
lions, uttering secrets past speech, At
sea, however, no one is blamed for 81
lenee Before long they ceased to talk.
Reginald held book in his hand, but he
did not read the width and glory of the
tossing horison filled his eyes. And
soon he forgot Helen, and into his face
came what Rosalie lie Clerc had once
called his preaching look, look which
Helen knew we'll.
Rousing suddenly, he caught her eyes
fixed upon him with an intensity that
made him start.
"What is ?" he asked, involuntarily.
i leg your pardon, | did not speak, +"
answered Helen, with fiery blush.
81 beg yours; must have been half
asleep" almost as confusedly. He tried
to laugh it of, said something about sea
air and its effects. but the embarrassment
continued. Soon he walked away. Helen
was abjectly miserable.
How do lookl What did he meant"
So her restless thoughts ran. Matters
were not mended by this little episode.
Next day Reginald avoided her, and she
sat cool and unconcerned to all outward
appearances, but wretched at heart.
1t is not easy, however, to avoid people
altogether in the close quarters of
steamship. Every day these two met,
bowed, spoke, exchanged necessary civil.
ties, or sat near each other in mutual
silence. Once, when they happened to
be in dim and shaded corner of the
moon-lit deck. Helen began to sing. 1t
was the first conscious effort she had ever
made to attract the man size loved, and it
was punished as such efforts often are.
Her voice blended singularly with the
waves and the low shudder of the sails.
"Come not when | am dead
! To shed thy foolish tears upon my grave,
/ Or veX the unquiet dust thou wouldst not save.
Never had she poured such passionate
meaning into the lines. Each note was
charged with disdainful woe, with ghostly
tears--if ghosts weep. Reginald could
not endure it. At the last, "But thou
go by" he went, jumping suddenly from
his chair, and vanishing without word.
Helen wept bitterly that night. "Noth-
ing will ever bring us any nearer" she
sobbed. Gwen in heaven shall be far
away from him. know it,
How glibly we talk of heaven! How
easily we invoke DEATH And suddenly
there he is, in dreadful nearness In the
darkness that followed the moon setting,
in the earliest hours of morning, came
sudden and tremendous crash. A bark at
full sail had struck the st. Malo amid
ships, and in brief moment every soul
on board had walked to consciousness of
danger.
A mass Of half-clad, frightened passen.
gers thronged the deck. Screams, walls,
imprecations filled the air; the ships
officers lost all self-possession and rushed
aimlessly to and fro. Through the great
rent in the steamers side the water came
washing in. In an inconceivably short
time the fires were extinguished the
bark which inflicted the injury had van
ished in the blackness of the night.
''Lower the boats, lower the boats,
shouted voices.
"0h, why don't they lower them ~
sobbed poor old Mrs. lie Clerc, clutching
her husbands arm.
"IIush, Mary, they will" But pre-
cious moments passed, the confusion
deepening with each, and the boats were
not lowered. Frantic men with clasp
knives flung themselves upon the davits,
cut, tore, cast wide the ropes. The first
boat fell, struck the water, filled and in
stantly went down. A second, third,
shared the same fate. Some Of the sail
ors seized the life-boat and pushed off in
her, regardless Of the frenzied passengers.
A yard came crashing from above and
smashed the launch.
1t was scene TO try the metal Of a
man. Reginald Thurston worked like a
hero. Expostulating, directing, soothing,
encouraging, he rushed to and fro, Helen
| keeping near him like a silent shadow,