The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1875-11-11
A WOMAN'S l1ER0ISM.

Bound home to New York from the Sand
witch Islands, the ship Hampton, was bowl
ing along through the PAcitic Ocean, under
cloud Of canvas.
The crimson rays of the rising sun had
tinted the blue, rolling waves, when Bertha
Winthrop, one of the passen gers, came on
deck.
She was lovely girl of eighteen, with
hazel eyes, Ii 5ht brown hair, a clear, white
skin, and perfect features. Nothing could
have been more ch.lrming than the contour
of her well-formed head, balanced on neck
as round and smooth as if sculptured from
marble, yet full of life and expression.
The supple grace Of her whole form,
from the sloping shoulders, the 1.-the, tiexi-
bic waist, down to the small well-shaped
feet, WAS remarkable, perhaps partially due
to her habits Of exercise in the open air,
not only in walking ana riding, but also In
swimming.
She had been to IIonolula, it to
some relatives, and was now returning home
under the escort Of her lover, Hecbert Wei
don, ii handsome naval officer of twenty
three, who had ob5Ained leave of absence
from the vu.nlA .2qier Of his vessel, lying OF
| Maui, Sand .cl Islands.
Bertha w. NOT at all denonstrative III
manner, Some people said she was cold
Her calm self possession never deserted her
She would look With still, clear eyes upon
her lover, when he spekesto her She seldom
blushsd, or stool s.lh dfooping llshes be-
/ tore hss,sa
4 This 1T tiin,.s wounded Herbert's vanity
i He wondered If it was possible she did not
care for him, after all. True, her voice had
f.ltered, he had heard the beating of hel
Ieart and felt the trembling of her hand
when he won from her many months before
the confession that she loved him. But
these signs Of affection soon passed sway
and she seemed rs calm at ever.
such women; there are others who adore
them.
Bertha was not long on dock when th'
young officer sought her side.
The two conversed. Finally Herbert
said, "If we have good weather, we vii
reach New York in three months. Then
dear girl, will make you my wife, >
Eyes, Herbert she answered in Il low
quiet voice.
81 think we ares'well matched, as it il
Called he went on-"don't your"
"Certailily," she replied, in the same qui
ct way, ii slight smile on the pretty lips.
mime for ever! Ny own to love, cherish
and protect Oh, Bertha, you cannot i'm
agine how eagerly look forward to thu
happy time!'
"Oh, yes, I can understand all that" sht
replied, calmly, raising her soft clear eyes
and looking him steadily, yet not boldly, il
the face.
A shadow crossed Herbert's brow. Coul'
she love him, and yet be so calm?
"I;crtha," he suddenly said, 81 wish yo'
would say sometling-act in some way t.
let as,e know that you think as much of nj
~ 10 of you'll"
tor aai instant the girl flushed from brow
i . rs *. Then she became pale.
4bert!' she said, quietly, "you mus
aeper doubt me.''
The young man was not satisfied Whel
Bertha left him, and went into the cabin
without having spoken again, he felt cha
grined.
3 The sun had risen, but it was vailed by {
hazy vapor. Masses Of heavy black clouds
were rushing along from the >windward
, The ships captain was ordering sail to b.
taken in.
Hither and thither about the decks wen
the active sailors. pulling and hauling o,
braces, sheets, and clewlines. Then up tn
rigging they darted to furl the topgallan
sails, the fore and miZz1n topsailS, and t.
close-reef tae main.
While all hanls were aloft the gal
, came shriekin,,, howling aad roaring on tn,
: ship.
With her lee.rail scooping up the whit,
: waters, her shrouds whistling and bending
to the gale, her masts swaying and creak
ING. her timbers groaning and humming
) away she went, driving through the mat
water, vailed in a shroul of spray from
bow to stern.
Amidships, holding on to pin on tn
main fifc-rail stood Herbert, watching tn
men who Were furlng the jib.
Suddenly the ship made Il mad plunge
great torrent of water came sweeping
Ike huge, moving wall, over the weather
mil.
9 Ere the young Office. could avoid it b,
0 running aft, it struck his form, washin,
y y him overheard like a shot. There was
slender, half-rotten rope hanging from tn
waist, attached to rail. Herbert seize,
this as he went. with ready sef-possession