The daily gazette., 1875-10-05
A TERRIBLE MOMENT,

| snOulQ i've 10 one OF tnOSe WonQrOuH
ages at times recorded in the papers.
Moreover, it was not thing for Q
man to forget. Many events may
slip from our mind, but never that
moment when we staad on the brink
OF the grave, brought thither by the
probability of an awful death.
1t happened in this way. had been
In Australia for about five years, dur
ing which time l had amassed toler-
able fortune, when began TO long to
see the old county agaiR-a desire
considerably strengthened by the fact
that the girl loved, and who had
consdeted to be my wife, was going
to England, and could not bear the
thought of such an extent of ocean
between US; so determined to 60 too,
and let our marriage take place there.
May Brodstone was the only daugh-
te: of we'll to do squatser, and the
prettiest, incest gill for miles round
the station, though, until had be.
come acquainted with her, rather fond
of bit of girlish 1irtation. This was
the worse for me, as it turned out.
Among her many admirers was one
Jacob Kiel. L erk haired, dark eyed,
dark complexioned, he was of that
class of men who feel strongly, and
who never forget an injury-like wild
cats, they are nasty customers to
offend. Well, May, l fear, had lirted
| somewhat with Jacob Kiel, who, ]
really believe, loved the very ground
| she walked on, though she declared
| and knew it was true-that she had
never given him the slightest hope.
1t was about this time that l ap.
peared upon the scene; and she dis
covered that she had found the right
man, as | had found the tight girl.
May Brodstone instantly gave up all
her admirers, was as steady and quiet
as gum-tree when no wind blows,
and finally said the eyes" upon which
my happiness depended.
Old Mr.. Brodstone knew that the
match would be a good one, and
readily gave his consent, 80 that our
engagement was soon made public,
was present when the news reached
Jacob Kiel. Il shall never forget his
| face. His lips were compressed, his
dark eyes contracted; he looked from
May to me, and felt that, if he eve-
could, he would do me mischief
Without a syllable he quilted the
place. A strang e sensation ran through
me as he departed; and May told me
that cold shudder had run through
her veins.
We did not see much of Klel after
this, though we knew he was often
about the station upon business; but
the man somehow threw a kind OF
shadow over Mays and my happiness,
and we were not at all sorry when we
got on board the steamer and steamed
off toward Old England. We had not,
however, got near out of sight of land
when May, giving little cry, put hel
hand on my arm, and, slightly nod
ding her head towards the lower deck,
said
ooh, Edward, look-he is here
tool"
And so he was. Leaning quietly
over the side, watching the land ap-
parently, was Jacob Kiel-a passenger
for England like ourselves. | will own
that l was considerably annoyed,
though when May, drawing nearer ex-
claimed, in a low, startled voice, ed
ward, dear, don't know how it is, but
dread that mani cannot divest my
mind of the thought that he means us
HARM" l laughed and tried to Danish
so absurd an idea. And certainly
had every right to do so. Save by a
causual interchange of few words
Kiel never troubled US; and we were
making a capital journey, when, just
as we were within twenty degrees oi
the line, we were struck by hurricane
which the captain declared was almost
a cyclone in violence.
The vessel could not weather it. The
masts crashed overheard, taking sew
eral of the crew with them, and, be
fore the wreck could be cut adrift, {
portion of the broken spars, dashinf
against the ship, had caused a leak
below the water line, and the cry wa!
"We are sinkingl Lower the boats tn,
pumps are uselessl'
The captain was marvellously trn
land cool, and by his example made u
all the same.
| The boats were rapidly lowered ant
filled, while thank heaven, the storm
| seemed to abate. The women, wen
first. of course, and all was proceeding
twell. when Just as the last boat wa
being filled, l remembered that in m,
hurry had left my mothers minia
ture in my chest. There was plenty o
| time to fetch it, and in second l wa
down in the cabin. Flinging the liz
open, my hand was already upon tn
likeness, when I heard foot upon tn
. stairs, turned and by the dim ligh
vet swinging from the roof perceivet
Jacob Kiel.
/ Good heavens! The diabolical ex
pression on his face, the fendish ma
lice in his dark snake like eyes, reveal
ed his intention ina moment. He he'
come to do me some deadly harm
Leaping up, seized my revolver, Il
be on my guard; but an attack wa
not his purpose. Before could pre-
vent him, he had quickly closed tn
cabin door and locked it on the out
side.
/ Like a flash of lightning all the hor
rors of my position instantly flashed be
fore me. Twas prisoner in the sinkin
shin! Uttering loud shout Of fury,
sprang forward; the cry was echoed by
g.. Taooh Kial heard him sax