The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-06-04

.7s7ss s&sss5s-s ~ ..z.= s~g 49, ss~ a. ,~a;:
'sThanks, = said Helen, IN her deep
measured voice. hating herself for being
unable 70 say anthing more apropos than
| ''thanks." *2y
''You' best pin your shawl fast, mum, -
advised3he stewardess. She tucked Hell.
ems feet in, put rug behind her back,
and having reduced her to tho wooden
chrysalis which must, be sailors one idea
OF fashionable lady, went away.
"Have you boon sickl Arc you going
abroad for lonz!" So the conversation
went, never getting IN inch beyond the
commonplace. Helen might have shone
moro had she not been 80 busy thinking
Of things which were unsayable. 1t is not
easy affecting interest in weather. when all
tho while you are putting inward ques.
tions. uttering secrets past speech. At
sea, however, no ono il blamed for 81.
lsnes. Before long they ceased to talk.
Reginald held book in his hand, but he
did not read tho width and glory of the
tossing horison filled his eyes. And
soon he forgot Helen, and into his face
came what Rosalie Le 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 it1" he asked, involuntarily.
II beg your pardon, I did not speak"
answered Helen. with fiery blush.
II beg yours; / must have been half
asleep" almost Is confusedly. He tried
to laugh it of, said something about sea
air and its effects, but the embarrassment
continued. Soon no walked away. Helen
was abjcctly miserable.
How do look! What did he meant"
So her restless thoughts ran. Matters
were not mended by this little episode.
Next day Reginald a7oided her, and she
sat cool and unconcerned to all outward
appearances. but wretched at heart.
1t is not easy, however, to avoic people
altogether in the close quarters Of
steamship. Every day these two met,
bowed, spoke, exchanged necessary civili-
ties, or sat near each other in mutual
silence. Once, when they happened to
he 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 an dead
To shed thy foolish tears upon my grave,
Or vex the unquiet dust thsu 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
90 by" he went. jumping suddenly from
his chair, and vanishing without a word.
Helen wept bitterly that hight. "Noth.
ing will ever bring us any nearer" she
sobbed. ''Even in heaven I 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 q
sudden and tremendous crash. A bark at
full sail had struck the St. Malo amid
ships, and in q 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.
"Oh, why don't they lower them e
sobbed poor old Mrs. Le Oierc, clutching
her husbands arm.
''Hush, Mary, they will.'' But pre-.
cious moments passed, tho confusion
deepening with each, and the boats we're
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 tho 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 tho launch.
1t was scene to try tho metal of a
man. Reginald Thurston worked like a
hero. Expostulating, directing, soothing,
encouraging, he rushed to and fro, Helen
keeping near him like silent shadow.
Under his orders three boats were sue.
cessfully launched. and women and chill.
dren, the old and tho weak, hurried into
them. Helen took the shawl from her
shoulders to put round Mrs. LIE Clerc,
who through all this scene of frantic ter.
ror had never let 60 her husbands hand.
AREN'T you coming, too7' sobbed the
old lady.
| 'There IL no room, replied Helen.
briefly. as tho boat pushed of: At that
moment = shout announced a fresh acct
dent. The last remaining boat had cap.
sized, halt. full of passengers. Forty
persons remained on the steamers deck.
The water gained every moment. Helen
was tho only woman left.
"You herr" said Reginald. II thought
you safe in the first boat
mo" answered Helen, with strange,
sweet smile, which even at that moment
astonished him.
He tied a ife.preserver around her
waist.
"You are cold" he said; "perhaps I
can find you shawl"
'Oh, what does it matter It will
soon be over" she said, with the same
quietude.
"Wil! tho parson give US a bit of
prayer :! asked grizzled old sailor.