The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-25
A DAYS BETROTHAL.


"Well, Jenny, it will be hard to part
Oh the morrow" ,l
Jenny answered not q word, but turn
ed away her head, looking out to SEQ
with wistful, sorrowful glance. The
next moment, my arm was about her
waist. She did not repulse me. "Jen-
n.y. I cried, why should we part at alll
II you will take me for skipper, we'll
sail through life together"
We arc on board the bark Petrol OF
Greenock. bound eventually for Lon
don. with miscellaneous cargo from
the Mediterranean; and We are now an
chored iu the roadstead Of Havre, little
to The north and west OF the pier-head.
Jenny is the skipper's daughter, and I
am only passenger.
We had called at Havre, to dispose Of
part OF onr cargo, and tho captain and
mate having gone ashore to settle some
dispute with some OF his crew who had
uuwarrantAbly deserted tho ship, left
Jenny and mo on board, in charge.
We were practically alone on board.
Tho steward was busy in his caboose,
the black was asleep somewhere for
wartl-in the sun-the ship was riding
easily Mt her anchor with almost imper-
ceptible motion. The town was SHIN
mering pleasantly in the sunshine, and
the white villas on the wooded heights
above shone like so many caskets OF
ivory. It was low tide, and q strip Of
wet glistoning sand was visible along
tue shores OF tho bay; bathers were
splashing about; amateur shrimpers
were pushing their nets before them in
tho shadows. Beyond, tho bold head
land OF the Cape Ia Heve, crowned by
its two white lighthouses, assumed the
appearance of some lazy pacific beast
couchnnt on the sands. Time and place
were alike propitious. l turned to Jen-
ny, and spoke to her Of our approaching
separation; then / made the hual
plunge.
The tide had turned, the flood hogan
to make. The ship WIS swinging slowly
around, presenting to us tho opposite
half OF the horizon. A loud warning
crash from the awning above made us
both look up. Never shall I forget the
shock of altered scenes that met our
eyes. The sun was still shining bright
overhead, but to seaward n vast hvid wall
Of vapor shut out everything from view.
A shrill blnst Of wind trumpeted loudly
in the rigging, which began to flap and
Grrak nnd strain. The sea was rising
rapidly, and waves CAME rushing in,
crested with driven foam. Then the sun
whs obscured. visible only rs faint
and w.tery blotch; the hills crowned
with sunshine. tho busy, happy town,
MI were blOttod out; we were alone amid
asudden storm md fierce rising sen.
Jenny spnng to her feet, and, with
admirable calmness, began to lower the
awning; but in n moment tho wind WIS
upon us in full force thecanvas tapped
wildly, aud then, torn AWAY from its
fasteninga, flaw away TO the leeward,
visible for moment in the sky, like n
white scabird, aud then lost in the
gloom.
"Wou't father be angryl" cried Jen.
ny, clasping her hands $50 many yards
Of good canvas
"Are We not in frightful danger
here1" aai,l. Why, | wonder, has
your father not rcturned =
Jenny shook her hrsd. "Oue cant
foresee everything. Perhaps he is now
gu his way" She took up the binocu
lar. aud pcrred anxiously through the
mist. But no boat was to be seen. The
sen seemed Of sudden deserted, except
for one or two fishing snacks TO the
southward, that, with great brown sail'
linlf lowered, were scudding rapidly fol
the harbor. Bat for us, in the teeth o.
this southwesterly gale, the harbol
mouth was as inaccessible rs the moon.
Jenny left the poop, and rau forward
to the forepart OF tho vessel. l followeC
her rs we'll M could, holding on by thi'
and that, for our ship w'Is now pitching
heavily upon the swell. | found her By
tho bowsprit, Watching tho rise and ial
OF the ship with anxious eyes. Tht
great black chniu that, rs the vessel fell
would be invisible in tho waves, as sh'
rose, stretched itself tight as bow
striug. with clank aud groan tina
made mo shulder. Our lives hung upol
that chain that the waves seemed Il
sport with as toy. As wo stood there
wave larger than the others rose upol
us without warning, md swept the decl
with irresistible force, bearing every
thing moveable with it. I clnng desper
ately to II Delaying pin, and Jenny clunl
TO me and after while the Petrol ros
calamity to the shock, the water stream
ing from her sides. Drenohed ant
cowed by the violence OF the shock, W
mado our way back TO the poop.
As we reached the cabin door, tn
steward was rceling across the slopp,
deck, carrying steaming dish OF pota
toes. II was three O'Clock, the hour 10
dinner. Sink or swim, he would hay