The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-02-17
A WOMAKS HEROISM.

Bound home to New York from tho
Sandwich Islands, tho ship Hampton
was bowling through the P"cih@
Ocean, under cloud Of canvass.
The crimson rays OF the rising sur
had tinted the blue, rolling waves
when Bertha Winthrop, one OF the
passengers, came on deck. .:,
She was lovely girl o. eighteen
with hazel eyes, ligh.-brown hair
u clear, white skin, and perfect lea
lures. Nothing could bave been more
charming than the contour OF hel
well-iormed head, balanced Oil necE
Us round and smooth as if scnlptdreC
from marble, yet full Of lito and OK
preston. =: -, =
The supple grace Of her whole form
from The s!oping shoulders, the 1.-the
flexible waist, down 10 the small
wvll-sbaped feet, was remarkable
perhaps partially due to her habits O
Exercise in the open air, not only Il
walking and riding, but also III SWIM
ming. ~ -
! She had been to Honolulu, on a Wis
il 10 some relatives, and was return
jur home under the escort OF hel
lover, Herbert Weldon, = handsome
naval officer of twcnty.three, who hat
obtained leave of'absence from the
commander Of his vessel, lying OF
Maui, Sandwich Islands. ~"
Bertha was not at all demonslra
\tive in manner. Some people sale
she was cold, Her calm scli:posses
sion never deserted her. She wOul1
look with still, clear eyes upon hcl
lover, when he spoke to her she sci
dom b!ushcd, or stood with droopinG
iashcs before him. .
This ut times wounded Herbert
vanity lie wondered if it was posi-
Ible she did not care for him, a.Ser ali
True, her voice had faltercd, he. hae
heard the beating Of her heart Ane
! felt the trc,nblng of her hand, whcr
he won from her many months be-
fore, the confession that she loved
him. But these signs OF affection
ssoou passed away, and she seemed as
calm as ever. ..... =. p.
Bertha was not long on deck when
the young officer sought hrr side.
!, Tie two conversed. Finally<hcr
bert:said, If We have good weathe er
we will reach New. York in three
months. Theu, dear, girl, l will make
you.my wite:'s - .'''- =.
f"Yes. Herbert" she answered in
! low, snict voice
1 II think we are 'well matched, a.
it is Called" he went on-"don'
Iyou?"
+ "Ccrtainly," she replied, in thu
same quiet way, a slight smile on thu
jpretty lips.
"Miue for cver! My own to love
lchcrish, and protect Oh, Bertha
, YOU cannot imagine how eagerly
Hook forward to the happy time p O..
"Oh,. yes, can understand al
that" she replied, calmly, raising he
soft clear Seyes, and looking hin
steadily, yet not boldly, in the lace.
"A shadow crossed Hcrbert's brow
Could she love him, and yet be 81
"Berthas he Aaddcnly said, Il wisI
: ,.o,,, ,uonI IxEasa vSSnm nmethinp-act il
. SOME way Mlot mc%know that yo
e Think as niR!of me as l do Of you !
q For al i6Xfa6t the girl flushed from
e!fhrow to ntsS. Then sht becam
af8sle
Herbert" she said, quietly, "yo
i efrfsSt never doubt mc.." .
aShe young rnane.was not satisfied
eI W8A Bertha leftfEim, and went int
!, tbMa bin, without. having spoke
h agsE ,he felt cbagrinsa,. H.
q TEssun had risessstlacit it was vale
/ BY Rakazy vapor;a hes OF heav
kkbisck6]5uds were - long fror
the Windward. E 8 captai
s s ordering sail t tsKssSn.
s|ssaitbcr and thitb5 aAeat tBs deck
!, went5the active sailors, pullpsg,q qaa:i
& hauling on braces, sheets, aud Jclev
! ! lines. Then up the SNgging the
i darted tofurl the topgaaant sails, tn
j. fore and mizzenrtopsails, and to close
It reef the main.
$ While althands were alolt the gal
!. came shrieking, bowling and roarln
i on the ship. ,.
sI% With her lee.rail scooping up th
el white waters, her shrouds whistlin
e) ond bending to the gale, her mast
=, n swaying and creakiDg, her timbel
;e groaning and hummipg, away sh
d went, driving through the mad VI
y ters, vailed in = shroad Of spray frol
/ ''A Aridships, il ship s.. holding ill., pin o
J. the main ffestail, stood Herber
/. watching the mon @whdS'were #urlin
~ = tho jib. Ii ~
q great tori ater can
H| sweeplng,, like q hSgefRfoving wa
VI overBbe weather-ralLss$ =,
u Esathe young officer. could avoidf
y by. fanning aft, it struck his foH
wasEmg him overheard like q sho
USafs was Il slender, halfrottcn roI
banging by the end Of the, rop
SS.iabeut ten yards from the ships sid
& & He Bertha, who had come on deck ju
FISHER lover was swept over the rai
ran anihips, with pale cheel
S;Gand wild YsSalliag on. the ship
@fficers to q ahe young man.
No boat CID be leTered in such
gale. The MfosseSan to the raj
however. aSd 6mmenccd haulir
on the rope, to which the imperile
one, halfhidden BY the raging, foar
ing waters and the flying spray, W;
still clinging.
pS AS they continued to haul, an on
nous, swapping sound was hear
n The strands Of the rotten rope we
Y, giving away! H.
- "He must go!" cried the captai
despairingly. "No,earth!y power c'
sake him now! The rope will pa
ere we get him alongside"
! Nearer-nearor to tho ship ii