Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-10-05

WALKING ON THE SEA.

1t was moonlight night, with a few
clouds in the west Under full sail, the
merchant ship Morning Star was standing
along, on the starboard tack, past the
Feeiee Islands, bound from Honolulu to
Calcutta.
Leaning over the rail on the quarter
deck stood Henry Cosgrove, young man
of 80. handsome fellow with light
brown hair and dark eyes, but with a
singularly melancholy look for person
of his age.
He was partner in a fourishing
Calcutta firm, on business for which he
had been to the Sandwich Islands
THE ship makes good speed" he NUT
tered, land l shall reach Calcutta soon,
with golden profits reaped for the firm
but what care |, since my Lucie is not
with me to share my good fortune ? Lost,
lost, forever p
Two years before, Cosgrove's wife
Lucie, on her way. aboard the ship Rein
deer, in which she had taken passage
from Quebec, to join her husband at
Calcutta, had been wrecked at night off
these very Islands, and it was reported
she had persisted with the many who went
down in the Inflated ship, which had
foundered during heavy gale.
And now, as Cosgrove kept his gaze
on the Isle the ship was passing, was it
fancy, or did he really see woman's
form glide, ghost-like, away from the
eastern shore, seeming to skim over the
surface of the water?
No. 1t was not fancy. He saw her
plainly, ard by the ordinations break
ing from some of the sailors forward,
who we're also looking towards the island,
he knew that they, too, bcheld the APP
partition.
A murmur of wonder circulated
through the ship There she was, that
strange being apparently clad in flowing
white raiment, walking along the sur
face of the water, far out fro.a the Island,
with long, flowing locks of hair stream
ing in the wind.
On she went, until she had proceeded
about three hundred yards, when paus-
ing, she faced round towards the ship,
now not distant quarter of mile, and
bockoned wildly to the vessel, her white
arms cleaning in the moonlight.
The second mate who was officer Of
the watch, uttered an exclamation of
superstitious horror.
THAT is no mortal being !" he ex-
claimed.
ayes, it is !" exclaimed Cosgrove. -
81 beseech you to back your maintop-
sail and lower boat 1t is some poor
creature in distress, who wants to be
taken aboard"
"How do you account for her standing
there on the water, then 2" inquired the
second mate.
THAT is singular" answered Cos
grove but if you lower boat and 60
there, this affair, which seems so puz-
cling now, may then be explained"
at can't be explained" was the reply !;
and the speaker shuddered as he added,
II have heard of such things, and | tell
you, it BODIES no good to them that see
these water-spirites or spirits, whichever
they are"
"IIad you not better call the captain ?"
said Cosgrove.
"I'll call him, but not until get the
ship going as far from that 'creetur' as
possible"
Then, in a hoarse voice, he ordered
the men TO brace the yards, command
which was promptly obcyed by the
sailors, most Of whom were as supersti-
tious as the second mate, while one could
account for the strange and apparently
indisputable fact Of the Visions standing
on the water.
The ship soon was heading on a course
diagonal with that she had previously
been pursuing, tho spectators watching
the female figure until it was dim in the
distance, when mass Of white clouds
passing over the moon, it could be seen
no longer. Something like hollow
shrek was heard. 1t was the wind,
which had suddenly freshened, in the
shrouds.
The sailors looked at one another, and
shrugged their shoulders, while they COM
mcnted after the manner Of their class
on the singular spectacle they had seen.
Cosgrove walking to and fro, from the
quarterback and from amidships, hear
ing the superstitious remarks of the men,
SMILED at FIRST but at length strange
feeling Of uneasiness crept over him.