Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-08-23
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find out exactly what's happened, but I
know the Fairy has become unmanage-
BILE, and she's drifting about at her own
sweet will. We might as we'll have a
cat at the helm. The three men who
went to sea in bowl aren't circum-
stance to US. They've cut away Heaven
knows what, and there was a noise like
the crack of doom just now, which
must have been a mast"
Where-is-Mr. Surrey?"
q I don't know. Swept overheard, for
all l can say. Mr.. Bruce would have
allowed me to go to. the bottom in my
sleep, I do believe. He never so much
as called me. Well. Mr.. Surrey" as
that gentleman appeared, this is a nice
situation for Mr.. Bruce to drag his inno-
cent family into, isn't it? Don't mind
me. Comfort Serena, If you can If
he who has promised to love and cher
ish leaves me at such crisis, what can
[ expect of a stranger? VIII the ship
hold together till sunrise, do you think %
"Tve no doubt of it." he answered,
crossing to Serena. At that instant there
was a sound as if the heavens themsel-
YES rolled together like scroll; the
ship quivered at every fibre, and SEEM
ed to crack at every beam. Mrs. Bruce
threw up her arms and uttered pro-
longed cry. L think we have struck, F."
said Mr.. Surrey, solemnly I'm afraid
our days are numbered Miss Selden-
Serena-hadn't we better take Amy's
advice and make up? If [ may not
live in the light of your countenance,
you will not deny me the privilege of
dying with you?"
For an instant it seemed to him that
her figure swayed toward him, that she
trembled and half turned to him, with
an unwonted softness in her gaze, and
then she had drawn herself up proudly,
and had left him with outstretched arms,
alone.
1t proved that they had collided with
a merchantmen, bound homeward from
India with cargo of jute and gunny-
bags; but while the Fairy was found to
be in a sinking condition, the Comet, be-
ing heavier vessel, had sustained but
slight injuries, and was enabled to put
about to the rescue of crew and passen-
gers. 1t was CHASTITY scene that fol
lowed, photographed indelibly upon
Miss Selden's memory: the awe-struck
faces Of the rough men who were lash
ing little Amy upon Mr.. Surveys shout
ders: the Intellectual flare of lights
against the twilight Of dawn; the boil
ing sea which tore the life-boats into
chips; the slippery cable across which
she toiled to the Comets side hand over
hand, now suspended above some death
ly chasm, now almost shrouded in the
spray of its angry waves.
/ shut nay eyes tight, said Amy, af
terward, land Rugged Mr.. Surrey. 1t
was awful dark and lonesome. Have
we got to do it again? Do we always
stop that way?"
"Heaven save u.s." calculated Miss
Selden. II don't believe but should
slip into the sea and have done with it,
if it were to do over" and she leaned
back indolently in her seat under the
canopy which Surrey had improvised,
being on deck for the first time after
days Of illness, the reaction from excite
ment. "What are you reading, Mr.
Surrey? | really begin to be persuaded
that | am still a denizen Of this breath
ing world, and to take an interest in my
species"
am reading the Calcutta Daily, and
it's like a newspaper issued the day
before the flood. 1t tells us things we
didn't know, to be sure, but which are
old stories at the same time"
ave are finding a new road to the
Indies, like Vasco da CANA, only it
isn't short cut What is lhere new in
Calcutta, or rather what is there old ?"
81 see that my old classmate, Ned
Lombard, has forsworn himself and
married-a Begun princess, for all |
know. That won't interest you, though.
Here's an interesting account Of the re-
ception. of the Prince of Wales, and
Are you faint, Miss Selden !? Shall |
take you below"
81 must see the Calcutta Daily first,
please" but the letters all swan before
her eyes. "Who did you say was mar
ried? Your old classmate? Who?'
"Only Ned Lombard. You knew
him, didn't your"
Married! Ned Lombard married.
Yes-I-knew-him. If you could
give me your arm Mr.. Surry; the ship
is pitcking badly, is it not? L was going
to Calcutta, you know, to marry-Mr.
Lombard. suppose he has treated
me very badly, but [ can't feel as sorry
as [ ought. [ may as well tell you, Mr..
Surrey, that it is six years since [ saw
hlm-Out of sight, out of mind-and
they say that absence conquers love-
That's some excuse for him, if not for
me. Imagine me sailing into Calcutta
and finding Mrs. Lombard in possession!
Wouldn't it have been awkwardl" and
she tried to laugh and broke down.
I'm sure [ don't know why l should
cry, only it isn't so pleasant to be Tilted,
even if However, would you ask
Mrs. Bruce to come here? [ must let
her know that | shall bid you all good
by when you leave the Comet, and keep
on to New York. / suppose she will
consider it horribly improper without a
chaperon; but what else can do ?"
There's the Rev. Mr.. Hymen on
board, the missionary from Upper India,
though he's hardly out of his berth, y
unused Mr.. Surry
Eyes, Mr.. Bruce might intrust me to
his ghostly care; but he's so bilious
looking, it wouldn't be cheerful"
al think, Miss Serena, since you ask
my advice, the best thing for you to do
would be to marry your humble SER
want, Arson Surrey, before the Bruces
leave U.S."
Here? Oh, Mr.. Surrey, you take
me by surprise! Married and Tilted the
same day! To be sure, the Rev. Mr.
Hymen could read the service, if he is
yellow and iaundiced. And you really
love me? Do you know, it was only
when you proposed to me on board the
Fairy that | discovered ] was going to