The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-11-02
Original Sketch.
For "7he Columbian"
AN INCIDENT IN MY LIFE.
BY QUEEN sABE.

Soon after the opening of Paraguay River
| to the commerce of the world, I was sent to
Paraguay by my employers for the purpose
of purchasing coffee, rice, etc, which far sur
passed the productions of Brazil in quality.
AT that time there was no regular line of steam.
els playing between the United States and
the eastern coast of South America and |
was, therefore obliged to embark on board of
trading vessel, bound for Rio Janeiro The
passengers were few in number, and nothing
unusual occurred until we reacheded Key
West, where a lady and gentleman got on
board. The latter proved to be Mr.. Hol-
man, from New Orleans, who had Just been
appointed U. 5 Consul to Buenos Ayees,
and was on his way to commerce his official
duties there. He was a pale ,emaciated man
apparently fifty years of age But the
daup hter as the lady proved to be, drew all
attention to herself, causing even the hardy
sailors to take off their hats in reverence.
1t is as impossible to describe her beauty, as
it would be to photograph the radiance of
the sun. She had slight, petite figure,
though well proportioned and voluptuously
developed Her hair was OF that indescriba-
BILE color between brown and black which is
so beautiful in effect, yet difficult of descrip-
ton The features were round and regular,
the cheeks alternating between red and
MARBLE the lips full and poutiug, enclosing
teeth which Hebe might have envied. But
the real charm was in her eyes. Their color
] know not ; but in repose they were calm
and liquid like the doves and when excited
by passion or pleasure cleaned from under
their heavy lashes AS lightning darts from
gathering cloud -penetrating--m --magnetizing
all in their sphere,
occupied the only respectable state room
in the vessel but Immediately offered it to
Miss Holman She at first refused it, but
i seeing my earnestness finally took the room,
and felt amply rewarded in receiving one
OF those sweet smiles she could so well be-
g stow.
i Companionship in a vessel as in an omni-
bus becomes necessity and a few days
sufliced to make me thoroughly acquainted
with Mr.. Holman and his charming daugh-
ter, Kate. With a broken voice, the latter
told me how she had lost a sainted mother
and baby brother few months before by
the IeilowFever, ,and that in order to escape
from painful memories as well as to restore
his broken health, her father had solicicited
and obtained his present. appointment to
Buenos Ayres. The downcast eyes, CULVER
Il ing lips, and above all the gentle pathOs OF
s her voice went deep into my heart, causing
sympathetic tears to start to eyes which had
not known them for years. lis strange how
gentle the heart becomes under the influence
of love The stern warrior, accustomed tC
scenes of carnage and bloodshed, tremble,
at the sight of helpless maiden,- the judge
reaxes the official frown, and through its in
fuence permits Mercy to beam from the eyes
of Justice, even the wild beast is tanned by
it. There was also that in our situation
which predisposed US to love. We saw Ma
h form, and in awe at the sight, crushed back
the petty conventionalitiei of life which too
often act as barriers. We were also away
h from the busy world and its exciements
and in consequence had none of its distrac-
e tions.
e | soon loved Kate and she knew it.-Not
} that the word had been mentioned, but in
tuitively each felt it, and accepted the feel
ing without protest.
We sailed close to Cuba, Jamaica, and
other isles, the perfumes from which were
waited to US by gentle zephyrs which intoxi'
| a hp ISL "a nd
d the shadowy mountains in the back ground
u captivated the imagination.
&c A few days sailing brought us in sight OF
C the South American coast, and by the ship
,,cc per's reckoning we were not far from the
,c mouth of the Orinoco. Near midday the
,ee wind suddenly fell, and there came "A dead
,c calm. not even ripple dioturbin the sur
&C face of the watery deep. The fierce, equator
.c ial sun beat down on the vessel with such
intensity that it WAS impossible to keep on
Ic the deck, while it was almost sutiucating be-
l1cc low. At sunset we were all on deck, bu
q still the calm continued the sun going tt
DC rest in bank of leaden clouds which closeC
Nc over it as earth does the coffin.
,o | was seated by Kate, and either the fore
DC boding of danger, or some popularity of th
&c scene caused both to be unusually silent
'c c As night gathered over us, a distant moan
&C &C ing reached our ears. All else was still a
or death, the sails even hanging listlessly frou
the spars. The sailors leaned thoughtful
over the railing, apparently watching tn
phosphoresence Of the sea, which now CLEAN
ed in the darkness like demons eyes at
cursed soul. Occasionally shark woul
rise to the surface, and then rapidly disaF
pear Nearer came the moaning sound
thicker gathered the blackness around us
until at last the hurricane with its awfr
force struck the vessel, shivering the sal
aud nearly putting the craft on its beai
ends. | cannot describe it. The roar WI
deafening, and each moment the wav,
swelled higher and higher, threatening
engulp us. { irst we tried to reach Il
cabin, but that was impossible and nothir
remained but to lash ourselves to Il
mast.
Mr.. Holman, at the same instant, came {
deck, where all now was in confusion b
while essaying to reach US, slipped and fl
ON the deck. | ran to assist him, and was
the act of raising him up,when huge wa
broke over the vessel, and was unresistin
re ly carried into mass of water beyond. o.
piercing shrek alone reached my ears tn,
nought was heard but the bowling OF Il
hurricane and roar of the now foaming Sc
With the instinct of life | tried to keep IN
self above the surface, my efforts won
have been unavailing had not Providen
placed in my way a spar which had be
wrenched from the ship clpng to it wi
the desperation of despair, yet my though
were on the loved one left behind glad
would have relnuuished even life to ha