The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-11-30

with afearful crash, but it is too late.
With dull, rumbling groan the ship
strikes, and the curse that falls from the
lips OF Captain Hervey is hardly lost in
the terrified shrek of agony that comes
from below. ~ -. ~
In an instant all is confusion
After the collision the Normandy
slips from the ledge, and the water is
rushing through the opening into the
hull. tI
Half-clad in night garments, CRYING,
shrieking, blaspheming, praying and
wondering, come. the half demented
! passengers on deck as
There are no intermediate stages of
thought in an accident at sea. IT'S but
one step from the Eden Of the dreamer
1 to almost certain death. g
Over all is heard the voice of Captain
! Hervey. .'-" n
Cut away the boats!v -fI ~
The sailors, prompt at the word, are
towering them from the davits, when
the ships carpenter appears
A bold and faithful man he had, as
bis duty demanded, at the risk of his
life examined the leak. 7.'
| She will sink in five minutesp'
A howl like that of infatuated beasts,
and the passengers pell-meil rush for the
gangway. 49,, -.l ~
With one stride the Captain confronts
them. ...4 e. = : lall' 80.
The women and children frstp he
SIMPLY says, and snatehing the pistol
Iocarby, who is beside him, holds in his
belt, he draws back the lock.
Ere soul has stepped from the YES
sci to the boats that are now launched,
small, wiry, baldheaded man, shaking
with terror, advances from the throng
crowding round the ladder and cries:
It's your work, Captain Hervey
You over-insured the Normandy to de-
stroy her. You shall answer, sir, to the
law Tor your criminal neglect, and for
intended murder"
| 1t was not known then, but it came
out afterwards that this individual is
secret attache of one of the great un.
derwriting companies Of London.
| As owner OF the Normandy, John
Heryey had insured her heavily, far
above, perhaps, what some might have
considered her just value. But it must
be remembered that in ii and on it is his
world, and who could estimate her as he
did. era.
" You shall answer for your crime"
the man repeats; but the Captain, though
his brow grows winter, never moves a
muscle. FHz"" .-t
Lieutenant Locarby, who superin-
/ tends the translerral, as the first boat
scarcely loaded, leaves the ships side,
asks: t
p" Captain, how many?" ~ dv
" Sixty-fifteen for each p
There are sixty-one, but he does not
count himself. ........,--F
Another of the launches with its pre-
cious cargo, rowed by lusty arms, fol-
lowed its predecessor out to-sea. ,f.
The Normandy at the fore end is now
entirely beneath the water, and those on
deck scarce keep their footing. Many
are the scenes OF selfish terror enacted,
but not man dared step into the frail
hope afforded till the children and the
women are provided for. -Tt
All but one-the Captains wife
Hester.
She refused Locafby's offered hand,
and though pale as death, clings to the
rail by her husband
My place is by his side,p she says.
MOL my love, GO" he bids her, +" /
shall be the last
My place is by your side" she re-
peated, " will not go. :"
The work of embarkation is continued,
though the Normandy has begun to reel
like drunken man, and is slowly slip
ping back. Half the loren asst is sub
merged. And but four persons remain.
The insurance agent, scowling at the
whlte-faced captain, steps. into the
wal ting boat. ''I
Lieutenant Locarby follows.
Mrs. Hervey," he cried, standing UP
in the stern, your hand. Captain p
The packet seems to settle in the ocean
like man nesting for deep sleep.
Captain Hervey does not immediately
answer A sudden rising of his arm, a
sharp report, and the attdche falls over
the thwarts, dead, a bullet through his
brains. He then speaks: at shall die
at my post, and die as | have lived,
without suspicion of stain upon my
good name"
The raging waves are now playing
about his feet. Hester, her head upon
his bosom, has thrown her arms about
his neck.
A second will be fatal to all. The
suction of the sinking Normandy will
swamp them. Locarby, with a strong
effort. pushed the launch beyond the
line of danger.
But the lieutenant cannot turn his
eyes from the fated ship, and the last of
the Normandy is a loud convulsive gtllp,
as the wild waters meet above its deck
and man and woman, clasped in each
others embrace, their faces turned to-
wards heaven, sink with it slowly be-
meath the sea.