The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-07-04


in the wreck of the Barbadoes, and the 9TH
er appears to be more .lsnd-ubber than sea.
man. l almost wished l hadn't shipped
him but he was so eager to go that hadn't
the heart to refuse him. Perhaps we'll teach
him some salt water lesson on the voyage
Redwood delighted in the presence of Lot.
tie King, and did not look after the affairs OF
the ship, but entrusted such service to his
officers, in whom he had the utmost conf
dence and the Petrol sailed southwark like
a swallow.
But the pleasure of the voyage was doom.
ed to be broken.
Rough weather set in Unexpectedly, and
gale after gale struck the staunch little ship.
She rode proudly through the troubled wat
ers, and Morton declared that he would new
! er sell her if she took them safely to Cuba
land.
we cannot be far from the coast he said
to the Petre's second officer on the third
night of the storm. If we can but weather
the gale till day all will be well.'
But fear we cannot the storm increas-
es at every moment, and to add to our peril
the Petrol is aleak.'
'Aleak, cried the owner the bark Petrol
aleak in such a storm as thisP
Aver
why did you not tell me before2'
Il dared not. Your sweetheart is on
board, and-I could not, Morton.
Great fate ? exclaimed the owner. Are
we sinking rapidlyp
Not very rapidly; but we are liable to &c
down suddenly.
'Methinks l hear the water in the hold
now. Wait for another flash of lightning
There, saw long stretch of coast then
Did you see it p
4 thought
At that moment the captains voice wa,
heard.
we are going down, mssterp he cried
The coast is not far off, l will lower tht
| boats
Quick, then !! cried Morton, and spranl
toward Lottie Kings stateroom.
| Bertha Walkers curse = he calculated. :
never thought itwould be heard
A minute afterwards he reappeared or
deck with Lottie in his arms. The lightning
flashing every minute, revealed the pale ia
ces of the crew, and the first boat dropped
over the straining Petrels side.
We've been scuttled, MASTER the captain
said, coming up suddenly. 'One of the new
men did 1.-THE sailor, think
Where are theyF
The sailor is missing; there stands th'
other-the landsman.'
Redwood Morton looked at the perso
designated by the captain, and CLEAN Q
astonishment lit up his eyes.
Watch him. he said to his officer. q
will first see Lottie in the beat
He saw tbs woman he loved deposited il
the boat that rocked on the billows at tn
Petreps side, and was about to reascend
the deck when the ship was suddenly tor
away, and the next flash revealed her set
ling.
The master saw the boats fall over he
and the men lowering themselves by th
chains and ropes.
Look. Lottie p he suddenly cried ''B'
hold that person who remains on deck
4 see, said the girl. why does he nj
try to save himself?'
Cherished plans may fail. That perso
is Bertha Walker!'
No, no Redwood = cried Lottie. 'Surel
she would not follow you in such attire
'For vengance what will not maddene
women do? But, look see how the Petr
lurches Hark 7
A piercing cry came over the sea; Il
person on deck staggered back, and the shi
fell over on her side.
1T was Bertha Walker Her man scu
tied the vessel said Morton, as his m,
/ began to pull away.
: Through the storm the land was gained
it proved to be the coast of Cuba.
The next morning several pieces of IL
; wreck drifted ashore, and to one clung Il
r dead body of-Bertha Walker
Lottie dressed her for the grave, and kis
ed the hand that might have sent her to ii
/ other world.
Redwood Morton believed that the l
: vengeful woman had planned the scuttli
of the ship, if, indeed, she was not an actu
e participant but she knew nothing of t
;. dastardly deed. She was following the ow
a er for the purpose of wreaking her reven
, in some other manner; but the work
f Morton's unknown rival baffied her.
On Cuban soil, with flowers over h
sleeps the schemer who hated Redwo
Morton, and in happy home in the o.
ker City, Lottie, now Mrs. Morton, te
q her boys about the wreck of the Petrol. Il
J. the name of the man who sunk her m
never be known.
u Dott Farland, the poet, fled when
10 heard of the escape of the man he hat
and manuscript found afterwards on b
h tina Walkers grave told that he had ,
tied it,