The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

that was SO bccOmlng-anu to think he'll
never see you in it--and I going from
Dan to Beersheba to match the trim
mings!"
"Arc-wc-going-down?" asked Sc
rena, steadying herself and her voice
with al effort.
"Any minute, for all I know. can't
find ont exactly what's happened, but 1
know the Fairy has become unmanage-
able, and she's drifting about at her own
sweet will. We might as well have a cat
at the helm. The three men who went
to sea in bowl aren't circumstance to
us. They've cut away heaven knows
what, and there was noise like the crack
of doom just now, which must have been
a mast"
Where-is-Mr. Surrey?"
!"I don't know. Swept overheard, for
all can say. Mr.. Bruce would have al
lowed me to 60 to the bottom in my
sleep, do believe. He never so much
as called me. Well, Mr.. Surrey" as that
gentleman appeared, "this as a nice still
alton for Mr.. Bruce to drag his innocent
family into, isn't it? Don't mind me.
Comfort Serena, if you can. If he who
has promised to love and cherish leaves
me at such crisis, what can expect of
a stranger? Will the ship hold together
till sunrise, do you think ?"
GIVE no doubt of it," he answered,
crossing Serena. At that instant there
was sound rs if the heavens themselves
rolled together like a scroll; the ship
quivered at every fibre, and seemed to
crack at every beam. Mrs. Bruce threw
up her arms and uttered prolonged cry.
II think we have struck, said Mr.. Sur
rey, solemnly. I'm afraid our days are
numbered. Miss sSelden-Serena-hadn't
we better take Amy's advice and make
up? If I 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.
It proved that they had collidel
with merchantmen, bound homeward
from India with cargo of iute and
gunny-bags; but while the Fairy was
found to be in sinking condition, the
Comet. being heavier vessel, had sus:
taiued but slight injuries, and was en-
atled to put about to the rescue OF crew
and passengers. 1t was ghastly scene
that followed, photographed indelibly
upon Miss Selden's memory; the awe
struck faces of the rough men who were
Iashing little Amy upon Mr.. Surveys
the Intellectual flare Of lights
against the twilight Of dawn the boil
ing sea which tore the Gfe-boat into
chips; the slippery cable across which
she toilcd to the Comets side, hand over
hand, now suspended above some death
ly ocean chasm,. now almost shrouded in
the spray of its angry waves.
81 shut my eyes tight" said Amy,
afterward, "and hugged Mr.. Surrey.
It was awful dark and lonesome. Have
we got to do it again? Do we always
stop that way?'
Heaven save us" calculated Miss
Selden. "I don't believe but I should
slip into the sea and have dope with it,
if it were to do over;" and she leaned
back iudolently in her seat under the
canopy which Surrey had improvised,
being on deck for the first time otter
days of illness, the reaction from excite
ment. "What are you reading Mr..
Surrey really begin to be persuaded
that am still q denizen of this breath
ing world, and to take an interest in my
species"
81 am reading the Calcutta Daily
and it's like q newspaper issued the day
before the food. 1t tells us things we
didn't know, to be sure. but which arc
old stories at the same time"
"Wc are finding new road to the In
dies, like Vasco de CANA, only it isn't a
short cut. What is there new in Calcut-
ia, or rather what is there old ?"
II see that my old classmate, Ned
Lombard, has forsworu himself and mar
riel-a Begun princess, for all [ know.
That won't interest you, though. Here's
ali interesting account of the reception
of the Prince of Wales, and Are you
faint, Miss Selden? Shall I take you be-
low?"
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 of
him, didn't you?"
"Married! Ned Lombard married I!
Yes-I-knew-him. Ii you could give
me your arm, Mr.. Surrey the ship is
pitching badly, is it not? was going
to Calcutta, you know. to marry-Mr.
Lombard. suppose he has treated mo
very badly, but can't feel as sorry as [
ought. l may as we'll tell you, Mr.. Sur
rey, that it is six years since saw him
out of sight-out of mind-and they
say that absence conquers love. That's
some excuse for him, if not for me. Ina
gine me sailing into Calcutta and finding
Mrs. Lombard i'll possessicA d! Wouldn't
it have been awkward?" and she tried to
laugh, and broke down. "I'm sure |
don't know. why I 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 l
shall bid you all good-by when you leave
the Comet, and keep on to New York. 1
suppose she will consider it horribly i'm
proper without chaperon; but what
else can I do?"
"There's the Rev. Mr.. Hymen on
board, the missionary from Upper India,
though he has hardly been out of his
berth" mused Mr.. Surrey.
eyes; Mr.. Bruce might intrust me to
his ghostly care; but he's SO bilious
looking, it wouldn't be cheerful"
"I think, Miss Serena, since you ask
my advice, the best thing for you to DO
would be to marry your humble servant,
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. MIR.
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 OH board the
Fairy that I discovered I was going to
Calcutta to marry Il man l didn't love.