The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-05
AN ILL-WIND.
A THRILLING TALE OF LOVE on THE
SEA.


SEA.
Hands by the halliardsI Clew up roy
ais and tO'-gallant sails - shouted Cap
tain BERT of the ship Reindeer, as a
heavy gale, which for many hours had
been seen brewing to windward, came
driving down toward the vessel.
"Shan We have a bad storm, papa %
inquired Winnie Melton-a beautiful
young girl of seventeen-as she shrank
closely to the side of her father, Mr..
Melton, who stood with her on the
quarterback of the ship.
The two had taken passage aboard
the Reindeer at the Sandwich Islands.
where Mr.. Melton and Winnie, his only
child, had been to visit an agent on bus
iness. He had taken his daugter with
him because she had expressed a wish to
go, and he had thought the trip would
do her good.
Better for me had l never seen that
girl, = muttered the poor sailing master,
Warren Grove, as he stood on the quar-
ter watching a French vessel to wind
ward, which had been spoken Il few
hours before. "AS soon as the storm
passes, l will tell the captain l wish to
leave his vessel, and go aboard yonder
ship. Better L should tear myself away
from the girl at once than remain to be
tortured by the sight of one whom can
never hope to make mine"
Warren had lately received an honor
able discharge from the Chilian sloop-
of-war st. Mary, and had taken passage
for home.
He was fine looking young fellow,
with clear, gray eyes, Sun-browned face,
and form Injured to hardships for he
had led a wild, rowing sort of life from
his youth.
This fondDess FOR wandering and ad-
venture had kept him poor, ard that
was why he thought it was better had
he never seen Winnie Melton, whom he
loved at first sight.
The rich brunette complexion. the
round, plump form, the 1.-THE, willowy
waist, the musical, unaffected voice,
were irresistible but it was the dark
eye under her arching brows, with their
varied expression, now bright, merry,
sparkling, now shy and soft as a gaZelle-s,
at one moment uplifted, the next hidden
by the long, silky lashes-that caught
poor Warren's heart 50 promptly.
He had spoken to Mr.. Melton, who
liked him, and was pleased to hear him
relate some of his adventures.
Winnie, however, seemed to treat
him rather coldly. She would some
times ST and and listen to his conyerSa-
tiOn with her father, but whenever he
spoke to her she would answer briefly.
and even seem a little vexed. In fact.
ste avoided him so sedulOusly that he
at last concluded she disliked him, and
resolved to speak to her no more, the
conviction forcing itself on his mind
that she thought he was a mere fortune
hunter, and was attracted by her wealth.
There was one person. however. with
whom she often couversed arich young
man, named Walker FitzbeTg. who was
passenger aboard the Reindeer. and
whom MIR. Melton had known before.
AYE, he viii marry her." thought
Warren, land l shall continue to be a
wanderer. l had intended to settle
down, but 1 could never rest were she
to become the wife of another
With intense interest Warren watch
ed the seamen, as they sprang to exc
cute the order to take in sail.
As Winnie put her timid question, he
could not help giving her a reassuring
glance, as her father replied:
''Y es, Winnie, / think we shall have
a severe storm, but the Reindeer is a
good ship, and will brave it -
The vessel was soon under reefed main
sail, close reefed maintopSail and top
mast stay sail.
With a howl and a shrek tie storm
pounced upon her The masts bent
and snapped, the rigging bellied il
whistling, ropes and sheets writhed anC
Slated about, the ship was whirled dowI
on her beam ends. and sent driving
along through the mad waters in a per
. feet cloud of spray humming thunder.
Standing on tip-toe, clutching he
! fathers arm, Winnie was a pretty pic
1 ture to look at.
The lips were half parted and tremb
/ ling with anxiety; the dark curls blowI
+ loose about the shoulders, the red man
/ tie fluttered on the wind, the form wa
/ drawn up so that the beautiful outline
/ of the waist was distinctly revealed.
The Captain WAS about advising hi
/ passengers to go below, when a tremen
/ dOus shock went through the ship.
Eve are going down - with whit
/ lips shrieked the carpenter. He ha'
/ just been in the hold, and reported tha
I a whale or some other sea monster ha'
/ come into contact with the ships bot
tom. and there stove hole.
/ "Clear away the boats - shouted tn;
/ Captain, in a clear voice.
] Warren sprang to assist.
The quarter-boat and long-bOat wer
soon cleared away and lowered. Err
they could be well prOvisioned an Omin
Gus roaring sound was heard.
1t was the rushing Of the water int
the hold
Fitzbcrg, losingall control Of himself
sprang for the boat, in his haste almos
knocking Winnie down.
The two boats were soon manned. bu
ere Winnie could be helped into ther
by Warren Grove and her father, til
ship lifted her bows and lurched heavil,
preparatory TO going down.
This parted the ipat-warps.