Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-03-24
IT'S AN ILL WIND.

Glands by the halliards! clew up
royals and to'gallant sailsr shouted
Captain Burt of the ship REINDEER, as a
heavy gale, which for many hours had
been seen brewing to windward, came
driving down toward the vessel.
"Shall we have bad storm, papa ;"
inquired Minnie Melton-a beautiful
young girl of as she shrank closely to
the side of her father, Mr.. Melton, who
stood with her on the quarter deck of the
ship
The two had taken passage aboard the
Reindeer at the Sandwich islands, where
Mr.. Melton, with Winnie, his only child,
had been to visit an agent on business.
He had taken his daughter with him be-
cause she had expressed a wish to go,
and he had thought the trip would do
her good.
" Better for me had / never seen that
girl, muttered the poor sailing master,
Warren Cove, as he stood on the quar-
ter, watching a French vessel, which had
been spoken a few hours before GAS
soon as the storm passes / will tell the
captain [ wish to leave his vessel and go
aboard yonder ship. Better I 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 honora-
BILE discharge from the Chilian sloop-of-
war, ST. May, and had taken passage for
home.
He was fne-looking young fellow,
with clear gray eyes, sun-browned face,
and form Injured to hardship; for he
had led wild, rowing sort of life from
youth.
This fondness for wandering and adj
venture had kept him poor, and that was
why he thought it was better had he
never seen Winnie Melton, whom he low
ed at first sight
The rich brunette complexion, the
round, plump form, the 1.-the, willowy
waist; the musical, unaffected voice, We're
irresistible, but it was the dark eyes un-
der her arching brows, with their varied
expression, now bright, merry, spark
ling, now shy and soft as gazelle's, at
one moment uplifted, the next hidden by
the long, silky lashes-that caught poor
Warren's heart so promptly.
He had spoken to Melton, who liked
him, and was pleased to hear him relate
some of his adventures.
Winnie, however, seemed to treat him
rather coldly. She could sometimes
stand and listen to his conversation with
her father, but whenever he spoke to her
she would answer briefly, and even seem
a little veXed. In fact, she 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 mere fortune-hunter, and was at
tracted by her wealth.
There was one person, however, with
whom she often conversed; rich young
man named Walter Fitzberg, who was
passenger aboard the Reindeer, and
whom Mr.. Melton had known before.
cay, he will marry her." thought
Warren, "and I shall continue to be a
wanderer. I had intended to ssettle
down, but could never rest were she
% be the wife of another"
With intense interest Warren watched
He seamen as they sprang toexecute the
order to take in sail.
AS Winnie put her timid question, he
could not help giving her reassuring
glance as her father replied:
eyes, Winnie, [ think we shall have
a severe storm, but the Reindeer is a
good ship, and will brave it l''
The vessel was soon under reefed
mainsail, and topmast stay-sail
With a howl and a shrek the storm
pounced upon her The mast bent and
snapped; the rigging bellied in, whist
ling; ropes and sheets writhed and slat-
ted about; the ship was whirled down on
her beam-ends, and sent driving along
through the mad waters, in a perfect
cloud of spray, humming thunder
Standing on tlp-toe, clutching. her
fathers arm, Winnie waa a pretty pic
ture to look at.
The lips were half-parted and trem-
bling with anxiety; the dark curls blown
loose about the shoulders, the red man
tie auttering on the wind, the form was
drawn up so that the beautiful waist was
distinctly revealed.
passengers to go below, when tremen-
deus shock went through the ship.
We are going DOWN. with white
lips shrieked the carpenter. He had just
been In the hold, and reported that a
come in contact with the ships bottom,
and there stove In hole.
Clear away the boats!" shouted the
captain, in clear, ringing voice.
Warren sprang to assist
The quarter-boat and the long-boat
were soon cleared away and lowered.
Ere they could be we'll provisioned, an
ominous roaring sound was heard.
It was the rushing of the water into
the holdl
Fitzberg, losing al control of himself,
sprang for the long-boat, in his haste al
most knocking Winnie down.
The two boats were soon manned, but
ere Winnie could be helped into them by
Warren Cove and her father, the ship
lifted her bows, then lurched heavily,
preparatory to going down.