The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-16

trembled so that he could hardly stand.
He had always been plain. straight
forward fellow, little given to noting
the particular phases OF his own mind;
and now, with no evidence Of his SOUS
es TO assure him that il was so, he could
not understand why he believed 50 firm
ly that his wife and George Way were
on board the Hero with him.
The steamer glidcd out into the
stream, and went sailing smoothly for
ward, its great lights making a shining
light on he waters. The cloud which
had been lying in the south was rising,
and now covered half the sky, an occa-
sonal CLEAN of lightning darting from
it. The wind was rising, too, sweeping
across the deck in strong. steady gusts.
Leaning upon the deck-railing, Harry
Vane watched the rising tempest. He
saw the cloud had reddish tirge, and
that it still hung low. ~.
These thoughts were flashing through
his mind when the tempest came in its
full fury. The boat was caught up
from its course as plaything is taken
in the hand of child, then dashed for
ward. No sound was heard, no shrek
nor cry, nothing but the mad roar of
the winds and the terrible crashing of
the thunder. Like some goaded, mad
dened beast the Hero rocked, plunged
and leaped, its timbers crashing and
breaking, the foam rising in great
sheets above and about it. Then, it
seemed hardly a moments time, the
wind lulled to a calm, and instead of
the hurricanes roar was heard the
screaming OF children, the grooming OF
strong men.
"The steamer is sipking--to the life
boats quickr' some one cried in loud
voice.
And then shrieks followed, and half
clad women and little children clingiug
10 their mothers breasts, their sweet
lips frozen with fear, men, helpless
with terror, rushed out OF the cabin
and state rooms TO the side of the sink
ing steamer.
A few men, nerved with superhuman
energy. pat out the boats and helped
the passengers into them. One man
stood, tall and strong above the rest, a
very Samson in strength, the bravest
among the brave. Bruised and stunned
by the falling timbels, yet he had been
the first to rally the men to their duty,
and now he stood, drenched to the
skin, lifting women and children into
the boats.
They were all in at last, and he stood
alone. '.Come!" some one cried,
reaching up hand to him; "there is
no time to lose. There is room here"
"Are you sure that the boat will not
be overburdened?"
He spoke rapidly, and in low tone,
but from the boat below some one gave
out smothered cry. He had not time
to say mora strong hand pulled him
forward, and the next moment he was
in the heavily laden life-boat
'Let us make for the Shore" one
man said.
"Move easy, il you value your lives"
answered another. "Ihe boat is filled
to sinking"
Beyond this was silence. Now aud
then the lightning flashed over them,
showing white faces, sbivering forms,
and figures crouched and trembling
with fear. In the end OF the boat, quite
near the brave man who had fought so
calamity TO save them, a woman sat,
her hands clasped about the arm Of
man whose face seemed shrunken with
terror. Whatever there had been of
beauty in the regular efleminate fea-
lures, it was gone row, leaving only
weak cowardicc. The woman was
Sarah Vane, aud the poor, fear-jaded
creature beside 1er, for whom she had
deserted her husband, was George
Way.
I'VE shall sink if we 90 on in this
way. The boat cannot carry this load"
some one said "How many men can
swim?'
"Swim? 1t would be death to try
it," was the answer.
Then we shall all 60 down togeth-
er."
Sarah Vane turned to the man beside
her.
you can swim, George" she whis-
pered in his ear.
"Hush! do you think want TO die?"
She shrank away from him. look OF
supreme contempt sweeping over her
face. This was her hero, her god,
then--but the poorest OF clay in the
time OF need. She sprang to her feet.
She, a woman, would show him how 10
die. Before she could speak, her hus-
bands voice sounded, striking down
upon her heart fun Of its old music.
Il will try swimming, gentlemen, he
said
The wife caught his hand in hers.
81 will 90 with you, Harry"
He tried to put her away, but she
chung to him with desperation.
IL am not coward, whatever else |
am" she whispered. "for Heavens
sake, let me redeem myself
He wound his arms about her, and
held her pas,ionately to his breast. A
flash of lightning revealed them for a
second rs they stood there clasped In
each others embrace; then, without a
word, they went over the boats side
| together
All in the life-boat we're Swaziland
they persisted
A Compliment 10 the Press.