The Osceola times., 1882-01-28

mage passed, coming in from one of the
prairie roads and rolling rapidly forward.
For moment he stood quite still, his
heart throbbing painfully. lie did not
know what IL meant, but sensitive and
keenly alive TO every impression that
night, nothing escaped him. He ran
forward without knowing why re did
So the rumbling of the carriage leading
him. II went his own way, too, straight
for the landing, and, turning corner,
he saw a steamboat lying at the waters
edge.
lie was in luck, after all, he thought;
this was the boat Hero, and almost ready
10 start The bell was ringing Justify,
but the plank was still out and few
passengers were making their way across
it. He hurried on board and got back
into the shadows where he coulc see
without being seen. The perspiration
was standing in cold drops upon his
forehead and face, and he uemhled 80
that he could hardly stand.
He had always been-a plain, straight
forward fellow, little given to noting the
particular phases of his own mind; and
now, with no evidences of his nses to
assure him that it was so, he could not
understand why be believed SO firmly
that his wife and George Way were on
board the Hero with him.
The steamer glded ont into the stream
and went sailing smoothly forward, his
great lights making a shining path on
the waters. The cloud which had been
lying in the south was rising, and now
covered half the sky, an occasional
CLEAN Of lightning darting from it, The
wind was rising, too, and sweeping across
the deck in strong steady gusts. Lea iing
upon the deck railing, Harry Nane
watched the rising tempest. lie saw
that the cloud had reddish tinge and
that it stil hung low.
These thoughts were flashing through
his mind when the tempest came in all
his fury. The boat was cought up from
hand of Il child, then dashed forward.
No sound was heard, no shrek nor cry,
nothing but the mad roar of the winds
and the terrible crash of the thunder.
Like some goaded. maddened beast the
Hero rocked, plunged and leaped, It's
timbers crashing and breaking, the foam
rising in great sheets above and about il.
Then, it seemed hardly a moments time,
the wind lulled to calm, and instead Of
the hurricanes roar was heard the
screaming children, the groaning of
strong men
"rha steamer is sinking-to the life
boats, qlick!" some one cried in a loud
voice.
And then shrieks followed, and half
clad women, and little children clingng
10 their mothers breasts; their sweet lirs
frozen with 'ear, men, elpless with hor
ror, rushed out of the cabin aud state
rooms TO the sides OF the fast sinking
sielme~.
A few men, nerved with superhuman
put out the boats and helped the
passengers into them. One II an stood,
tall and strong. above the rest, very
in strength, the bravest among
the brave. Bruised and stunned by the
falling timbers, yet he had been the first
20 rally the men to their duty, and now
he stood, drencnhed to the skin, lifting
women and children into the boe,e.
They were all in "a, last, and he stood
alone. "Comel" some one cried, reach
ing up hand to him; There is no time
to lase. There is room here"
"Are YOU sure that the boat will not be
overburdened?"
lie spoke rapidly and in low tone,
but from the boat below some one gave
out a smothered cry. He had not time
to say more-a strong hand pulled him
forward and the next moment he was in
the heavily laden life boat.
let MS make for the shore,h one man
Move easy, ir you value your livesn
answered ""oihes: sIhe boat a'i is 'iis niied
Beyond this was silence. Now and T
then the lightning flashed over them, /
showing white faces, shivering forms
aud figures crouched and trembling with
fear. In the end Of the boat, quite near
the brave man who had fought so gal
lantly to save them, woman sat, her
hands clasped about the arm of a man
whose face ceseemed shrunken with terror
Whatever there had been Of beauty in
the regular, eileminate features, ii was
gone now, leaving only weak cowardice.
The woman Was Sarah Nane, and the
poor, fear iaded creature beside her, for
whom she had deserted her husband,
was George Way.
1--WE shall sink if we 20 on in this
way. The boat caunot carry this load,'
some one said. "llog many men can
swim2'
"Swim? 1t would be death to try it,"
was the answer,
"rhcn We shall all 90 down toge;h-
err"
Sarah Vane turned to the man beside
her.
"You can swim, GEORGE" she whis-
pered in his ear.
"IIush DO you think | want to
die?"
She shrank away from him, q look Of
supreme contempt sweeping over her
face. This was her hero. theu-but the
poorest of clay in the time of need. She
sprang to her feet. She, woman.
would show hip how to die. Before she
could speak, her husbands voice sound
ed, striking down her heart full of its
old music.
II will try swimming, gentlemen" he
said.
The wife caught his hand in hers,
81 will 20 with you, Harry"
lie tried to pat her away, but she
cung to him with desperation.
u am not a coward, whatever else |
am she whispered. Fer heavens
sake let me redeem myself"
lie wound his arms about her and
held her ,passionately to his breast A
flash OF lightning revealed them for a
second as they stood there clasped in
each others embrace; then, without a
word, they went over the boats side
together.
All in the lifeboat were saved-and
they perished.
Extracts from, the Primers.