New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23


row stream of light through the slding-door on to
the deck, throwing ont. upon the darkness a lew
links OF the huge chain cable that was stretched
ngpn AZ thu foot OF ts and sTch things
IL was strange to hear the rushing noise OF the
wind and the seething Of swept through shrouds
night was so black. and the sounds aoft so ocean
like, that it was almost impossible at times 70 rea-
lIze that we the smooth Thames, and Graves
end pretty nearly within musket-shot:
Not choosing to go supplerless to bed and yet not
caring to make the steward wonder by asking hlm
for something to eat, partook of q bit Of fresh
beef beef which the 6Gptswan Prought, out
eight having been struck on the quarter deck,
relieved my entertainers of my company know
ing very well that the poor, tired fellows would would
turn IN and fail fast asleep the moment my back
was turned. The rain had ceased, but the sky had
wild look, and the decks were full of water for
the want of list to carry the wet through the
scupper-holes. made my way aft and came to a
stand opposite the cnddy front through the W in
dows of which could command view of the in;
terror without being seen. Dinner had been cleared
to be full OF people and noticed the newly married
couple, whose names | afterward heard were Dir.
and Mrs. Marmaduke Mortimer, Captain Jackson;
X. NJ. and his wife, n young gentleman named
Thompson Tucker, Mrs. OBrian, one or two other
ladies' and at the 'thwartship table at the end,
FLORENCE. Aunt Damaris, and Mr.; MorecOmbe;
When saw that fellow talking to the aunt, and
Florence lttlngquety alongside, my old miserable
mSgiving returned. It looked almost certain that
company her, otherwise, could suppose, if he had
sucaked on board as had, that he would have had
the courage 10 discover himself within an hour or
two of her arrival just as sure, il the aunt
learned that was on board she would fOrwith carry
her niece ashore, might not he, IN the same way
have feared that if Florence knew that he was GO
ing 10 make the voyage I'm the ship she would insist
npon leaving the vessel OF course he enjoyed an
immense advantage over me by having Aunt Da-
maris on his side, and he might presume upon that
20 make his presence known to Florence. Never
tlpl0sg. rendered uul1DDV
him there in that warm, comfortable, brilliant
Cuddy, close 10 Florence, and chatting with tho
aunt and not able 10 satisfy my mind that his vow
age had been arranged without the girls knowl-
edge.
The better 10 see her | went on to the poop. for
they were all three Of them sitting well within
range of the after skylight-but il was too dark TO
see which of them it was. The wind was mighty
keen, having grown more northerly and coming very
fresh. ! walked to tho after sltylght and looked
do vn and there under me was the beautiful force of
the girl for whom was taking all this desperate
trouble and hcaping discomf0rtS upon my head.
Had she been alone the sight that skylight framed
would have been like a vision for the blackness
stood all around the Illuminated glass and the deck
dark too, that the radiance Of the lamps, and
the face and glittcring hair Of Florence. aud the
swell of her lovely bosom rounding above he table
on which she rested her elbow, with her white hand
under her chin, were all contained in u kind
Of luminous square; but unfortunately for the
beauty of that charming night piece Aunt Damaris
WAS in IL, aud 30 was Mr. MOrccombe. There they
were. all three Of them and watched them. For
ten minutes stood oyerhanging that skylight, hut
during that time never coIld detect that Florence
spoke once; neither did | observe that she ever
turned her face toward Mr. Morccombe. 1t would
be hard 10 get ~ IN" exact expression in that light
the glass wa, Wet and the moisture made ITS trans
parcncy treacheINus; but If there was not look
II GOODNESS aud offended pride IN her face, then
am blessed If can tell you what other sort of APP
pcaranCe IL presented. | took, rs you may suppose,
a prolonged sQuint az Aunt D1mlris One glimpse
had caught 81 her, q, yOu viii remember ! told
Won, al Bristol. but the impression left was ex-
cccdiugly small; what l now saw, Therefore, was
quite fresh and new 10 me- She seemed about sixty
years old; very sharp features. long narrow nose,
a wide mouth with thin lips. and small, restless
black eyes. Ter hair was gray aud she was very
toned sau.agc-,haprd curs IN front of her ears.
She looked Dee dressed ia bllc, satin, for the stun
CLEANED Whenever she moved; her cap ~. large,
with plelty of ribbon m o., anf around h's meek
wa, stretch If lace. or something Of that Kind,
with the ends hanging down IN front of h'r She
had the appcaranrc. ! am bound 10 say, OF "A
-p.ctablr Wrll-tO-dO old lady.
Vol. while / va, staring down at them saw
Florence lean toward her aunt, say something. aud
then risr; the old woman lifted her eyes To- her and
seemed 10 cvpostulat"; then, apparently thinking
better of H. she got mp too. and shook hands with
Mr.. Morrcomhc; but lloroncc gave him such
chilling bow that the sight OF II brought my two
hands together in upturuus gIueeZc, aud then I'm
breath there was nothing left Of the picture the
-'.vliVht had framed lut the bare table. turned
10 90 below by the cudly port entrance, and found
the person had noticed stumPIug the deck at my
elbow AMI Dc.tIuE at W'.
Are you "a cuddy passenger" said h..
"0h. / beg your pardon" said he. May ask
Mr. john Eserton." answered.
MY name i, Thornton SAID he and am the
chief officer didn't notice you nj dinner ldout
think ave 'ccn you IN this vessel before. Where
lid you come aboard, HIr =
" In the docks
Ilr continued to peer ~ me "a though he could
not make up his mind a. to whether was an Irish
assassin Or the latest English murderer; but
when in reply 10 the question, gave hlm the num-
Der of my cabin and the name of tine person
who was 10 share it with me- he exclaimed,
oh, it's all right, sir, Of course. and resumed
lIs walk. This matter. tritling a. II was, never
hcicSs hugely disguised and annoyed me,
aud | was never more disposed To curse my
,elf for fool for putting myself INTO situd-
ions full of notifications mlScon'lIuctIons'
md the obligation of sucaking amt skulk-
ng. ] fingered few minutes ON the poop, not
'huosing that the mate should ilattcr himself he
lad FASTENED my departure. There was no ram, nut
he darkness was thickcned with a rolling and ed
lying INST that sometimes drove past the iil4mlna-
ed .kylght~ like bursts of stream. The lights at
iravcsend twnkled windily, and the loom Of TIE
ligh land behind was visible in deepening black
ness above the winking, ilickcriug sparks. Tho
1Ycr from the light abreast of NorihHcct away
Town far az the Hope, looked as If galaxy oil
tar4 were lowering over its gloomy waters now
many vessels those lanterns represented could not
imagine, but any one might easily suppose from the
appearance of the multltudinOus SHINING lhaI an
immense fleet had brought mp IN GrayeSend kcach
here you would see one rccngan staggering WIN !
sweeping movement upon the darkness, denOtihg |
ome small craft tossing upon the little sen which !
he strong wind had raised in the river while close
u hand over the side the wa er gllmncrcd anna
he deep nght-shadows in dull flashes OF paliid
roth aud washed in "A crOuching sound along the |
lends of our motioncss vessel, making tho rudler |
ar and again with faint ratling Of the tiller-
haius III the lcading-sheaves. Atop, the noise oil
he wind was like the shearing OF gale through |
crest but many a wild note there was IN addition,
wangcd on the harp-liko rigging; aud yon could |
lot have stood and listened for five minutes, with |
he sObbing of the water to help your fancy, with
mt believing that world of phantom- had come |
Own on the wings of the wind aud alghted |
lighted ON those darklng spars and faintly Rilm- |
ncrng yaTds-ghOsts of mothers singing 10 WaillnH |
abIes, ghosts of ruined men grOanng IN their ms
ry ghosts of mad women shrioklng IN torment. A |
TRANCE chorus mates, az you all know, for what
alIoTs thoughts have not run 10 II though 70 ma
meaning IN such sprit-crying. there should be no
hure-llghts about; you must be leagues ana
ragues away out at sea, on the i0rrcastle, say,
where you may be alone for aft there are the helms
mn and thc officer of the watch TO keep you COM