Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-28
AN OCEAN Episode.

a
same Ralph, with plenty of money to
crafty bis taste for travel.
He had the reputation, though, of being
little queer, because he never chose the
beaten path, but was found flying off to
of-the-way and Questionable places,
as for instance to Montevideo. Aud, some
how, he always chose the road that was
least frequented.
1t was of Cape Hstteras that the Guilt
yer fell in with gale, and had rough
night OF 1t.
Whtuey was standing on the bridge with
the Captain, when suddenly the ship gave
lurch that set every cord to creaking.
For moment he let go the guards, and
this sudden motion of the ship hurled him
off his feet as though he had been feather.
He thrust out his hand to save himself,
but he slipped at the head of the gang
way, and fell to the bottom with stunning
force.
The ouartermaster was at his side in an
instant.
"Good God !" be cried, as he flashed his
lantern in Whitney's CHASTITY face, over
which the blood was streaming. He's
killed, sir =
Take MIN into the cabin, the Captain
called 10 the sailors. :" The surgeon and
the stewardess, quick !"
White and bleeding, Whitney was car
ried in and laid on the Captains bunk. He
was not dead, but very badly injured. a
leg and one arm were broken, and in his
head there was an ugly cash that kept his
mind wandering for several days,
When he opened his eyes at last it was
In kind Of bewilderment, for on the edge
of the bunk sat one of the loveliest women
he had ever seen, and she was tanning him
gently, with slow, graceful movement Of
her round, white arm, from which her
open sleeve had fallen back
She wore very simple dress of white
muslin, but it seemed to Whitney's fever
ish fancy like feecy cloud, on which the
sunshine of her hair was softly resting.
Her eyes were deeply, darkly, beauti-
fully blue, and as she looked at him she
smiled.
"Are you awake ?" she said, in a low,
flute.like voice. 90 It is time for your med.
icine.
She rose as she spoke, and put two tea
spoonfuls OF something in wine glass.
Whitney's eyes followed her in kind of
dreamy doubt. The Captain had said that
there were no lady passengers for this trip,
and who could she be
What has happened to me he said,
becoming conscious of dull pains in his
body.
"You fell from the bridge, and were
hurt" she answered, taking up the fan
again. That was rough night. We
have had bad weather nearly all the way.
" Yes. I remember" he said, slowly.
d" Have been sick long? Where are we
now"
Not very long" she replied. "We
are still in the gulf. It has been almost
impossible to make any Roadway"
Whitney lay silent for some time, but he
never took his eyes off of her exquisite
face.
Are you one of the passengers +" he
asked, after some hesitation, as though he
thought the question not quite proper
one.
a deep flush spread itself over her face
and neck, but it was gone in an instant
No, she said, quietly; " am the
stewardess.
g The stewardessl" Whitney murmured,
and look Of utter amazement crept into
his eyes. "Good heavens
Another painful blush swept over the
girls fair face.
lyon are not to talk" she said, some
what abruptly. "The doctor says SO"
Whitney did not speak again for some
time. When ne did, it was to say, in
the imperious way which is tolerated in in
yalids
"What Is your name!
"Miss Trent, she said briefly, and she
put up the fan as though to screen her
face.
Ill as ne was, Whitney understood the
gesture and closed his eyes, pretending to
sleep.
The weather got worse instead of better,
and the CULVER had tough time strug-
Cling through the West Indies.
Poor Whitney was badly off all the
while, though the stewardess rarely left
him, aud did sll she could TO secure his
comfort.
One night she sat beside him, locking
very pale and subdued. The CULVER was
bouncing in the sea like bit of cork.
1T is worse tonight than usual, isn t
II? Whitney said, with feeble effort at a
smile, for every motion of the ship made
him quiyer with pain.
Yes." answered the stewardess, and
then, after q moments pause, she added,
quietly
The Captain is afraid we won't be able
to weather it. This heavy sea has strained
every timber. We may go to the bottom
before morning.
He looked at her in wonder.
lyon are not afraid p he queried.
Yes. am, she answered =" bnt there
ia no use OF getting excited.
The Gulliver gave a tremendous lurch.
A great wave broke over the deck and
shivered the glass in the windows and
hatchways Then came fearful crash.
1.-The foremost is gone, she said, with
blanched cheeks. " Mr.. Whitney, can you
raise yourselfG"
what are you going to do % he asked.
"Pus this ife-preserver on you, she
answered, suiting her action to the words.
There is no use of that" he said, qui.
etlv. 'If the ship goes down, will go
with il. / am utterly helpless, and in such
a time every man is for himself.
Put it on, . she said, authoritatively.
He obeyed ner; but as she buckled the
Jacket about him he said. half bitterly:
Il shall drown here like rat IN a
Il VIII not leave you" she said. in a
low tone. -,
cried, hastily. Promise me that you WIN
not. If the worst comes, save yourself
do not think OF me. Insist upoA AZ
He spoke rapidly and with great empha'
sis, but she answered him with strange
smile.
"Whas do you think of me-" she said.
81 tell you, will not leave you. II you
wish for my safety, the best way to secure
it is to do as tell you without stopping to
ask questions.
Z She had just buckled about her own 1.-THE