The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-10-08


hand and he slipped the ring on and
then he kissed the dainty fingers. She
blushed and looked pleased, and both
walked together slowly to the cabin
steps.
sat still and smoked after they had
gone, and my fancies kept forming the
face Of that lovely English girl in the
blue smoke which curled itself into
fantastic shapes above me. think l
almost uttered silent prayer for the
Of those young people. And
still / sat and smoked, and when /
went below a big black cloud had
Aoated up from the west just in front
of the moon, The ocean had taken
an ominous, treacherous look, and was
beginning to shiver and move.
u 4
1t was after midnight, / suppose,
when ] was aroused by a shock which
made the huge ship tremble for an in
slant. l knew an accident had oc-
CURED, and dressing hastily, / hurried
on deck. Heavensl what a change
had been made in those few hours.
The waves were dashing against the
ship and frothing over the deck, the
lightning was flashing on all sides,
and the thunder seemed to shake
heaven and sea. We'had struck upon
a reef, and evidently l had not felt the
first shock, for nearly all of the
boats had left the ship, and the captain
and crew were preparing to launch
the rest. Suddenly a succession of
vivid flashes seemed to encircle the
ship, The seamen fell PROSTATE, and
shower Of splinters struck the deck
forward.
A little puff of smoke arose, little
tongues of fire crept up a mast, and
before any one could shout the terrible
cry of "Firel" one OF the sails leaped
into flames. The frightened people
crowded shrieking to the stern of the
ship, and among them | saw the tail
form of the young American with q
woman fainting in his arms. A mo.
ment later | saw him again as he dis
appeared down ahatchway, which was
belching out smoke. The brave sailor;
worked with will, and the last boat
was launched before the flames hat
reached the middle of the ship. Only
one was left, and into this all of III
who remained clambered. The captain
stood ready to push the boat off wher
the young Americans haggard fac,
reappeared in the hatchway.
"My Godp he cried, frantically
"where is she?"
"Get aboardw shouted the captain
steinly, as he pointed toward the othe
boats.
The young American shook hi
head.
Look!" he cried suddenly.
A woman with yellow hair stream
ing over her white garments was seel
darting toward the bow OF the ship.
"Ellenw
The cry was too late. She locke
once at the flames, which were leapin
up the mast behind her, and, stretch
ing out her arms toward the recedin
boats, sprang into the sea.
l think he would have followed he
had not the captain seized him an
! thrust him into the boat.
Save her! save her, in Heaven
! namep
eve can't save her." said the cal
tain. "We couldn't find her in th
sea, We must save ourselves"
The poor fellow sank into the boz
almost lifeless.
"It may not have been she," / sal
t to him; perhaps she went in one 4
: the other boats"
He only shook his head mournfull
}. I believed it was the young Englis
t, lady, however, for as she threw up he
4 arms | saw ring fash in the light
a the flames with the same peculiar til
y that had marked in the moonlight
:, few hours before.
n AS we left the ship one of the sailo
9 in his eagerness lost an oar. This in
peded our headway, and we saw Il
l other boats pass out of the circle
) light into the darkness towards ligf
q house that was twinkling far to Il
II left. Soon the wind shifted, and Il
d sailors did not attempt to row b
S merely to keep the boat out of Il
g trough Of the sea, as the wind wou
= carry us obliquely to the shore.
n Against both wind and tide we cou
At not hope to reach the lighthouse,
TO we drifted.
is The flames had now spread to eve
as portion of the ship behind us, and t
er lightning was sweeping off to the ho
u zon in great bands Of purple lig
la Within an hour we could hear t