The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-01-28

which were now making clean breach
over her, amidships.
s.Down boats!'' ordered Morton. '-Help
the passengers in firsti''
He sprang into the cabin.
The room occupied by Mrs. Barton
and her daughter was half flooded with
water.
Mabel, who sat with her arms about
her mother, up to her knees in water,
uttered cry of Joy as Morton burst in
to the apartment.
s4Can I do ANYTHING for you, Miss
Mabel?'' faltered Mr.. Tomtit, peering
down from the cabin-stairs.
At that moment the crash of the bull
warks to starboard. as they were broken
in by a sea, was heard.
Tomtit, not waiting for an answer to
his question, uttered a cry of terror,
and, running on deck, threw himself
into a boat, now alongside.
Como, come" he cried to the sailors
ON deck; Jump in! jump in! and pull
me ashore. Tho ship is breaking up.
Quick, quick, for Gods saker'
At that moment Morton appeared on
deck with Mabel in his arms.
With much difficulty he got her into
the boat, which was now toss ing wildly.
Tomtit was too busy holding on with
l. 9TH hands to the thwarts to afford any
assistance.
Ordering couple of sailors into the
boat to watch over the young girl and
! save her from being washed from her
place, Morton, saying he would now go
| TO bring Mrs. Barton up, hurried back
| to the cabin.
He had scarcely entered it when. as
| the ship made violent plunge, a few
| of the beams above the old ladyss berth
/ hi ft1Yfhar I1rnuftaSS
He ran back to procure an axe.
| At the same moment loud cracking
| sound warned him that the ship would
soon part amidships and go to pieces.
The tossing boat was also in danger
of being stove in
In fact, the quarter boat had already
been smashed by lowering, SO that the
long boat. now alongside, was the only
one remaining.
Morton's decision was quickly taken.
To wait until Mrs. Barton could be.
got out from the debris of timbers about
her berth, and brought up, would be TO
ensure the destruction of every person
| aboard; for, by that time, the ship
would have gone to pieces.
The Young captain therefore resolved
not to wait-at least, not TO keep the
others waiting
He ordered all the sailors into tho
boat.
When they were there. he said:
Now, lads. pull for shore. There Is
a sand beach wonder. where you may
be able to land in safety.
Come on, captainr' cried the mate.
: mo, my duty is here. l will not
|. leave the craft while there Is human
! being aboard.
My mother! My poor mothcrr'
walled Mabel. wringing her hands. 81
!, | will not forSake her."
5 And she tried to get to the deck.
The mate gently restrained her..
1T is for the best, Miss Barton, cried
Morton, Il am going to stay in order
that can try and save your mother.
Goodbye"
i Mr. Tomtit will stay and help you"
+ cried Mabel.
Really" gasped Tomtit, Ill don't
n think I would be of any use. For Gods
;. sake. let us start before we are all
u drownedr'
IS With blow of his axe Morton sever
t. ed the warp, and the boat in a moment
l. was whirled away from the ship.
The captain rushed into the cabin.
J. He worked with the strength of a
t. | young lion, with the water up to his
c. hips.
b. Timber after timber gave way be-
Y, meath his vigorous blows, until at last
ID he forced a passage to the inva1id's
is berth.
It, Just then an ominoqs sound reached
ID him.
1t was tho grinding, swapping noise
e, of the vessel as her timbers were giving
ne away amidships.
Morton realized that he would not
to have time to drag Mrs. Barton on deck.
He carried her into the cabin, how
l. ever, attached life-preserver to her,
n and then secured her and himself to 3
large beam.
re He had scarcely done so when. with
u a laundering crash, the ship parted,
NJ breaking up.
Amid the debris of whirling timbers,
l. ropes, and spars, Morton struggled with
N his charge-strove to keep her head
above water.
II At last the waves washed both, hall
oI senseless, upon the beach, where they
were picked up by those who had safely
"a reached the shore in the boat.
n Mrs. Barton and her daughter were
very grateful to Morton for his noble
L conduct.
ID TO think of his risking his life, and
taking so much trouble for an old. use:
n less, paralytIc woman like myself!' said
Of Mabel's mother to her child. with tears
O. in her eyes.
How different his conduct from
Tomtit'sr' said Mabel. ''Tomtit thought
T. only of bimself-was, in fact, tor
sr frightened to think of anyone else. He
70 wanted the men to pull ashore and leave
b. you and the rest of us in the lurch.
N After that, mother, 1 hope"
''But, my child, he is rich. Surely
t, you will not refuse to marry him?"
a Il cannot marry so selfish person,
err answered Mabel Think of it, mothel
think of his conduct to-day"
70 lit was bad, but Well, well
ut child, do as you like"
Having obtained this permission, Ma
r, bel fastened to inform Tomtit that sht
h, had changed her mind. and woulC
is never be his wife.
rs A few days later the castaWays wer'
picked up by vessel bound to Boston
A Before it arrived there Mabel was tn
I'd | promised wife of Captain Morton.
of They were married q few month
CT later.
The captain, who had some none,
I'd saved, built house. and insisted OF
y Mrs. Barton always making her HON
with her daughter.
I'd TIE three are very happy together
Y. Morton is now a wealthy ship0wneT
and Mrs. Barton has many reasons 70
lg feeling thankful that her daughter mar
ried him instead of Tomtit. The latte
I'd proved to be a worthless adventure
and gambler, whose story of riches an
Mt the fortune he was heir to was 8 mer
fabrication.
e. A retired newspaper-man writes TO tn
Troy Times telling of pleasing expt
er | ripnca with Mr. Vanderbilt. az went 4