Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-10-07
THE LOSS OF THE PARAGON.

{ AAhb A-OAJO vi lii Il hhAUUkN1
! Ralph Rawson Nutford was the fifth
officer on board the steamship Para
gon, one Of the fastest boats on the
Cable line of steamers, which piled be-
tween New York and Seringapatam.
Her captain was justly renowned as
I an expert navigator, for he was in the
habit OF performing the journey OF
10000 miles in four days, ten hours,
iorty-two minutes and nineteen and a
half seconds with much regularity, and
had never yet been run into by anoth-
er vessel; nor had he ever sustained
any very serious damage from the
steamers of opposition lines, which he
habitually cut in two as they crossed
his path upon the high seas.
Having attained thispiteh otmarine
pre-eminence, Capt. Sir Clements Lane
--he was a baronet ofancient creation
entered heart and soul into ms pro-
iessior, and thought there was moth,
ing like it. His fifth officer, however,
didn't care much about it; he had
been, as youngest of a large family,
pitch-forked into the employment of
the Cable line by rich uncle, who paid
his fees, and took an interest in his
progress as long as he saw nothing of
him. But Ralph r. Nutford, being
young, good looking and human,
found his profession remarkably dull.
you see, he remarked to a chance
acquaintance, who had introduced
himself to him as they lunched
at the same table at Delmon-
ico's, one day, shortly before
the Paragon was to start on
the homeward journey; "you see, we
junior officers don't have much fun on
board. The seniors, il they care
about it, can get up no end of amuse-
ment with the fairer section OF the
passengers; but what chance has a
fifth officer? have to go about my
duties like an automaton; and at
dusk, when the rattle OF pronIiscuous
I OSCILLATION echoes around the decks,
and every corner that one turns is inn
mediately the theatre of a sudden dis
ENHANCEMENT and precipitate flight,
tie effect is, to say the least of it, tan
taliSing; and one wishes one were Ell
Their senior officer or passenger, instead
CT fifth in command
The genial stranger was prop
trly sympathetic, and after MAX
ing a few inquiries concern
ing the arrangements and disci-
pline on board the Paragon, he nod
ded "Good day." and disappeared
amid the brou-ha-ha of New York
city.
On the evening before the departure
of the Paragon the new hands which
had been taken on in New York and
most of the homewari. bound passen-
gers were on board, when a gorgeous
specimen OF the Wall street Yankee,
accompanied by a lovely creature of
some nineteen summers and an equal
number of winters, came on board,
and, addressing Ralph Rawson Nut
ford, who was standing near the gang
way, asked that worthy whether he
was captain OF the boat On his re-
plying that he was the fifth officer, the
Yankee remarked:
"WelI, sir, I'd be obliged to you if
you coald take me to the capt'n under
whose charge | want to place this
young lady, whom | may as well in
troduee to you as-you're one of the
offieers-right now. Miss Nellie j.
Robertson, my niece, Mr.. milford
thank you-fifth officer of this vessel"
While the captain was being found
Miss Nellie j. Robertson was doing
great execution with her great soft
eyes; and by the time Capt. Sir Glenn
ents Lane had duly identified the fair
passenger in the list, and had under
taken to take charge of her during the
voyage, the impressionable fifth Off
Ger was quite ready to put her up on
a coil ofrope-no pedestal being handy
and fall down and worship her.
The swell Yankee, with much
ostentatious farewell pantomime, hav.
ing returned on shore, the fair Nellie
left with the captain, and a new pas.
monster, who attached himself to the
susceptible Ralph, and proceeded to
share with that gentleman his meals,
his berth and his whole existence.
Next morning they were well out at
sea when the captains protege came
on deck. Gracious, how beautiful she
was, and when she went up to Milford
and, putting both her hands into his,
captured his soul with look and re-
quested to be shown the vessel, the
fifth officer could have clasped
her in his arms and sprung over
board, like a new Charmides, TAX
ing his Pallas with him. His
Joy, however, was short lived, for in
the midst of their peregrination the
captain met them, and telling OF Mr..
Nutford to 60 aft and see to some
thing about which there was no earth
ly hurry, undertook to relieve him OF
his duty as cicerone. As they came
up the companion Nellie, stumbling
against Ralph, squeezed his hand and
whispered eau plaisir!'
The Irritation of these two young
things for the rest of the day had
to be pantomimic; it was, there
fore, the more unrestrained. Ralph
didn't worship the sea, but he
was q conscientious officer, and
wouldn't let his love, which grew
fiercer and fiercer, interfere with
with his duties. Besides, the captain
took the greatest pains about his fair
charge, and kept sharp lookout upon
his fifth officer, whose eloquent looks
he considered to be in the worst posi-.
BILE taste. An opportunity occurred to
them, however, just before the last
meal, when they met under shelter ola
friendly stateroom.
Al never knew" said she, chat sail
ors were so NICE Do you know, sir. +"
she added, putting her hands upon his
shoulders, that this uniform makes
you very handsome? ] believe that
is the only reason you're here at all"
A fool would not have caught her vio-
lently to his breast and kissed the pas
sionate lips and eyes which raised
themselves to level with his. Ralph
Rawson Nutford was no fool.
Il must go away" he whispered.
"When can we meet again? shall be
on watch tonight, and shall wanderup
and down thinking oinothing but you.
Come on deck early tomorrow, and 1
shall be free.
no." said she; "let me come on
deck while you are on watch. 1t will
be very dark night, and I'll wear
dark frock There will be no moon
there was none last night. Do let me
come"
Impossible, darlingl The rules are
Medic and Persiac. No one can let you
come on deck save the captain. 1t
woul1 be ruin to me IL Won came with