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

/ but the two men watching Wild you
and they couldn't see me. / oare III
last night and no onesaw me. Well
shall ! come during your watch or th'
captain's?"
Nothing more was said--in words
Ralph was nladly tempted, as he went
forward, TO dance about and shout
aloud.
1t was ritch-dark night, though the
air was clear OF fog. The two lovers
sat beneath the bridge, and
he told her in whispers al
about himself, and how fatal il
would be if it were discovered that he
had yielded to her prayer and let her
come to him on deck But what did
anything matter while her soft smooth
fingers twined and knotted themselves
IN his, and her glory oil gold hair was
/ the only thing between her cheek and
his shoulder
Suddenly there WAS a great Jar and
dull, crashing report. Nelliecrouch.
ed in the shadow as Nutford sprang
to his feet and learned from the men
on watch that the Paragon had been
run into. In a moment all was con-
fusion, or apparent confusion. The
captain, cool as il he had been taking
his seat at dinner, came on deck and
said in n loud, calm voice to the ter
rliied passengers:
''We have been run into and the
Paragon is sinking. There is no dan
ger to us personally. The sea is calm
and the boats are in perfect order and
Preparation TO" such an accident. In
an hour we shall be on board the ship
that has run us down, which is wait
ing for us close by" Then, under
his calm and careful orders, passen-
gers and crew embarked in the Par
agon's boats, and in a very short
time the little fotilla was pulling
away from the disappearing liner.
But the ship that had sunk them was
nowhere to be toundl Favored by
the darkness, she had got away,
without stopping to learn what had
become OF the Paragon and her Iiv-
ing freight.
Nellie and Ralph Nutford were to-
gether in one OF the boats. No inGui-
ry had yet been made into the disas.
ter; but the two men on watch, who
were in the same boat with them, said
they had suddenly seen the lights of a
steamer close TO them, and as they
sprang forward to hail her and give
the alarm, she had struck them, and
when they recovered from their mo-
mentary CONSERVATION she had dis
appeared!
"You heart" said Nellie to the ter
ror-stricken fifth officer, whose side
she had never left-"they didn't see
her till she struck us You must
support their statement, or you
will be q ruined man. Iourcertiicate
will be Cancelled, and, oh, Ralph if
the truth should be known, think OF
my everlasting shame! For my sake,
ii you love me, save my good name
and yours, and back up their story.
You see they are both agreed, and
you were further from where she
struck us than they were"
The men repeated their story again
and again. Morning broke, and be-
fore any one had time to suffer very
much steamer, bound on the same
journey, picked up the whole compa-
ny.
The captain Intercepted the men
on watch and Mr.. Nutford as closely
as possible. There was no doubt
about the facts. The Paragon had
been run down by mysterious vessel,
the name of which no one had OBJ
served, and had taken advantage of
the darkness to desert the shipshe had
run into. The home voyage was salts
factorily accomplished, and Ralph aud
Nellie, the former no longer hampered
by duties of navigation, had ample
opportunities OF carrying on their
love affair which had been accompan-
led by such an overwhelming catas-
trophe Nutiord easily succumbed to
Nellie's soft caSuistry, for to own his
neglect of duty would be rain to his
career and hers, and would render
their marriage which was to him a
foregone conclusion, an absolute mn
possibility.
A minute inquiry naturally was
held at Seringapatam, at the conclu-
sion of which it was decided-though
in official language-that there was
some mystery somewhere. and
Il good deal more In the circumstances
OF the collision than met the eye or
ear; but that was no direct evidence
rejecting upon the conduct OF the fifth
officer, who came home from the in
quiry man about whom nothing def
mite is said, but "A good deal is implied,
and in this unenviable state of mind
he found waiting for him Nellie his af-
famed bride, and blue envelope
The latter was from firm of solici.
tors, announcing that his old uncle
had died, leaving him his sole heir
Thank Godn' he exclaimed. Poor
old gentleman, he has done me a
good turn at the moment | re-
quired il most. Nellie-sweetheart
Il am a rich man. Tomorrow |
throw up this profession, which, if /
cared little about before, Iloathe now.
This day three weeks, darling, we will
be married, and then Wen go abroad
for six months. Does this suit your
views?"
The answer OF the young person
addressed has not been recorded; it is
sufficient for us to know that, two
months later, Nellie-Mrs. Ralph Nut
ford-was installed in au exquisite
little apartment looking out upon the
Champs Elysees, and her husband,
who had been down to the Riviera TO
look out for permanent habitation
for himself and his bride, was hasten
ing back to her in first-class car.
riage on the Paris-Marseilles railway.
In the corner opposite to him sat
an American, who, with the affability
of that free-born race, had entered
nto conversation with INN, and the
conversation had turned upon the
hipping ut Marseilles.
You seem to know thing or two
about boats, stranger" observed the
American.
"Well, ought to, seeing that l was
connected with an American line for
some years"
"You were! Then you must have
come across some funny yarns in con-
nection with those same steamers.
Lord bless you! There's deal of ro-
nance connected with those lines! |
could ted you story-but, there, it
wouldn't interest you perhaps"
"On the contrary" replied Mr.. Nut
ford, 81 should very much liket hear
some OF your experiences; we have the
end of a long journey before us"
ooh, they renot my experiences; but
a friend OF mine from Chicago told me
a rum story about the Cable line q
rev days ago. Remember the Para
gon? Went down mysteriously, be-
ginning OF the year? Yes, you know.
I'll tell you story about that, if you
like. Shall |? Very well-we've got
half an hour. 1t happened like this;
but mind, you promise on your
British honor never to let this 60 any
further. All right.
Col. Jedadiah 2. Spinks gotplanted
last fall with huge consignment of
hides. GOT 'em as his share oil q steal.