Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-26
TILE LOSS OF THE PARAGON.

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 rs
an expert navigator, for he was in the
habit OF performing the journey OF
10000 miles in four days, ten hours,
forty-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 this pitch ofmarine
pre-eminence, Capt. Sir Clements Lane
he was n baronet ofancient creation
entered heart and soul into ms pro.
fession, and thought there was moth
ing like it. His fifth officer however,
didn't care much about it. he had
been, as youngest of 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 rs he saw nothing Of
him. But Ralph II. milford, 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 mnchcd
AZ the same table at Dclmon-
ico's one day, shortly before
the Paragon wax 10 start on
the homeward Journey; you See, We
Junior officers don't have much irnon
board. The seniors, ii they care
about it, can get up no end of amu~c-
ment with the fairer section OF the
passengers but what chance has
fifth officer? have to 90 about my
duties like an automatou; and at
dusk, when the rattle Of promiscuous
OSCILLATION echoes around the decks
and every corner that one turns j. inn
medIately the theatre OF a sudden dis
ENHANCEMENT and preciptate flight
tie effect L., TO say the least of il, tan
TALKING, and one wishes one were ell
ther senior officer or pas senger, instead
OF fifth in command.
The genial stranger was prop
erly sympathetic, and after max
ing 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 :he new hands which
had been taken on in New York and
most OF the homeward bound passen-
gers were on board, when 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
"Well, sir, I'd be obliged to you if
you could take me to the capt n under
whose charge | want to place this
young lady, whom | may as well in
troduce to you as-you're one OF the
oiiicers-right now Miss Nellie j.
Robertson, my niece; Mr.. Milford
thank you-fitth 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 impressiohable fifth Off
Ger was quite ready to put her up on
n 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 new pas
senger came on board-a green-eyed
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 upto Nutford
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 ciasped
her in his arms and sprung over
board, like new Charmides, tax
ing his Pallas with him. His
joy, however, was short lived, for i'm
the midst of their pereuination the
captain met them, and telling OF Mr..
Nutford to 60 aft and see to some.
thing about which there wes no earth.
ly hurry. undertook to relieve him of
his duty a. cicerone. As they came
up the companion Nellie, stumbling
against Ralph, squeezed his hand and
whispered eau plaisir!'
The Irritation OF these two young