The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-10-08
THE LOSS OF THE PARAGON.

Ralph Rawson Nuttord was the fifth
officer on board the steamship Para
gon. one of the fastest boats on the
Gable line of steamers, which piled be-
tween New York and Seringapatam.
Her captain was Justly renowned as
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 eve sustained
any very serious damage from the
steamers OF opposition lines, which he
h~abitually 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 a baronet of ancient creation
entered heart and soul INFO his pro-
f~ession, and thought there was moth
ing like it. His fifth officer, however,
didn't care much about it; he had
been, as youngest of q large family,
pItch-forked into the employment of
the Cable line by arich 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" be remarked to O chance
acquaintance, who had introduced
himself to him as they lunched
at the same table at Delmon-
ico's, n 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, If 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 oficerf have to 60 about my
duties like an automaton; and at
dusk, when the rattle OF promiscuous
oscillation echoes around the decks.
and every orner that one turns is SIM
mediately the theatre OF a sudden dis
ENHANCEMENT and precipitate fight,
tie elect Is, TO say the least of it, tan
talizsnE and Sne wishes one were Ell
thersenior officer or passenger, instead
OF fifth In command"
The genial stranger was prop
erT sympathetic, and after max
ing a few inquiries concern
ing the arrangements and disci.
pine on board the Paragon. he nod.
ded Good day" and disappeared
amid the br0u-ha-ha of New York
city
On the evening before the departure
OF the Paragon the new hands which
had been taken on IL New York and
most OF the homeward -bound passen-
gers we're on board, when a gorgeous
specimen OF the Wall street Yankee.
accompanied by a lovely creature OF
some nineteen and an equal
number OF winters. came on board.
and, addressing Ralph Rawson Nut
ford, who was standing near the gam
way, asked that worthy whether he
was captain OF the boat. On his re-
plying that he was the fifth officer, tae
Yankee remarked:
well, sir, I'd be obliged to you ii
you couldtake me to the capt'n under
whose charge | want to place this
young lady, whom l may as well in
tr0duce 60 you as-you'rc one Of the
oficers-right now. Miss Nellie j.
Robertson. my niece; Mr.. Nutford-
thank you-ifth officer ofthis 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
cor was quite ready to put her up on
q coil 0frope-no pedestal being handy
land 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 q new q
senger came ON board--a green-eyed
monster, who attached himself to the
susceptible Ralph. and proceeded to
share with that gentleman his meals,
hie berth and his whole existence.
Next morning they were well out at
M ~&M4 49, - L-&-E-.Zt- -E-4x-LA4I4L1