The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-15

shoulders, that this uniform makes
you very handsome? ] believe that
is the only reason you're here ut all. !"
A fool would not havecaught her vio-
lently to his breast and kissed the pas
s,onate lips and eyes which raised
themselves to a level with his. Raj oh
Rawson Nutford was no fool.
II must go away" he whispered.
"When can we meet again? l shall be
on watch tonight land shall wanderup
and down thinking otnothing but you.
Come on deck early tomorrow, and /
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 a
dark frock. There will be no moon
there was none last night. Do let me
come"
Impossible, darling! The rules are
Medic and Persiac. No one can let you
come on deck save the captain. 1t
would be ruin to me if you came with
out leave. You wouldn't like that,
dear, would you?"
"Oh! very WELL" How maddening
those lips were when they We're pout-
ed "Tve no doubt the captain will
let me come up during his watch, and
I'll come then. How horrid you are!
| don't believe you care for me one
bit. There will be no one on his deck
but the two men watching with you,
and they couldn't see me. ! came up
last night and no onesaw me. Well
shall ] come during your watch Or the
captain's?"
Nothing more was said-in words.
Ralph was madly tempted, ashe went
forward, to dance about and shout
aloud.
1t WAS pitch-dark night, though the
air was clear OF fog. The two lovers
sat beneath the bridge, and
he told her in whispers all
about himself, and how fatal it
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 OF gold hair was
the only thing between her cheek and
his shoulder.
Suddenly there was great jar and
dull, crashing report. Nelliecrouc
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 moment all was con-
fusion, or apparent confusion. The
captain, cool as if he had been taking
his seat at dinner, came on deck and
said in n loud, calm voice to the ter
ritied passengers:
eve have been run into and the
Paragon is sinking. There is no dan
ger to us personally. The sea is calm
and the boats Elm perfect order and
preparation for 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 q very short
time the little hotila was pulling
away from the disappearing liner.
But the ship that had sunk them was
nowhere to be found! Favored by
the darkness, she had got away,
without stopping to learn what had
become of the Paragon and her liv-
ing freight.
Nellie and Ralph Nutford were to-
gether in one OF the boats. No inqui-
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 rs 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 ruined man. Yourcertiiicate
will be Cancelled, and, oh, Ralph if
the truth should be known, think OF
my everlasting shame. For my sake,
IT. 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 q steamer, bound on the same
Journey, picked up the whole compa-
ny.
The captain interrogated 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 ship she had
run into. The home voyage was salts
factorily accomplished, and Ralph and
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. Nutford easily succumbed to
Nelile's soft casuistry, for to own his
neglect OF duty would be ruin to his
career and hers, and would render
their marriage which was to him a
foregone conclusion, an absolute I'M
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
a good deal more in the circumstances
OF the collision than met the eye or
ear; but that was no direct evidence
refiecting upon the conduct OF the tifth
officer, who came home from the in
quisy man about whom nothing def
mite is said, but q good dealis implied,
and in this unenviable state OF mind
he found waiting for him Nellie, his af-
tianced 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 God!" he exclaimed. "Poor
old gentleman, he has done me a
good turn at the moment / re-
Olired it most Nallie-swent hea rt