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

halph KaWSOn NutfOrd 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 Serngapatam
Her captain was justly renowned as
an expert navigator, for lie was IN .ns
habit OF performing the journey OF
10000 miles i'll four days, ten hours
forty-two minutes and nineteen and q
hall seconds with much regularity, and
mad never yet been run into by anoth-
er vessel; nor had he ever sustained
any very serious damage from the
steamers OF opposition lines,s which he
habitually cut in two as they crossed
his path upon the high seas.
Having attained this pitch OF marine
Pre-eminence Capt. Sir Clements Lane
he WAS a baronet ofancient creation
entered heart and soul into his 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 a 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.
"4ou see, he remarked to q chance
acquaintance, who had introduced
himself to him as they lunched
ut 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 }lavo 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 officer? have to 60 about my
duties like an automaton; and at
dusk, when the rattle OF promiscuous
osculation echoes around the decks,
and every corner that one turns is i'm
mediately the theatre of a sudden dis
ENHANCEMENT and precipitate flight,
the effect is, to say the least OF it, tan
talizing; and one wishes one We're Ell
ther eniorofficer rpassenger, instead
of fifth in command"
The genial stranger was prop.
erly sympathetic, and after max
ing q few inquiries conclirn-
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 homeward- bound passen-
gers were on board, when a gorgeous
specimen OF the Wall street Yankee,
accompanied by q 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
officers-right now. Miss Nellie j.
Robertson. my niece; Mr.. Nutford-
thank you-tifth 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
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, ard proceeded to
share with that gentleman his meals,
his berth and his whole existence.
Next morning they were we'll out at
sea when the captains protege came
on deck. Gracious, how beautiful she
was, and when she went upto Nutfor,7
and, putting both her hands into his,
captured his soul with look and re-
quested to be shown the vessel, the
I.e al
her in his arms and sprung over
board, like 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 go aft and see to some.
thing about which there was no earth.
" hurry, undertook to relieve him Of
his duty as cicerone. AS they cams
np 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, whNh 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 possi-
BE taste. An opportunity occurred to
them, however, just before the last
meal, when they met under shelter OF a
friendly statsroom.
II never knew" "-said she, "that sail