The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-11-24
A SECRET OF THE SEA.


hound is true to her PROMISE" said
pretty Mrs. Mortimer.
1t was a very pleasant evening,
too, though chilly, as September
evenings are apt to be on the Allan
tic. A glorious full moon, extin-
gushing the stars and casting gilt
tering trial athwart the sea, scarcely
ruflled by the gentle breeze that fill
ed the sails and urged the flying ves-
sci with soft murmurs. Most of the
passengers were below, playing cards,
or enjoying the music, of which an
occasional strain fioated up on deck,
adding one more touch to the weird
sweetness of the scence. A little
groop of four or five persons sat in
the moonlight, chatting and watch
ing the maneuvres of two or three
stray couples, each seeking to mo-
nopolize that nook behind the wheel
house, where the moon can be seen
to the greatest advantage, and fic-
titious isolation encourages the in
terchange of sentiments as ardent as
they are transient.
"You will not besorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for some
thing little livelier, though" ex-
claimed Mrs. Mortimers niece, a
brilliant creature whose magnetic
vitality rang in her voice and scin-
tiliated in her ripping hair and
flashing eyes. "After two years
hard study in Milan you can fancy
how I feel at the near approach Of
New York and Newport"
"There's not much to keep one
alive on the ocean trip nowadays
said the young man who sat oppo-
site her, and who had been rambling
all over the globe for year seeking
adventures and finding none, and
was now returning home, convinced
that whatever might happen to him
in the future, it could hardly bC
more interesting than the past.
"This is my first sea voyage" sale
thescolonel, "and l have enjoyed it
But I should be glad enough to SEE
land again."
"And H. said the only member o
the little group who had not pre-
viously spoken, Glove the sea, anC
have had many adventures on it
and am never tired Of the sights anC
sounds" D."
The speaker was a woman in thu
Indian summer Of her life, sweetet
and more beautiful than many {
young woman, stamped as she wai
with the indelible traces of grea
joys and great griefs.
"Tell us something, Mrs. Odell,
cried Mrs. Mortimer's niece, implor
ingly. II know you must haveseer
real tragedies-shipwrecks and sucE
things"
81 have seen many tragedies anC
more than one shipwreck,' she said
half reluctantly, land if you like
will tell you an incident that hap
pened on shil that was wrecked
when 1 was on ray way to the Cap,
in it,"
Mrs. Mortimer drew her fur cloak
closer about her, and her niece sa
down on low stool, clasping he
slender white hands round heraunt'
knee, and resting her cheek upor
them the young tourist took up {
position from which he commanded
a good view of her pretty face, anC
the Colonel settled himself with ar
air of interest. He was a good list
ener, remarkably so for a military
man.
Mrs. Odell began her story, accen
tuating by slight but impressiv,
gesticulation her soft, rich voice anC
quiet delivers.
Several years ago-ten or dozer
I was on my way to the Cape o
Good Hope, in a sailing ship. N.Y.
husband and children were livin,
then-all three are dead now-bu
[ left them in England to visit my
parents in Cape Town, and l wen
on sailing ship, because had beel
very i'll and was ordered a voyage
There were but few passengers-si,
or seven first-class and some twent,
cmigrants in the steerage. Anon.
the saloon passengers was a very
pretty young woman scarcely 20
going out as governcss to Australia.
"We put in at Madeira and tool
on board two passengers for whom
the captains cabin was secured,
newly married couple, not long owe
their honeymoon. Everything be
comes known on boad, especial,
during long voyage, and the youn.
wife had maid with her, who pro
badly supplied all the details sh'