Wichita eagle., 1888-12-27
A SECRET OF THE SEA.

''I suppose that by this time tomorrow
we shall anchor in the bay" said Col.
Gray.
Ives, this is the last of our pleasant
evenings if the Ocean Greyhound is true
to her promise" said pretty Mrs. Nor
timer.
1t was a very pleasant evening, too,
though chilly, as September evenings
are apt to be on the Atlantic. A glorious
full moon, extinguishing the stars and
casting a gIittering trail athwart the
sea, scarcely ruffled by the gentle breeze
that filled the sails and urged the flying
vessel with soft murmurs. Most of the
passengers were below, playing cards,
or enjoying the music, of which an oc-
casional strain foated up on deck, adding
one more touch to the weird sweetness of
the scene. a little group of four or five
persons sat in the moonlight, chatting
and watching the maneuvers of two or
three stray couples, each seeking to
monopolize that nook behind the wheel
house, where the moon can be seen to
the greatest advantage and fictitious
isolation encourages the interchange of
sentiments as ardent as they are tran
silent.
You will not be sorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for something a
little livelier though" exclaimed Mrs.
Mortimers niece, brilliant creature
whose magnetic vitality rang in her clear
voice and scintillated innher ripping hair
and flashing eyes. After two years
hard study in Milan you can fancy how
] 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 opposite her, and
who had been rambling all over the globe
for year seeking adventures and finding
none, and was now returning home, con-
WINGED that whatever might happen to
him in the future, it could hardly be
more interesting than the past.
''This is my first sea voyage" said the
colonel. land have enjoyed it, But l
should be glad enough to see land again"
And l, said the only member of the
little group who had not previously
spoken, love the sea, and have had
many adventures on it, and am never
tired of its sights and sounds"
The speaker was woman in the In
dian summer of her life, sweeter and
more beautiful than many a young
woman, stamped as she was with the
indelible traces of great joys and great
griefs.
Tell Us something, Mrs. Odell," cried
Mrs. MoTtimers niece, imploringly. II
know you must have seen real tragedies
-shipwrecks and such things"
81 have seen many tragedies and more
than one shipwreck," she said, half re-
luctantfy, land if you like / will tell
you an incident that happened on a ship
that was wrecked when was on my
way to the Cape in it"
Mrs. Mortimer drew her fur cloak
closer about her, and her niece sat down
on low stool, clasping her slender white
hands round her aunt's knee. and rest
ing her cheek upon them: the young
tourist took up position from which he
commanded a good view of her pretty
face, and the colonel settled himself with
an air OF interest He was a good lis
tener, remarkably so for military man.
Mrs. Odell began her story, accentuat-
ing by slight but impressive gesticula-
ton her soft, rich voice and quiet de-
livery.
Several years ago-ten or dozen
/ was on my way to the Cape of Good
Hope in a sailing ship. My husband and
children were living then-all three are
dead now-but | left them in England to
visit my parents in Cape Town, and
went on sailing ship, because / had
been very Ill and was ordered a voyage.
There were but few passengers-six or
seven first class and some twenty emil
grants In the steerage. Among the sa-
loon passengers was very pretty young
woman, scarcely 20, going out as gov
erness TO Australia.
1--WE put in at Madeira and took on
board two passengers, for whom the
cabin was secured, a newly
married couple, not long over their
honeymoon. Everything becomes known
on board. especially during long voy-
age, and the young wife had a maid
with her, who probably supplied all the
details she knew and filed 10 the gaps
with her imagination. 1t became known,
Ut any rate. within a few hours, that the
lady was an heiress of immense wealth
and the gentleman was the penniless
son of good family. The mar
rage was much against the wish of the
brides family, but she was Just of age
mo perfect mistress OF her property,
md she had been married q few
weeks before met her, and had gone TO
Madeira, intending 10 spend the winter
here. 1t was quite sudden freak, their
coming ON board, and could hardly have
been the poor things wish; for she was
sailor, and for two or three
lays after we PITT TO sea again she re-
NAMED in her berth, waited on by her
Maid and unnoticed by every one else.
Ehe husband was alseus .30..a VEN hand |