Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-12
From brakes Magazine.
A SECRET OF THE SEA.

A SECREI VI HE SEA.
asT suppose that by this time to-mor-
row We shall anchor in the bay" said
Col Gray.
eyes, this is the last of. our pleasant
evenings if the Ocean Greyhound is
true to her PROMISE" said pretty Mrs.
Mortimer.
Tt was pleasant evening. too, though
chilly. as September evenings are apt to
he on the Atlantic. A glorious full
MOON. extinguishing the stars and casting
q glittering trail athwart the sea, scarce
w r1ffied by the gentle breeze that
6IEed the sails and urged the flying YES
sci with soft murmurs. Most of the
passengers were below, playing cards,
or enjoying the music, of which an oc-
,easIonal strain foated up on deck, add
ing one more touch to the weird sweet
ness of the scene. A little group OF four
OF five persons sat in the moonlight,
chatting or watching the manWuvers of
two or three stray couples, each seek
ing to monopolize that nook behind the
wheel house, where the moon can be
seen to the greatest advantage, and a
fictitious isolation encourages the inter-
change of sentiments as ardent as they
are transient.
<sYou will not be sorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for something a
little hvelier, though" exclaimed Mrs.
Nortimer's niece, brilliant creature
whose magnetic vitality rang in her
clear voice and scintilated in her rip
ping hair and flashing eyes. After
rwo years hard study in Milan you can
fancy how feel at the near approach
of New York and NowDOrt ~
There's not much to keep one alive
on tie ocean trip nowadays" said the
Young man who sat opposite her, and
who mad been rambling all over the
globe for a year seeking adventures
and finding none, and vas now return
ing home, convinced that whatever
might happen to him in the future, it
could hardly be more interesting than
the past.
4slhis is my first sea voyage said the
Colonel" and I have enjoyed it. But
I should be glad enough to see land
again.'
s'AndI," said the only member OF
the little group who had not previously
spoken, Glove the sea, and have had
many adventures on it, and am never
tired Gifts sights and sounds"
The speaker wasa woman In the In
dian summer Of her life, sweeter and
man, stamped as she was with the in
delible traces of great joys and great
griefs.
ftTeil us something, Mrs. Odell, 'cried
Mrs. Moftimer's niece, 1mpioringly.
[ know you must have seen real trag-
~-edies-shipwrecks and such tnings.''
''I have seen many tragedies and
more than one shipwreck,' she said,
half reluctantly, 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 III it.
Mrs. Mortimer drew her fur cloak
closer about her. and her niece sat
down on low stool, clasping her slen-
der white hands round her aunt's
knee, and resting her cheek upon
them, the young tourist took up q posi-
ton from which he. commanded a good
view of her pretty face, and the Col
onel settled himself with an air of in
terest. He was a good listener, re-
marEably so for military man.
Mrs Odell began her story, accentu-
ating by slight but impressive gesticu-
lation her soft, thick voice and quiet
delivery.
"Several years ago-ten or dozen
was on my way to the Cape CT Good
Hope, in 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, be-
cause had been very Ill and was ordered
a voyage. There were but few passen-
gers-six or seven first class and some
twenty emigrants in the steerage.
Among the saloon passengers was g
very pretty young woman, scarcely 20
going out as goveIness TO Australia.
eve put in at Madeira and took on
board two passengers for whom the
captains cabin was secured, newly
married couple. not long over their
honeymoon. Everything becomes
known on board, especially during 8
long voyage, and the young wife had 6
maid with her, who probably supplied
all the details she knew, and filled uI
saps with her Imagination. It became
known, at any rate, within few hours
that the lady was an heiress of i'm
mense wealth, and the young man was
the penniless younger son Of a GOOD
family. The marriage was much
against the brides family, but she was
just of age and perfectly mistress of her
property, and she had been married a
few weeks before | met her. and had
gone to Madeira, intending to spend
the winter there. 1t was quite a sud
den freak, their coming on board, and
could hardly have been the poor
things wish; for she was a wretch
ed sailor, and for two or three
days after We put to sea again she re-
manned in her berth, waited on by her
maid and unnoticed by every one else.
The husband was about 80, a very
handsome and attractive man-dark
tall. with heavy black mustache ano
cleaning white teeth, which were ofter
enough seen, for be was most lively
and agreeable talker, full of wit ano
nonsense, with an amusing anecdote fol
every occasion, and generally the sor
of man to be prime fayorite on board
asailing ship, where every one is sure
TO be bored more or less. Especially
was he attentive and considerate
toward the ladies, and | heard, though
L did not see anything then, that the
pretty governess usurped large por.
ton of his care. This seemed natural
; enough, as she was ale ne, and most Of