The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-02-15
A SECRET OF THE SEA

4 81 pocc LAAut W Llic liulS Au-LuOkAOh
We shall anchor in the Bay, said Col.
Gray. z7-<1r
''Yes this IS the last of our pleasant
evenings if the Ocean Greyhound is true
to her promise, said pretty Mrs. Nor
timer.
1t was very pleasant evening, too,
though chilly, as September evenings
are apt to be on the Atlantic A glori-
Gus full moon, extingu shing the stars
and, ca ting a glitteIing trail athwart the
sea, scarcely RULED 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 occa-
sional strain hoated 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 man uvres of two or
three stray couples. each seeking to mono
police that nook behind the wheel-house,
where the moon can be seen to the great
est advantage, and a fictitious isolation
encourages the interchange of sentiments
as ardent as they are transient.
you will not be sorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for something a
little livelier, though, - exclaimed Mrs.
/ Mortimer's niece, a brilliant creature
whose magnetic vitality rang in her clear
voice and scintilated in her 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,p 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, convinced 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
should be glad enough to see land
again"
"And /" said the only member of the
little group who had not previously
spoken, Hcve the sea, and have had
many adventures on it, and am never
tired Of its sights and sounds.n
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 in
deiiible traces Of great joys and great
griefs
Tell Us something, Mrs. Odell, " cried
Mrs Mortimer's niece, imploringly. II
know you must have seen real tragedies
-shipwrecks and such things"
i have seen many tragedies and more
than one shipwreck, she said, half re-
luctantly, ''and if you like viii tell you
an incident that happened on a ship that
was wrecked when l 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
ipg her cheek upon them; the young
tourist took up a 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
listener, remarkably so for a 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 a dozen-I
was on my way to the Cape of Good
Hope, in sailing ship. NY husband
and children were living then-a1 three
are dead now-but left them in Eng
land to visit my parents in Cape Town,
and / went on a sailing ship, because
had been very i'll and was ordered voy-
age. There were but few passengers
six or seven first class and some twenty
emigants in the Storage. Among the
saloon passengers was a very pretty
young woman, scarcely 90, going out as
goyerness TO Australia
''Ne put IN at MADEIRA and took on
board two passengers for whom the Cap
tain, cabin was secured, a newly mar
ried coupled not long over their honey
moon. Everything becomes known on
boar1, especially during 8 long voyage,
and the young wife had amaid with her,
who probably supplied all the details she
knew, and filed up the gaps with her
Imagination. 1t became known, at any
rate, within a few hours, that the lady
was an heiress of immense wealth, and
the gentleman was the penniless younger
son Of a good family. The marriage
was much against the wish of the brides I
af1-saill..l III she was ju - sos and r,sr-
TTx1-sl!s. see them at pe4relaa,qs- .stA IN
fectly mistress Of her property, and she
had been married few weeks before |
met her, and had gone to Madeira, in
tending to spend the winter there 1t
was quite sudden freak, their coming
on board, and could hardly have been the
I poor things wish; for she was a wretched
| sailor, aud for two or three days after
we put to sea again she remained in her
/ berth, waited on by her maid and IN
noticed by everyone else. The husband
was about 81, very handsome and
attractive man-dark, tall, with a heavy
black mustache and cleaning white
teeth, which were often enough seen,
for he was a most lively and agreeable
talker, full of wit and nonsense, with an
amusing anecdote for every occas on, and
/ generally the sort OF man TO be a prime
/ favOrite on board sailing ship, where
every one is sure to be bored more or
/ less Especially was he attentive and
considerable toward the ladies, and
heard, though / did not see anything
then, that the pretty governess usurped
a large portion Of his care. This seemed
natural enough, rs she was alone, and
most OF us took little extra notice OF
her on that account.
"WeIl, after day or two the bride
began to come on deck little, and
when she g1ined some flesh and color
We would see how pretty she was, and
how full of charming ways. Another
thing was soon easily seen also, and that
was that whatever might be the state of
her husbands affections, she simply
worshipped him Her eyes followed
him about with kind of reverence, and
when he spoke she listened with parted
lips and glistening eyes, as though she
heard the very angels singing in heaven.
1t is sad enough to see such madness
where it is mutual, but when, as is almost
always the case, one gives all, and the
other takes and gives nothing-well,
well-that's no part Of my story.
81 should say that he was quite kind