Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-16

"Well, L don't mind telling you. It's
not long story. see I've given you
wrong impression, for indeed, although
it is lonely at times, I'm really very hap
by and l wouldn't change places with
any woman. l am an English woman
and / was born near London. My father
was civil engineer in good circumstan
ces, and with twin sister / had every
possible advantage of education. My
mother died when / was about fifteen,
and as we had no near relatives we we're
much with our father. We were near
enough to London to run in at evenings
to the theatres and the opera, we had
pleasant society of our own, we read
much, sang AMI played good deal, and
rode continually. Ten years ago last
autumn my father met with sudden
business reverses. He was offered re
munerative post in California and de-
cided to go there. A ship belonging to
friend of his was just about TO sail for
the Isthmus, we were offered passage on
her Mt low rate, and in three days time
found ourselves at sea. | needn't tell
you Of the voyage. 1t was all new and
strange TO MS, of course, and we two girls
were the pets of the ship. saw with
relief my father, who had broken much
under his losses, improve in health, and
spirits, and rs We neared the tropics, the
glowing sunset skies we're emblematlc
of our hopes OF life in the new
world. We had been ont some
thirty days when, one afternoon,
as the sun set in dark bank of clouds
and the air was close AMI sultry,
noticed the Captain looked anxious and
heard him say something about the
Bahama reefs to the mate. That
nighta hurricane struck us and for two
hours we we're in what seemed dull,
gray cavern of water and sky. The ship
plunged madly before the gale, and
with our father we sat in the cabin,
clasped in each others arms. The
morning broke scarce less dark than the
night. Suddenly tie wind shifted and
the ship righted aud seemed to stand
quivering like an oyer-driven horse. A
few minutes passed when, with Wild
roar the storm was on MS once more, and
we drove madly in another direction.
There was sudden crash, my father
sprang, half dragging us towards the
companion-way; l saw huge wall OF
water rolling down upon us-lt ieil and
all grew dark. / remember sensation
of sinking, of being whir.ed around, a
dull. booming noise in my ears, aud
opened my eyes to find myself lying on
n sandy beach, two rough men looking
down on me, while third and younger
one kneeling beside me, was chaiing my
hands. Frightened, but too weak to
scream, feebly said Where am
sOn Watlings Island, Miss, said the
Young man. yes said one of the older
men. and narrow squeak You had Tor
it, too. II l hadn't thought II was
mighty queer seaweed washing IN over
yon reef, you wouldn't have been tax
ing now. Where's my father SAID.
With all the rest, was the reply.
What they wanted to run such ship on
Won reef in n hurricane, that didn't
leave an inch OF her Tor us poor
fellers. when she could have
been put ashore beautiful in a smooth
sen. / can't make out. Hush said the
Younger man. can't you see how weak
she isf Then tainted.
81 woke to find myself on a rude cot
in a small cottage, tended by neerSss
who only spoke Spanish patois. Inc
wreekers, for such they were, had car
ried me there. The sun was SHINING
brightly and the storm was over. Days
passed. and when / could go ABOUT
learned that I had been the only one
saved of the entire harque's crew Inc
wave that had engulfed her and drowned
all but myself had washed me over the
coral reef on which the barque ha9
struck. The wreckers on the shore iiaa
seen me. and daring the waves, hlgn
even between the reef aud the shore,
had rowed out and rescued me Just as
was sinking. Utterly crushed as was;
/ did not at first realize my position l
was told l could go to Nassau on 2
schooner in about month. but teit no
inclination to do ought but 10 STAY
where fate had thrown me. Inc YOUNG
wrecker was very kind to me. livery
dav he patrolled the beach IN search 2.
the bodies of my father and sister. a
last one day they came ashore. ne toi9
me of II. bnt said ! mustn' { see tnen.
wondered then why, but learned after ,.s
wards that the sharks had mutlA'eu