Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-15
An EPISODE OF AN OCEAN DISASTER
CHAPTER I.

Night settled down so gradually, as 1t
often does at sea after clear day, that it
was dark before they were aware of it.
Along the horizon stretched a clear amber
streak of fading light that seemed fastened
to the sky by silver stars stuck here and
there in its upper edge. In the northern
heavens the pole had already flung out its
starry remnants, and they fancied that they
saw the two dippers futter moment be-
fore beginning their glorious round. He
laughingly spoke Of the north star as the
center of huge carousal, and proposed
that they take a turn on the Great Bear
All lovers are poets. At least in the first
flush of passion. They were very happy,
but neither thought of inquiring into the
cause of that foolish ecstacy. They
laughed at the odd fancies with trem.
bling joyousness that sent the blood cours-
ing through their veins; she felt her face
flush, and instinctively put her hand up
to it, forgetting for the moment that it was
night. They laughed because they loved
each other. though both were deceived
and thought it was their droll fancies that
made them mirthful. 1t seemed natural
to them to be together and to be happy
They did not seek explanations of that
which demanded none.
They stopped now and then in their
walk on the deck of the great steamer tc
look over the side at the streaks of phos
phorescence coursing back in the foam
from the brow, or at the dim heavine
waves, and "their white arms carelessly
tossing" in the gloom; or they watched q
gay company of emigrants on the lower
deck, dancing boisterously to the music o.
an accordion. Everything gave them
pleasure. They looked at the world (the
microcosm of an ocean steamer) through
the golden-tinted atmosphere of dawnine
love, and were unconscious of the source
of this fresh beauty. 1t grew late, the
passengers one by one went below, the
sounds from the lower deck died away
the deck steward folded up the line o.
steamer-chairs one after another anC
slowed them away for the night. Soon al
was quiet, save for an occasional sound o.
laughter from the smoking room or the
shuttle of sailor across the deck, or the
| WINS Vi WIG III W dLu hdltIl SpCdhluS u
the officer on the bridge Behind all thi.
was the pulsating throb of the great en-,
gines, of which after few days at sea one
becomes almost unconscious; it seems a:
natural as the sound of your own voice Oh
the noise of your own footsteps
They wandered up and down the dark
deserted deck in joyous freedom, talking
titfully on Indifferent topics, that suddenly
seemed to take on a fresh and lively inter
est. In the atmosphere of love common
places become delicious epigrams, and con.
versational trifies glow with poetic feeling
He dared not be serious in his talk some
vague force restrained him; the volcanic
fires of love and passion were gradually
working to the surface of consciousness
but were not yet ready to burst forth.
A slight shiver brought him to sense
of present realities, and native thought
fulness asserted ITSELF
at is getting chilly. You ought to &c
below" he said.
"Oh it is so beautiful here / could
stay forever" she replied in tone thai
showed that she expressed a simple natural
feeling, which apparently had no relation
to her companion. He perceived this, but
nevertheless his soul was aglow in an
instant he felt his heart futter and hi:
mouth and throat parch as by sudden
heat. Words, images, utterances-ferce
passionate, tender-mingled in confusing
burning mass in his mind another instant
and the lava streams of passion would
| have burst the crust.
"This air isn't the best thing for the
young lady, sir" said voice which aroused
and restrained him. The Captain haG
just stepped out of his cabin to go up or
the bridge.
"The breath of the banks is in the at
mosphere," and he tentatively shifted the
| air. well run into the fog before morn
ing" he added, as he went up the ladder
to his post.
They walked slowly back to the mair
| hatchway in silence. Once more he fell
the impulse to passionate utterance but
| the delay had brought feeling of con
scious hesitation, and he restrained him
self. The lights in the dining-room saloon
| were turned low. They fingered an in
slant before parting, though neither spoke
a word. He felt the storm coming, and
| with sudden fear for the result he seized
her hand, kissed it passionately many
times, and hurried away, catching a last
hasty glimpse of her eyes fixed upon him
wonderingly, yet tenderly. After he
reached his stateroom that last look be-
came more distinct there was something
in it that made him long to go to hel
| again, 10 tell her that he loved her. A.
he dropped off to sleep her face glided from
his waking thong hts into his dreams
| which were strange and happy.
CHAPTER II.
Toward midnight the stars in the west
faded, and then those overhead were grad.
ually blotted out at last the fog closed in
| and the steamer seemed floating IN a uni.
verse of dark, impenetrable mist. All al
once the mournful reiterating cry of the
| fog horn began, but the sound scarcely
penetrated the thick, misty folds. The
| throb of the steamer became slower and
slower; the steamer was feeling her way
through the thick atmosphere Occasion.
ally the men on the forward deck-the
watch had been ncreased-shouted a few
words to the officers on the bridge. A
signal flashed along the electric wires
down into the heart OF the vessel to the
engineers. The great wheel stopped
Then for a moment the silence was in
tense. The ship lay like huge monster
waiting breathless for its prey. One heard
only the slapping of the waves against the
sides. If any sound of warning had been
sent forth afar across the waters the fog
had wrapped and choked it in its terrible
folds. Once more the steamer moved on
slowly through the mist.
Suddenly dark shape doomed up in the
fog to the starboard. With one voice two
men of forward watch shouted wildly to
the Captain, who at the same instant had
sent an order below. The great steamer
veered from her course. The men and of
fieers stood breathlessly, rooted to the
deck. A moment later they heard faint
sounds and voices out in the fog. The
Captain seized a speaking horn and
L 1 :,