St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-20
THE COAST STORM,
Or. Life Companion Well Worth
Having.
BY SYLVANUs COBB.

| Newport, IL. l., had been her captain
! for five years, and during that time she
had been twice knocked DOWN.;
once had she carried away her fore.
mast, and, at the time of which
we write the old ship was locked
at Liverpool, undergoing repairs from a
serious damage she had received during
heavy gale in st. Georges channel.
But in all these mishaps the owners
had been forced to acknowledge that
the young captain was entirely free
from blame, while, on the other hand,
! he had made better ''time'' in his trips
| than any other master had been able to
| get out of her.
The last damage which the Vincent
received proved to be the occasion of
| the dawning of a new era in the life of
Capt. Marshall, for while waiting in
! Liverpool for the ship to be prepared
he fell in with blooming New England
girl named Emma Ramsay, the eldest
business for the Vincent's owners, and
ere long they discovered that
between them there existed pee uliar
| feeling of mutual love. Captain Mar
shall popped the delicate question.
| Emma consulted with her papa, and at
| length she consented to become Mrs.
Marshall. 1t was happy day for all
parties when the wedding took % lace,
! for from the known characters of the
/ bridegroom and his lovely bride all
felt sure that the match would prove
| one of peace and content.
The Vincent was once more ready for
, sea. Her cargo was all on board and
shipped for Boston, and Emma had re-
solved to accompany her husband to
the United States. For a number of
MIN o,,{r lo
wind was fair, while Capt. Marshall felt
himsel supremacy happy in the delight
full company of his wife. The old
sailors shook their heads as they saw
the gentle Emma pacing the deck, and
they very mySteriously asserted that
''Such pleasures couldn't always last"
and so indeed it proved, for at the close
of pleasant day, when they were with
in three or four days sail of their
destined ports things began to look
anything but agreeable. Away to the
southland and eastern horizon began to
assume sort of incky blacknesS, with
here and there ghOstlike livid spot
while on all hands the heavens had
deeper and more fearful import.
Captain Marshall felt as he had never
felt before on the approach of storm.
For himself-for his Ship-he had 10
thought then. There was one on board
who engroSsed his every sympathy-for
his young wife he felt degree of in
tense anxiety that was painful. but he
forgot not his duty, and with compare
tive calmness he set about it. The
courses were hauled up and snugly
furled, the lighter sails taken in and
the lofty yards and topgallant masts
sent Oil deck and the three topsails
close reefed.
Long before the sun went down, the
undulating ocean had assumed almost
the blackness of night, and not many
moments elapsed after the spars had
been secured upon the deck. ere the
| storm burst upon the ship. 1t was a
regular southeastern, and those who have
| encountered one of these storms in
| the gulf. know something of their
power. Higher and higher rose the
mighty tempest, until at length it was
found necessary to take in the topsails
and trust to the fore and main storm
StaySails and balance reefed spanker.
and in this way the ship lay-to till morn
ing. the gale increasing every hour.
Capt. Marshall trusted that when the
sun rose on the next day the storm
would abate, but in this he was disap-
pointed, for a part of the forenoon he
was actually obliged to scud before it.
1t was not until two staySails had
been torn from their bolt-ropeS that he
fully explained his anticipations and
the extent of his fears to his wife.
Emma" said he, 81 wish l had not
taken you with me-"
why SOP" she asked, as she gazed up
into her husbands face with appare MT
aStOniShment.
why SO? Do you not comprehend
our danger?"
But the ship does not leak. does it?''
returned Emma. with remarkable cool
ness.
mo"
"Then let us not fear the storm.
was born upon the Atlantic, and l feel
that | can yet trust to my native ele-
ment."
The captain was astonished at this
trait in his wife's character, and clasp
ing her in his arms he felt his own soul
swelling with new life.
Emma" he said, as he gazed more
affectionately than ever into her face,
my heaviest fears are passed. For
you alone have feared the most: but
our danger. This storm has driven us
far out of our course. and twice have
we been scudding before it. l fear that
the coast of Maine cannot be far
to the leeward and of that coast know
nothing, save what | may gather from
my chart. For us to lay-to is next to
impossible. The rising sea has rendered
our StaySailS useless, and [ have been
obliged to set the close reefed maintop-
sail, but she cannot hold it long"
My husband" returned Emma.
Though you may know nothing of the
coast of Maine, yet there are but few
oil b oh Ia
not as Fairgrounds to me. My father
was for years surveyor of her islands
and harborS, and [ was his constant
companion. To me her cliffs and inlets
present nothing that can alarm me-"
Hardly had she ceased speaking when
a sharp crack like the report of pistol,
sounded from aioft, followed by tear
ing and crashing that started the cap
tain to his feet.
1.-The main-topsaiI has gone.' he ex-
claimed, and Immediately he sprang
upon the deck.
Again the ship was put before the
gale, and for several moments Capt.
Marshall was undecided what to do.
laid upon his shoulder, and, on turn
ing, he beheld his wife. She had a
"sou'-wester" upon her head and a pea
jacket buttoned closely about her.
what is the matter, James?" she
asked.
Her husband explained his perplex-
ity.
A strange look of fearlessness and
confidence rested upon that fair wom-
ans face, and looking for moment at
the compass, she said:
1--WE lead due northwest. Station a
trusty lookout in the foretop, and let the
ship stand on!''
Capt. Marshall felt at that moment as
though an angel had been sent to pilot
him to haven of rest. Whence arose
the feeling he knew not, but instinct
lively he obeyed. Fearful and loud