Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-01


mother. dare say you guessed much of 1t.
You know how Helen Rankine came down
from London to our quiet country home.
You know how beautiful and gracious she
was. How kind and loving to you, how appar-
emily frank and friendly with me, She was
the first woman 1 ever saw to whom 1 gave
a second thought, save you, dear mother.
We rode and drove and chatted together.
She drew my very heart from me, l told
her all my plans and hopes and aspirations;
ofmy love of the art to which had devoted
nv life; that hoped to go to London and
study, and then to Rome; that L wanted to
become great painter. She was so full of
hearty sympathy, so kind, so womanly, that
before knew it she had me enslaved. For
all the graciousness and frankness and SYM
ipathy were but the means she used in her
heartlessness to enSlave me. Then came a
,day-a day to be remembered; day like
that, when beguiled by another beautiful
fend in woman form, our first father, poor,
foolish man, ate of the fruit of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. and so lost his
paradise. ! told Helen of my love, and how
did love that woman. And she
put on an appearance of surprise, and
squeezed cold tear or two from her beauti-
ful eyes, and said that she thought 1 knew
and understood. And when half dazed 1
asked her what she meant, what it was that
was thought to have known, she had to
blush and said that she had long been en-
gagged to her cousin John Bruce, who was
now with his regiment in India, and that
when he came home they were to be married.
And then she said something about my
being so young and having a great career
before me, and that she should always be
my friend, and would pray for my success.
And she stretched out her hand toward me.
j think she must have seen the hate in my
face for my great love turned to great hate
even while she spoke, and all the wholesome
currents of my being seemed poisoned by
the supreme passion, and she turned pale,
and her hand dropped, and 1 cursed her.
March 10-A call from Uncle John inter-
rupted me the other day, and have had no
heart to write since. Ny moods shame me.
] wrote those words with btrning cheek and
throbbing heart. I have just read them
without emotion. Why can't be a man,
and not silly, raving boy? Not that the
hate that burns in my heart is abating. 1t
can never abate. 1t will grow and grow,
and keep me true to my purpose. No more
incoming over art and the hope of great
name; but hard work and money making.
Uncle John promises us both fortunes. He
feels confident that his explosive will work
such wonders in Australian mines that
within ten years we can go back to England
rich beyond the dreams of avarice. But
shall never see England again. No matter
what may have written here. Never shall
1 set foot on the land that rears such women
as the one 1 hate. Captain RAYMOND was
almost angry when he learned that in Uncle
Johns innoeent-looking boxes was COM
pound powerful enough to blow us
all out of the water. But he was
somewhat reassured when Uncle in
sisted that as long as the Alhatross
foated she and we were safe; for he says that
the explosive is only an explosive when wet.
Captain Raymond said that he'd try and
keep it dry then, and he sent men into the
hold where the boxes were stored, and had
them placed carefully in an unused cabin.
We are the only passengers. 1 made sure
that no woman was to be on board during
the long voyage. l came near being disap-
pointed in this, for Captain Raymond tells
me that his wife was to sail with him, and
had made all preparations, even to sending
some boxes of clothing aboard, when the
sudden death of her father prevented her
from going. I'm sure I'm sorry that Mrs.
Raymond's father is dead, but I'm very
glad that Mrs. Raymond is not on this ship.
/ don't want to look on woman's face, nor
hear woman's voice. There's but one woman
to me in the wide world and, dear mother,
forgive me if sometimes I cannot thank her
Tor bringing me into the world You under
stand me- mother. You know what 1 have
suffered. You can sympathize with me
when l say that I e1ult at the thought
that leagues of ocean lie between
me and that other woman, who
March ia strange thing has hap
pened since l last wrote in this book. As
was writing heard quite commotion on
deck; cries OF the sailors, sharp orders from
officers, and the trampling Of feet. rushed
on deck. Uncle John and the Captain were
standing on the poop, looking intently
across the water; the first mate was shouting
orders that couldn't understand, and the
crew were lowering the long boat.
Whats the matter?' I asked, Joining
uncle and the Captain.
There's a little boat adrift out yonder,"
answered Uncle John, pointing, "and the
lookout says that there are a couple of
bodies lying in it. There, do you see it. on
the top of that wave?''
saw it; a mere shell it seemed, poised for
a moment on the top of a swell, and then
sliding down into the trough of the sea,
quite out of sight, The long boat was soon
lowered, and, guided by the cries of the |
lockout, made straight for the little boat. |
1t seemed very long before it was reached, and |
I
boat and begin to pull slowly back toward the |
'Albatross. 1t was SLOW and hard work, towing |
that boat, small as 1t seemed, through the |
rather heavy sea. There was no sign of life IN |
her. What was behind those low Cunwales? |
What were the men bringing to us? At length |
they came alongside, and then we saw that |
there were two bodies lying there.
"a man and a woman, slr" called up the |
mate. There's life in 'em both, but precious |
little"
1t was nice work getting the two boats along |
side and the bodies out of them and up to the |
deck; but it was done by the aid of slings, the |
woman being brought up first. Uncle John by |
virtue of his profession gave directions as to |
placing her on the deck, and then knelt by her |
come to us in midocean? What was it? Fate? |
"She is alive" cried Uncle john Captain, |
we must get her below at once"
1 glanced at the woman. Thick locks of |
matted black hair lay around face on which |
the sun and wind and the salt sea water had |
done fearful work. And yet those backened |
and blistered features somehow had familiar |
LOOK. Where had 1 seen themf ] could not |
tell. -Four sailors carried her below and 1 |
turned to look at her companion. who had been
laid on the deck. Uncle John Just took time to
grasp his wrist, and said: He's alive, too"
then he dropped the limp hand and hurried |
below. Always the way. Women first This
dying man might get what attention he could.
March l3-The sailor whom we rescued gains
strength fast. He was able to talk little to-
day. Briefly told, his story, as far as / got it,
is that he was one of the crew of the Vulture
bound from England to India with army stores
and arms, including large consignment of |
powder. One day. he cannot say how many
days ago. the ship caught fire in the hold. /
There were frantic and unavailable efforts
made to get at the flames and extingnish them;
and then the order was given to food the hold
but before it could be executed there was a
tremendous roar, and the sailor knew nothing
else until he found himself in the water cling
ing TO fragment of the wreckage that strewed
the sea. The shin had been blown up and
had sunk at once. Not far from him foated one
of the quarter boats apparently uninjured |
He managed TO swim to it and clambered in.
There he was able to stand up and look around |