Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-09
a SECRET OF THE SEA

Il suppose by this time tomorrow
we shall anchor in the Bay, said Col.
Grey.
Yes. this is the last of our pleasant
evenings if the Ocean Greyhound Is
true to her promise said pretty Mrs.
Mortimer
1t was a very pleasant evening, too,
though chilly, as September evenings
are apt to be on the Atlantic. a glo-
rious full moon, extinguishing the
stars and casting glitteriEg trail
athwart the sea- scarcely ruffied 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 occasional
strain floated up OH 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 maneuvers
of two or three stray couples, each
seeking to monopolize that nook be-
hind the wheel-house, where the
moon can be seen to the greatest ad-
vantage, and fictitious isolation ell
courages the interchange of senti
ments as ardent rs they are transient.
You will not be sorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for something
little livelier, though, exclaimed
Mrs. Mortimer's niece, brilliant
character 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 TO New York and Newport
There's not much to keep one alive
Oh the ocean trip nowadays, 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 return
ing home, convinced that whatever
might happen to him in the future, 1t
could hardly be more interesting than
the past.
This is my first sea voyage, said
the Colonel, and | have enjoyed it,
But | should be glad enough TO see
land again.
And L. said the only member of
the little group who had not previ-
ously spoken, love the sea and have
had many adventures on it, and ain
never tired of its sights and sounds. "
The speaker was IA woman i'll the
Indian summer of her life, sweeter
and more beautiful than many young
woman, stamped as she was with the
indelible traces of great joys and
great griefs.
''Tell us something Mrs. Odell, "
cried Mrs. Mortimer niece imploring'
ly;' II know you must have seen real
tragedies ies-shipwrecks and such
things?'
Il have seen many tragedies and
more than one shipwreck, she said
half reluctantly, and if you like |
will tell you an incident that hap
pened on 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 a low stool. clasping her
slender white hands round her aunts
knee. and resting her cheek upon
them; the young tourist took up
position from which he commanded
good view of her pretty face, and the
Colonel settled himself with all air Of
interest. He was a good listener, re-
so for military man.
Mrs. Odell began her story, accentu-
ating by a slight but impressive ges-
ticulation her soft, rich voice and quiet
delivery.
Several years ago-ten or a dozen
i was on my way TO the Cape OF
Good Hope, in sailing ship. My
husband and children were living
three are dead now-but |
left them in England TO visit my pa
rents in Cape Town, and | went on
sailing ship, because | had been very
ill and was ordered voyage. There
were but few passengers-six or seven
first-class and some twenty emigrants
in the steerage. Among the saloon
was very pretty young
woman, scarcely 20, going out as gov
erness to Australia.
I'VE put in at Madeira and took on
board two passengers for whom the
Captains cabin was secured, newly
married couple not long over their
honeymoon. Everything becomes
known on board, especially during a
long voyage, and the young wife had
a maid with her, who probably sup
piled all the details she knew, and
filed up the gaps with her imagina-