The Columbus journal., 1889-01-16

An0 th1nk t00I SAVING UL140 C0u0,
And bringing him to his own,
Z derned sight better business
Than loadn2 around the Throne.
A SECRET OF THE SEA.
II suppose that by this time tomorrow
we shall anchor in the hay" said Col.
Gray.
"Yes. this is the last of our pleasant
evenings if the Ocean Greyhound is true
to her promise" said pretty Mrs. Nor
timer.
It was a very pleasant evening. too,
though chilly. as September evenings
are apt to be on the Atlantic. A glorious
full moon. extinguishing the stars and
casting glittering trail athwart the
sea. scarcely ruffled 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 oc-
casional strain floated up on 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
mo0opolize that nook behind tho wheel
house, where the moon can be seen to
the greatest advantage and fictitious
isolation encourages the interchange of
sentiments As ardent a. they are tran
sient.
"You will not be sorry to exchange
these pleasant evenings for something q
little livelier though" exclaimed Mra
Mortimer's niece. a brilliant creature
whose magnetic vitality rang in her clear
voice and scintillated in her ripping hair
and flashing eyes. AFTER two years.
hard study in Milan you can fancy how
feel at the near approach Of New York
and Newport"
"Theres not much to keep one alive
on 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 returning home, con-
vinced that whatever might happen to
him. In the future, it could hardly be
more interesting than the past.
This is my first sea voyage" said the
colonel, land have enjoyed it. But
should be glad enough to see land again."
''And ]" said the only member Of the
little group who had not previously
spoken. ''lOve the sea, and have had
many adventures on it, and am never
tired of its sights and sounds"
The speaker was q woman in the In
dian Summer of her life. sweeter and
more beautiful than many q young
woman. stamped as she was with the
indelible traces of great joys and great
griefs.
Tell US something. Mrs. Odell," cried
Mrs. Mortimer's niece, imploringly. 81
know you must have seen real tragedies
-shipwrecks and such things"
Il have seen many tragedies and more
than one shipwreck," she said, half re-
luctantly. land If you like | will tell
you an incident that happened on ship
that was wrecked when I was ON nv
way to the Cape in il"
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 auntis knee, and rest
ing 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
an air Of interest. He was q good lis
tener. remarkably so for military man.
Mrs. Odell began her story. accentuat-
ing by a slight but impressive gesticula-
ton her soft. rich voice and quiet de-
livery.
Several years ago-ten or a dozen
vas on my way TO the Cape of Good
Hope in a sailing ship. My husband and
children were living then-all three are
dead now-hut left them in England to
visit my parents in Cape Town, and !
went Onsa sailing ship, because l had
becn very i'll and was ordered a voyage.
There were but few passengers-six or
seven first class and some twenty emi-
grants in the steerage. Among the Ga
loUn passengers was very pretty young
woman. scarcely 20. going out as gov
erness to Australia
1--WE put in at Madeira and took on
board two passengers. for whom the
captains cabin was secured. q newly
married couple. not long over their
honeymoon. Everything becomes known
On board. especially during a long voy-
age, and the young wife had a maid
With her. who probably supplied all the
details she knew and filled up the gapo
with her Imagination 1t became known,
at any rate. within few hours. that the
lady was an heireSs of immense wealth
and the gentleman was the penniless
younger son of good family. The mar.
riage WAS much against the wish of the
brides family. hut she vas Just of age
and perfect mistress Of her property,
and she had been married q few
weeks before met her, and had gone to
Madeira, intending to spend the winter
there. 1t was quite sudden freak. their
coming on board. and could hardly have
been the poor things wish; for she was .
wretched sailor, and for two or three
days after We put to sea again she re-
mained in her berth, waited on by her
maid and unnoticed BY every one else.
The husband was about so, a very hand
some and attractive man-dark, tall,
with q heavy black mustache and gleam-
ing white teeth, which were often enough
seen, for he was most lively and agree
able talker, full of wit and nonsense, with
m amusing anecdote for every occasion,
and generally the sort Of man to be
prime favorite on board . sailing ship,
whe2e every one is sure to be bored moro
Or less Especially was he attentive and
considerate toward the ladies, and /
heard, though did not eeanything then,
that the pretty g0veEneB usurped large
portion Of his care. This seemed natural
enough, - she was alone, and most 0f us
took little extra notice of her on that
account
''Well, after . day q two the bride
began to come on deck q little, and when
he Rained some flesh and color we could
re how pretty she was, and how full Of
wayA Another thing vas soon
easily seen also, and that was that what
ovee might be the stAte Of her hushand's
e6eetioos. che simply worshiped him.
H9 ssn followed him ohout With . ip4