Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-15
CHAPTER ii.

OHAHIEh IL
"Oh sir, cried the lady, "can you
not help me save this poor child?"
"Indeed, will gladly do what can,
madam, and carefully lashing the gig
to the coop so the latter might not drift
away he succeeded in getting the lovely
creature into his little boat. The elder
| lady had with Joc's assistance already
embarked.
After putting a little brandy into the
girls mouth, and seeing that her COM
panion took a good dose OF the same,
he sat down and slowly watched the
color coming back into the lovely face.
In q few moments pair Of glorious
brown eyes opened, and she whispered
| family, "Where am % but instantly
seeming TO remember everything she
burst into a passion of weeping. The
elder lady soothed her with the most en-
dearing words, till after few moments
she held ont her little hand, covered
with sparkling gems, to Carleton with
the " Forgive me my weakness, cir, aud
accept my most grateful thanks for
making rs 80 much more comfortable
saving our lives in fact, rs we would
soon have persisted of famine had you
not rescued us"
After eating heartily, at Cartoons
playful command, the girl told Carleton
her story. She and Der goyerness, it
seems, were on their way from Mel
bourne to England to join her father.
Ten days before they had encountered a
fearful storm which so disabled the ship
that she was supposed to be in Il sinking
condition. The crew determined to
abandon her, but in launching and
boarding the boats the rush was so great
that several lives wero lost. This did
not prevent the others rowing off, leaving
themselves with half dozen others, on
the wreck. They drifted about until the
night before, when another fearful storm
arose. They had not even a light by
which to keep other vessels ont of their
way, so they could only huddle
together in a sheltered place and
pray. The hulk breaking up so
fast made them all look out for some
thing to cling to when they should be
washed into the sea. The elder lady
happened to he near this empty hen
coop, so she dashed both herself and
charge about their waist ~ this by strOag
silken girdles which they happened to
be wearing. About 3 o'clock they saw
the lights of vessel, but in few mo-
ments they felt the hulk receive shock,
which completely severed her amidship.
Soon they found themselves floating
through the black waters. The night OF
horror passed, and themorning sun gave
them a slight hope, but Us the day wore
on and they saw no sail the younger
girl lost hope and fell unconscious on
the others lap just before they caught
sight of them. "To think, said Garlic
ton, "there should have been so many
alive on that old hulk, which We sup
posed entirely deserted.
AS they sailed along Carleton told Of
his disaster, and these two, strangely
thrown together, were soon the best of
friends. Carleton exerted himself to
make the ladies as comfortable as posi-
BILE in the intense heat by rigging lit
tie canopy over them Of small sail
which he found in the gig. They beg
ged him not to think of them alone, and
to take more rest himself, but, hero as
he was. he seemed to care for their com
fort alone.
One evening while Joe was fast asleep
and Mrs. Leland was not far behind,
Tina said suddenly: "Mr. Carleton, |
have frequently watched you when you
thought yourself unobserved, and | be-
lieve you have some great aim IN life
something different from what actuates
most men. For instance, you have con
tinued so calm anu self-possessed amid all
the terrors through which We have
passed. Do you not have some such
feeling as the fatalist who k7'OrS he can
not die until an appointed time ?"
Cartoons face, which had turned very
pale during her remark, now assumed its
usual color as he asked her, "What aim
do you think have?"
~ do not think it is ambition, and It's
too stern for love" and here her voice
fell. "What can il be but pengednce "
Carleton covered his face with his hand
and sat for few moments in moody
silence. Presently he felt little hand
laid upon his own. aud gentle whisper:
"Forgiye me; l did not think. l had
no right SO to speak to you.
81 have nothing 10 forgive, dear, he
said SIMPLY. 81 will not oyershadow
you with my spirit of unrest; and
rousing himself: "Let us talk Of some
thing moro interesting than my I'M
worthy self.
So Carleton locked up the skeleton in
its closet for the time being and enjoyed
Tna's sweet companionship while he
could. The next evening they sighted
land, which proved TO DO the southern
coast of Africa, and as the sun was set
ting in the west they entered little creek
and landed on q pebbly beach. Scarcely
had this been accomplished when Garlic
ton, whose strong will alone had kept
him mp for the last twelve hours, fell 10
the ground unconscious. "My dear,
dear master has saved us with bis own
life; and the faithful Joe threw himself
down on the sands in an agony of grief.