The Daily bulletin., 1890-12-31
Tho Enelishmnn noticed II at the same

~ certainty was Daui ~ meant certain
death il the waves, no matter how small,
struck and shook the wreck, already so
broken and disjointed that the first large
one would demolish it.
Then our agony increased from second
10 second with the rise OF the wind.
Now the waves broke and saw in the
darkness the white line of foam appear
and disappear, while every wave shook
the frame of the Marie Joseph with q
shudder that reached us.
felt the English girl tremble against
me. was conscious of a wild impulse
to take her in my arms.
Before us, to right, to left, behind us
the lighthouses were shining on the
eoastS-white, red, yellow; revolving,
like eyes of giants looking at us, watch
ing eagerly for our destruction. One of
them in particular irritated me- That
one was perfect eye, opening and shut.
ting its fiery pupil
From time to time the Englishman
struck match to look at the hour; then
he would replace his watch in his pocket.
Suddenly he said aloud and with per
feet seriousness, "Sir, l wish you a
happy New Year,
It was midnight. offered my hand,
which he shook; then he said something
In English to the girls, who began to sing
"God Save the Queen" At first felt
like laughing then l was seized by a
strong, quaint emotion. There was some
thing superb and sinister about this song
of these wrecked people; something of
prayer and also greater and comparable to
the "Ave Caesar, morituri te salutarnus"
When the song was ended asked my
reighbor to sing alone, a ballad, anything
she pleased, to help us forget our situa-
ton. She consented. Her fresh, pure
voice rose upon the night. 1t was doubt
less something sad as the notes fingered
and rose slowly, like wounded birds,
above the waves.
The sea had risen and now struck
against the wreck. thought of nothing
but the voice and of the sirens. My tor
tured spirit was lost in dreams. Was she
not siren, this girl who had kept me on
this rotten boat, and who in u minute
would be ingulfed with met
We all now rolled violently upon the
deck. The Marie Joseph has turned upon
the other side The English girl fell on
me, and seiKing her in my arms, nadly
and without knowing it, without under
standing, believing this was our last sec
ond of life, kissed her lips, her temples
her hair. The vessel no longer moved
nor did we.
Her father called Kate, and she an
swered yes, and tried to free herself from
my arms. wanted the boat to open;
wanted to die with her.
rose slowly and perceived light nea
us. called out and was answered. L
was boat hunting for US, the proprieto
of the hotel having guessed our predica
ment.
We were saved was in despair. w
left the wreck and returned to ST. Mar
tin. The English1nan rubbed his hand
and exclaimed, "What supper we vii
eat" And we did. was not gay.
regretted the Marie Joseph.
The next morning we separated, witt
many regrets and promises to write
They returned to Biarritz and l cam
very near following them.
was hard hit and was near askin
Kate in marriage. If we had RENAME,
longer together l certainly would hav
done so. How weak and incomprehensi
BILE man is at times,
Two years passed without my hearin
anything of them; then received let
ter from New York. She was married
and wrote to tell me. And since the
we write to each other once year, o
the lst Of January. She speaks to me c
her life, her children, heF sisters, neve
of her husband. And speak to her c
the Marie Joseph. She is perhaps th
only woman ever loved-no--that
might have loved. Voila--does one eve
know? Events carry us along An
then - then everything fades ST.
must be Old now [ would not kno
her-her Of ether days her Of tt
wreck She writes me L. hlir
white. Mon dieu that hurts p'e teri
bly-that blonde hair No. there
not a trace Of How sad is-all that.
Translated from the French of MAJ
passant for The New Orleans Picayur
, by LAX,