The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1890-10-10
THE STORM AT SEA.
BY MARY G. PRESTON

stormy demon struck ON his cheek then
there was hurying Of the sailors hither
and thither, shghtheayiug ofthe vessel,
a total disapp eaTance Of the moon behind
the rolling bank Of cloud, and then the
passengers were sent to the cabin and
Harold Jerome laying his strong hand on
the rail, stood calm in the gathering
might of the tempest.
The hours wore on, and with them the
gale that tore hungrily at the Swallow
seemed to increase; ever and anon, from
the darkness Of the sky, came a keen
flash Of light, followed by crashes that
were deaiening5 rising like demons that
have burst their chains, the roaring mad
dened pillows swept the vessel from stem
to stern, bearing all loose objects with
them--bearing in the weird faint dawn, a
human life
Harold jerome did not join the other
passengers below through all the hours
Of the long night he worked with the
captain and his men, striving to battle
the tempest; his hand it was that fell
upon the wheel when the man there sank
back exhausted his hand it was which
struck che firmest blows when cordage
had to be severed and q broken spar sent
out to the waters, and his strong hand it
was which tore back one victim from the
hungry jaws OF the sea as once it, swept
the deck.
And day dragged on and still the sud-
denly born tempest ragged and tore the
engines refused to work, the fires were
out, the wheel was broken, the Swallow
with her human freight, was at the mercy
Of the waters.
In the dimness Ola Pallid and sorrow
full dawn, through which struggled a
faint, reluctant sun, the vessel, with
crashing jar, rocked on thesharp teeth of
reef.
Then there was despair on the broad
deck of the swallow, for hope was over;
save for the frail promise Of the life boats,
Ehey were doomed
With white, despairing face the pas
sengers gathered on the deck, waiting to
be lowered to the boats, and Harold Je-
rome found himself at last beside Lucille.
He held out his hands to herand she
placed hers within them and clung to him
like terrified child and so standing,
with hand elapsed in hand for the first
time in years, the two who had loved
long before waited their turn to descend
to the boat.
Once the captain touched Lucille on
the arm and motioned for her to advance,
but she shook her head and pointed to a
mother who was standing near by clasp
ing her infant TO her breast, So the
mother and child were lowered and the
life-boat set free. 1t pitched moment
on the waters and went down before
their eyes.
Lucille, with cry, covered her face
with her hands and Harold drew her into
the shelter of of his arms, unreproved.
In this hour of peril, with the shadow
Of death over them, it seemed that the
old love lived again-nay, had never
died.
The last boat was lowered-flled one
place remained and Harold drew Lucille
towards the vessels side.
"My love-, F" he said, at her ear, eve
may never meet again on earth; 60
with the ships officers on a raft we have
prepared. But would have you know
that, through all the years since our part
ing, have loved you as l did in those
happy days when we thought we would
be always together. Now farewell, my
dearest In life or death, on earth or in
heaven, my LIES love is yours and yours
only. A"
They were at the ships side as he fin.
ished. For answer she put up her lips
and met his kiss. Then she chung to hin
with passionate strength.
II will not go-I will not gol" she
cried, her voice ringing out through The
surge of the wind. Let another hav,
the place reserved for me-some one whc
5 has love on shore. My love is here.
wait for the raft.
!, NAY, thatwould be folly, my Lucille,
cried Harold, and he strove to loosen he
cllnging hands that he might pass hel
oyer the ships side.
Ere he succeeded, the ropes that helC
the life-boat parted, SHE shotfrom the sid
Of the Swallow, was caught on wav
and borne away, away, while Harol,
looked down sadly in the face below hin