The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-31
IRBTON'S BRIDE.

liking 10 lreton, al length pfeValieu Oh MN
to visit him at his hotel.
There the young officer was introduced to
one of the loyelest young women he had
ever secn-.he Spaniard's daughter-a tail,
queenly girl Of is, with voice Of rich music
and form undulating in movement like a
wave OF The sea. Over the low, White fore
head the black hair was smoothly parted
and, being rolled up in Stunning coils behind,
it revealed the beautiful shape of head
poised on neck of matchless contour and
grace.
Ireton was charmed by this bewitchlng
siren. Day after day he procured leave OF
absence OF his commander that lie might see
her--never, however, mentioning a word
about lis visits or the beautiful girl to his
shipmates.
Tie influence obtained over him by Bella
the name of this girl-was great, and at
length he asked her to be his wife.
" Tell me what you would sacrifice Tor me
if l should consents? SAID sh", tossing back
from her face her hair, which had become
diStrrangcd in his embrace.
All" he answered." riches, life and"
Her brilliant gaze was looking down into
his very soul, and her beauty intoxicated
him.
" Well?" she said as he paused.
''And even honorV was the answer.
Triumph lighted her looks.
Then take me-" she said with charming
naivete and abandon, throwing herself,
warm and tiuttering, into his arms; " for
this Is lOvep'
When the term of his leave of absence
had expired Ireton returned not to The
ihe next day came and passed with no
better result. The young man was still
missing.
What lad become of him? A vigilant
search was instituted, hut without avail
A. his visits had been made at night no per-
son had seen him enter the hotel where
Senior Cordoya lodged.
4 week passed in fruitlesS continuation
Of the search for ITetOn. when the Captain
received news which compelled HIM at once
10 leave Havana.
From the Maita-a schooner which had
been lying in lhe haTbor, but which had
lately sai.ed-a man had deserted few
days before, and this person now informed
the captain of the IigTesS that the vessel
was a SLAYER.
AS the Captain of the corvette had orders
to overhaul all such laWless cruisers, he ut
0Lce set saI,sgreaty TO the delight Of his
officers, whose ardor, however was a little
diminished by the didppearanCe Of 1Teton,
who had been a fayorlte.
Various conjectures weTe formed about
the missing man, some OF the officers think
ing he had met an uniimely end by acct
drntaly falling off the deck in the dark and
teen drowned.
Weeks passed before the SLAYER was
sighted. All sail was Gro Hded in chase,
out heavy gale then came. with thick
cloud Of scud, when soon hid the schooner
from view.
a month passed ere she was again seen,
this time off the coast of Africa, near Guiuea
As she was of lee shore, the Captain of
the IisreSS doubted not he could compel her
either 10 heaye TO OF run on the rocks.
10.
him and the coast, and when within gun
range, toward nish;fall, perceiVing that she
was Kept obs tlnately on her course, he tried
the effect Of several shots from his bow
ehaSerS.
As the smoke Ircm the guns cleared the
corvette 5 people beheld the SLAYER beating
past towering rock, beyond which there
evidently Was bay. He. bow. black hall
anu rakIng masts were thus screened from
sight but Tie corvette now felt sure of her
griZe, which had been compelled 20 enter
the bay.
Iwo cutters were lowered. well manned
VIII armed sailors, under charge Of a lieu
tenant. Half an hours hard pulling
brought them 10 the bay, now lighted by q
full moon, but, to his surprise, he could dis
cover 10 sign of the SLAYER.
" hat had become OF h-r2
lad she glided into some other hiding
place near-some other inlet or bay To
assure himself Oh this point the young Off
Ger mounted lofty rock ana looked about
him. HIS position afforded him a view of
every bay and inlet in the vicinity, but the
vessel MAS not to be seen.
TIE puzzled Lieutenant returned aboard
with this singular news for the Captain,
WhH, early 10 the morning, went to the BAY
10 seek a solution of the mystery.
There was not breath of air stirring.
while the surface Of The water was as
smooth as glass.
I he crew pulled hither and thther, but
nothing to afford clew 10 the strange dis
appearance OF the schooner was discovered
until they stopped pulling, and the water,
which had been broken into nipples about
the boat, subsided.
Then an exclamation broke from the cap
tam, AS he pointed down into the clear
DEPTHS, Where revealed, lying under the
surface on the bottom of the bay, and far
over ON her beam ends, was the schooner.
Every Stroud and spar, every intricate
rope and chain, was distinctly revealed
there under the water, where now a gala
colored and siivery fish, some of them of
strange, uncouth proportions, darted fire.
quentiy about the yards and booms, or went
IN and out of the holes of the shining, pol
IShed capstan.
brought suddenly to view by the steady but
Invisible undercurrent, two human forms,
which the dropping mainsail had hitherto
concealed. There they were, locked in each
others embrace-a man and young girl,
swaying toaDd fro under the sea; held near
the deck of the sunken craft by means of
coils OF rope. in which their persons were
entanged as in the fluids of a serpent
Ii was q strange sight to see them there
under the water, the girls dark hair stream
ing lar out from her head, which reposed on
we neck Oh the man, retaining even in death
his clasp OF the fair form, which he had evil
IDENTIFY endeayOred to save when the vessel
went down.
Two skilful divers among the boats men
soon brought the two forms TO the surface.
when Explanations OF surprise and horror
were heard, for the body of the dead man
was now recognized as that Of Vane Ireton,
so long missing from the Tigress.
As the spectators gazed on the Lieutenant
and the girl-beautiful even in death-they
could only guess al the fearful truth this
discovery revealed, but toward noon, half
oil the slaYer's crew being captured ashore,
among the number Captain COrdoya, this
man made full explanation.
Bella had consented to marry Ireton, and
lad persuaded him TO desert the corvette
ana 90 away with her and her father aboard
TIE shaver, acting as COrdOya's first officer
Inc Lieutenant had been surprised to hear
Lhat the schooner Malta was SLAYER and
Cordova captain, but having consented to
make any sacrifice even that of his henor-
Tor Bella ne would not refuse her request,
and after having been married by a SPANS ii
priest he repaired with her aboard the
schooner. which sailed next day.
The cause OF the slaver's sinking had been
one OF the shots FROM the corvette. which.
crashing through her counter, had plowed a
hole through the bottom. The captain had
at once put into the bay, his vessel going
down five minutes later with such sudden
ness that only half the crew had been able
70 save themselves The rest, who were
below after the valuables. were carried I'M
= der with the doomed craft which was also
destined TO be the coffin of Ireton aud his
beautiful wife, who, while running up from
the CABIN, were caught in part of the run
ming rigging, which held them fast TO the
doomed yessel.-Selected.