The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-27

ScfcW ~ tile Wtt-E uroPp-i away ifOtii
our stern, and left the great flanges to
beat the air The steward came and
put the lights out, red-tape proceed
ing which added to the awfulness of
things in general. Then began TO get
insufferably warm. Ii was summer
time, and with portfolios closed, the at
mosphere below deck was always stuffy,
but never before had felt such an OPP
preston. concluded that We had got
into the gulf stream, or something of
that sort, and they had closed all the
ventilatOrs for the sake of keeping the
boat water-tight
l had to lie there in bath of perspi-
ration, for could not get relief by tax
ing off my clothes. To unwedge my
self in order to make the attempt would
have resulted in my rolling out on the
floor, where my shoes and a waiter
bottle, and careless companion razor
case were having perfect frolic togeth-
er.
L grew parched with thirst. Every
moment the air became more unbreath-
able. Ten minutes more, and gasped
aloud ~ must get out of this, or dier'
1 flung myself down, taking my chance
of the razors, and groped out of the
door. a sitting fog hung in the saloon.
/ The dim light Of swinging lantern
/ showed il to me. Peering about me
with almost blinded eyes, | perceived
I that from every staterOOm abutting on
the saloon one or more passengers had
erept out like myself, and were stand
ing at each opening like spectres hold
ing on desperately 10 anything. The
saloon seemed 10 he doing its best To
subvert itself At times the floor was
almost perpendicular. Now | was ~
ing flat upon the outer wall of my cab
in the next instant | was hanging
from the rail that ran behind it, as if /
were trapeze performer. All about
there was pandemonium of tumbling
things. The sea thundered against the
vessel fearfully, and again and again
there was that horrible shudder of the
screw.
Near me clung an old gentleman in
light attire. "a nice thing this ~ he
beloved in my ear. To save discus
sion, | agreed with him that it was
very nice indeed.
Across the room was the cabin dedi- !
Gated to Miss Bradley. detected
ghostly figure there, and made my way
over, holding fast to the chairs and the
table. Yes, it was she, white rs the |
dressing gown that swathed her grace
fdl figure. She grasped my hand. Her !
dark eyes glzed into my face with
terrible expression.
''Thank God, you have come to me ~ |
she cried with passionate earnestness. !
We had grown very good friends
during those few bIissful DAYS of her |
convalescence, but only by maintain |
ing rigid barrier of the most respect
full ceremony. How | blessed the ac-
commodating tempest which made her
speak to me like that
l kept her hand in mine and brought !
my face close 10 hers-I had to do this |
10 make my consolation ineligible.
there was such a racket It's all right ~
shouted. "Only gale of wind. Bit
Of sea ON. You're quite right to turn
out if you feel nervous"
She shook her head. "Oh, the storm
is nothing ~ she replied.
Nothing AT all - assented scOfiing-
ly, a if had been used to "high seas
and bowling winds from infancy. Bat
in my heart did not agree with her.
She must surely be jesting-
light of it in panic-stricken bravadO,
else why was she 80 Enthusiastically over
mastered by fear? Her face was set
like marble; her eyes glared TO the
right and left her beautifully chiselled
nostrils shifted the down draught from
the engine-rOOm.
As We stood there in the duskiness.
elinging to the side of the cabin and to
each other, she asked, "Are you sure
there is nothing wrong with the ship
nothing?"
Her tone was 80 changed that | star
ed at her for moment through the
smother before asking the counter
question: ''What should there he ~
''What is this smoke?" she whisper
ed hoarsely in my ear. Before l could
answer, there was a combustion above
a. if the very heavens had fallen upon
the ship, and We were both DASH
cd off our feet. fell with my hand
upon some metal work which the car
pet did not cover. Ii was 81 hot il al
most blistered me. | quickly scram-
bled up, and lifting the almost fainting
girl in both my arms, staggered with |
her to a cushioned nook close by. As
did 50 there came a rush ofwatsr into
the saloon, sweeping over the floor in
waves a. the oscillation of the vessel |
flung il from one side to the other. And |
as the food receded to mass itself in
another quarter, cloud of steam arose,
adding to the denseness of the prevail
ing gloom.
The last shock had evoked a wall of |
alarm from the surrounding cabins, and |
the saloon became crowded with people |
rushing out of their doors. But when |
they found the floor surging with water |
and that white vapOr floating upward,
there was perfect shrek of dismay:
"The boilers have burst the boilers ~
Surprising the water to be scalding, |
instinetly placed Millieent Bradley at
full length upon the couch. There was
no time to save myself, and let out an
unmanly yell as the wave tapped me
right up 10 the knee. IL seemed to bite !
the flesh from my bones ! can stand |
pain-I used to play football in Eng
land. But you just put your stocking
ed feet into boiling water and try that
In a jiffy was perched upon the top |
of small table, and clapped my hand
to my injured extremities but, strange
to say, was not scalded at all The /
water was cold. Others found this out /
simultaneously. And yet the steam
was rising.
The meaning of it flashed upon Milli-
cent first of all-or perhaps this phe-
nomenon only cOnfirued fear; God