Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-28

hoth my arms, staggered With her to
\ cushioned nook close by. As did
SO there came rush OF water into the
saloon, sweeping ever the floor In
waves as the oscillation Of the vessel
dung 1t from one side to the other.
And as the flood receded 10 mass itself
in another quarter, cloud OF steam
arose, adding to the denseness Of the
prevailing 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 door surging
with water and that white vapor float.
ing upward, there was perfect
shrek of diSmay: The boilers have
burst! the boilers, the hoilersw
Surprising the water to be boiling,
inSdnctvely placed Millicent Bradley
at full length upon the couch, There
was no time to save myself; and let
out an mmanly yell ms the wave
tapped ME right to the knee 1t
seemed to bite the flesh from my
homes. | can stand pain--I used to
play football in England, But you
just put your stockinged feet into boil.
ing water and try that! In n iiify |
was perched upon the top of small
table and clappcd my hand to my in
jured extremities; but, strange to say.
l was not scalded at all. The water
was cold. Others found this out 81.
simultaneously. And yet the steam was
rising,
The meaning OF 1t flashed upon Mil,
licent first OF all-or perhaps this phe.
nomenou only confirmed fear; God
help usr' She cried. The vessel is on
fire"
The word flew like lightning. All
rushed pell-mell out of the saloon and
up the stairs to the deck.
Save me, Horacew gasped Millicent
in that moment she called me by
that name-"Save me. Horace, for the
love of Heavenw
caught her TO my breast like
child-she was very full grown
woman and must have weighed eleven
stone-l kissed her check, her eyes,
her lips and she never murmured. |
strobe with answering steps to the
companionway with that lovely bur
den soft and supple IN my arms.
sprang up the stairs with u confidence
l had not possessed In the calnest of
weather, and presently stood with
her on deck, the wind tearing at MS
like n legion of devils and the rushing
masses of water dashing over us from
head to foot. 1t would have been too
much for me, exposed to the full force
of 1t, had not Il handy sailor coiled II
rope about us and hitched us up Sc.
curely. He bound us heart to heart
and | stood with her so through the
flying hours taat dragged SO tediously
with most people There and then
and thus told my love to her--and
she listened to me. She made me
swear that II the ships company had
to take to the boats l would go with
her. IL that could not be she begged
me to let her stay and drown with me-
Oh, what glorious time that was;
with the storm beating me almost
senseless, the ship a furnace beneath
my feet, the utter hopelessness of
boats living In such Il sea, should the
fire break through the battened-down
matches and drive us from the vessel!
Never shall forget the dawn of that
day; the clouds glaring spitcfully as
they fled away before the sum- the
waves covering into sullenness; the
storm wind screeching In batiied pas
sion-and my deck chair gone!
They had found the fire, and ex-
tinguished 1t; and with the morning
light came the cry OF land aheadw
from the lookout
We should get through 1t all safely
then, and beyond lay-paradise! Not
the same paradise that we had con
templated In the dark hours, but still
paradise, such a one as / would be
contented with for all the rest of my
life.
A pilot joined us. We steamed into
Sandy Hook. They steered the bat
tered hulk OF the ATLANTA into the
grand harbor of New York under as
goodly sun as ever smiled on lovers.
Millicent Bradley once again stood
by my side and spoke no word. Her
dark eyes surveyed the shore and
took stock of the monster excursion
steamers, the statue of Liberty, and
the Brooklyn bridge; but she made no
comment. She had not referred to
that sweet night Of terrors since |
found her standing on the promenade
deck neatly dressed for going ashore.
We passed the battery, and drew
near to the companys landing stage.
Presently we were being hauled into
the dock. In five minutes the gang.
ways would be run up, and we should
have to 90 ashore. And up to this
time, although / had told her all about
myself, my family, my position and
my prospects In life, all unlmpeach-
able, she had not confided to me any
Of her own affairs. not even her des.
tination. But now she turned TO me
and looked me sguarely In the eye.
You were very kind to me last night,
Mr.. Franklin" she said In tones that
fancIed trembled little.
"Mister!' stammered, aghast at her