The Penn's Grove record., 1894-04-27

-.G5sk& The all-nlSht po-
~ ker game, Of
~ which he had been
-W-- g. a spectator for al
N-ML hour or more, had
-H- just adjourned fol
~ breakfast, and thu
empty room with its strata OF various
colored cigarette smoke was uninvitins
at 30 early an hour. Hardly more ut
tr,ctive was the row of pallid iavaLiis-
helpless and shnpeless in their heavy
wraps-on the deck before him. 1t was
demoralizing to see men so colorless and
women SO utterly regardless OF personal
appearance as his fellow passengers.
Three days OF rough weather had
wrought the usual havoc, and although
the sea had become somewhat calmer
there was an insidious swell, deadly in
its effect. 1t addition to the general
dreariness the f~og-wbistlc had been
blowing hoarse notes OF warning all
night, and even no v, although the fog
was lifting 1t necessitatel this precau-
ton. However muggy tue outside
air, it was delicious alter the smoking
room, and Relf, delightfully."- conscious
of being one Of tho very few persons
walking the deck, threw back his head
with q quick, characteristic movement,
20 enjoy more fully the salty dampness.
"He is a beautiful YOUTH" said the
Rabbi, and he murmured somc apro-
pos remarks OF tho Hebrew poets.
.sIn that Icing coat and round cap he
he is like a young priest" added the
Bishop, and they both continued he'll
discussion on ''intinity." Relf smiled
and touched his cap as he passed them.
They were an interesting old pair, each
so typical in his way that the young
nan felt that he Ind known them al
waya. He looked at the Rabbits strong,
patriarchial profile, and reelected how
invaluable be would be to a painter Of
Biblical scenes in need OF an Abraham o;
q Moses.
Just then the fog-whistle, whose deaf
ening below had of late been coming at
longer intervals, burst out as if it would
rip the pipe from its ~fastonings. Stimuli
taneously came a conclusion that sent
Relf sprawling into somebody's lap, aud
for an instant there was tho sound OF
crashing timbers up forward. Then, as
II the whistle had sounded tho day of
Judgment, the ghosts rose from their
graves and swarmed In bcwildorment
about the deck. Pale, dishevelled wo-
men, who but a short time before had
prayed for death, slid from their steamer
chairs with surprising alacrity and be-
came suddenly and inconsistency imbucd
with o desire TO live. The men, anxious
and wi!d-eycd, were crowding forward,
and every one was in the fcverish state
OF Ignorance that O reporter describes as
ga panic seemed imminent" The APP
pearancc Of the ships doctor, however,
put an end to that possibility.
'Thcrs is 40 cause for alarm" hc
SAID, hurricdly, 1--WE are unhurt," and
he told them that the Dahlia had run
down n schooner and the boats would be
lowered to pick up her crew. "Look-
see thcro!" Every one crowded to the
vail.
1t was as If the geuze curtains in the
last act OF spectacular play were rolling
up to disclose the transformation scene.
Through the lifting fog, in a glare of
white sunlight, the wrecked vessel
tloated aia.icssly about in. two pieces.
There were men IN her risging-just
how many it was impossible e. tell.
Every time Relf locked through his glass
he discovered a new figure clinging des-
pcrately TO t"a shrouds. 1t was a dreary
sight, and the time it took the Dahlia's
boats TO go out to tho wreck and buck
seemed intcrminsble and strangely silent
without the throbbing of The engines.
Rclf watched the rescued ones, twenty
two in all, climb over the side aud dis
appear among q crowd of gaping steer
age passengers. With the exception OF
the first mate and the carpenter, who
bai leen lost, tho shaggy-headed crew
Of the Lizzie Johnston were apparently
unhurt. When they reappeared, dressed
to a man in tho neat blue and white of
the Dahiia. they stood about in the
steeragc, allowing themselves to be
questioned and admired with an iudif-
ference worthy OF more experienced
lions. They were q polyglot collection
German, French, some sallow Portu.
sucse, several Dutohmen and a sprink-
ling of Americans, Of whom the captain
was one. Relf took an immediate in.
terest in ono young fellow-not on &C.
count of the man hin self exactly, for his
back was turned, and he could only see
that he was tall and well formed. II
was more owing to the effect this man
was producing on a t~ow-haired German
girl who was tenderly bandagiug his
right wrist. She blushed furiously when
he spoke and bent her head to hide her
confusion. Rolf reflected that the man
must be strikingly handsome or was
saying unusually sweet nothings, and
waited c~uriously until the operation
mould be completed, hoping to see his
face. But when tho girl gave a final pat
10 her skilful bandage, the sailor made
her a funny little bow and went inside
without turning round.
Later in tho day, when Relf was talk.
ing with the captain of the LIZZIE john
lton, and at the same time idly watching
The picture Of squalor the Storage af-
iorded, he again saw the young man Of
he bandaged wrist, stretched out In the
mnshine,~ apparently asleep, with his face
concealed by his arm. He was on the
point of asking the captain about him
when a steward appeared on the prom
snsde deck beating a Chinese gong fo
dinner.
At dinner, at the supreme moment
when tongues wag livelisst, when the or
cheslra plays loudest, when every n is
wittiest and no one else is listening-the
steward lard a rather soiled envelope,
addressed in an uniformed hand, beside
Relf's plate. He opened the dubious
looking cove wondeEjn9ly, and glanced
down the half sheet it contained, upon
which among other things was a smirca
of blood, until his eyes rested upon the
signature, "Richard Burns" He stared
at it so long aud stupidity that the i'm.
patient steward joggled his elbow, and
Relf, who in the entire twenty years OF