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

with answering steps to the compan-
ionway with that lovely burden son
and supple in my arms. sprang up
the stairs with confidence | had not
possessed in the ealmest of weather,
and presently stood with her on deck,
the wind tearing al Us like legion Of
devils, and the rushing masses OF water
dashing over us from head 10 foot. IL
would have been 10 much for me ex-
posed to the fall force of it, had not a
handy sailor eoiled a rope about Us, and
hitehed us up securely. He bound Us
heart to heart, and | stood with her 50
through the flying hours that dragged
so tediously with most people. There
and then and thus | told M love TO
her-and she listened to me. She made
me swear that if the ships company
had 10 take to the boats, I would go
with her. If that could not be, she
begged me let her stay and drown with
me.
Oh, what glorious time that was
with the storm beatingme almost sens
less, the ship furnace beneath my
feet, the utter hOpelessness of boats liv-
ing i'm such a sea, should the fire break
through the battened-downed matches
and drive Us from the vessel
Never shall forget the dawn Of that
day the clouds glared spitefulIy as they
fled away before the sun; the waves
covered into sullenness; the storm
wind screaehing in baifled passion
and my deck chair gone,
They have found the fire and extin-
guished it, and with the morning light
came the cry Of ''Land ahead - from
the lookout.
We should get through it all safely,
then and beyond lay-paradise Not
the same paradise that we had eOntem-
plated in the dark hours, but still para
disc such a one as would he content
ed with for the rest of my life.
\ pilot joined us. We steamed into
Sandy Hook. They steered the batter
ed hulk of the Atlanta into the grand
harbor of New York under As goodly
sun as ever smiled on lovers.
Niillicent Bradley once again stood
10y my side and spoke no word Her
dark eyes surveyed the shore and took
stock of the monster excursion steam
ers, the statue of Liberty and the Brook
lyn bride, but she made no comment.
She had not referred 10 that sweet night
Of terrors since / found her standing
ON the promedade deck neatly dressed
for going ashore.
We passed the Battery and drew near
to the cOmpany's landing stage. Pres
emily we were being hauled into the
dock. In five minutes the gangways
would he run up and We should have to
go ashore. And up to this time al
though had told her all about myself,
my family, my position and MY pros
poets in life, all unimpeachable, she
had not confided to me any of her
own affairs, not even her destination.
But now she turned TO me and looked
me squarely i'm the eye. "You were
very kind Ia me last night, Mr.. Frank
lin" she said, in tones that faneied
trembled little.
Mister" l stammered, aghast at
her GOODNESS.
II am very grateful shall always
be. Don't think badly OF me for being
50 weak and foolish. / could not bear"
she hesitated, and shook back tear
that seemed about TO sparkle i'm her eye
a. she corrected herself: II should not
like you tO-to despise me-"
''Oh, Mis-Millicent - Ibegan.
Bat she went on firmly; ''Of course
We must not take seriously anything
which circumstances exceptional
80 very, very dreadful, indeed-we
must not bind ourselves by what such
circumstances forced upon Us. We will
say 'goOdby' now; and-and if-if we
never meet again"
''Millieent ~ l cried, catching both
her hands, quite needless Of onlOOkers,
''don't eOquet with me after what We
have both gone through? You can say
calmly to me, "If We never meet
again , say to you, must we ever, ever
part p"
ayes, We must part-HOraee." The
words came slowly, and she did not
disengage her hands.
"Why? Where are you gOing?"
''ManitOba-to my brother ranch l
am going to settle there. If YOU would
like TO call"
Manitoba is some 1000 miles from
New York, and the Bradley ranch i
50 miles from the railway. Bat did
''call ;" and it came to pass that set
tied there, too Chambers Journal.