Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-02-26

Tho Essex marshes Far astern London
lay mysteriously curtained in q purple
haze A little nearer, lying Off the port
quarter. where Bella stood, the wharf
they had iust left melted slowly into
the haze. There, too. stood one solitary
flguro-hcr father, waving his old kor-
chief bravely.
Poor father" Bella sighed as she
turned from looking at last "I'm afraid
he'll find the old place dull now I'm
gone
"You aren't sorry You came, lass, arc
your'
mo. MOI oh, Dick. you know I'm
notP'
AYE, lass, know IL But like to
hear you say Il, returned the skipper
as ne alid his arm about her waist and
drew her 20 him BY tho wheel
''I'm very happy, Dick, " Bella sigh
ed gently. "You are very good 70 me. I"
BLESS you, lass, why, who wouldn't
bo, II 20 be he had the chantef''
After which they talked in whispers
as tho crew camo aft, busying them
selves with the gear As the day grew
the wind dropped, and toward 3 O'Clock
they were sailing slowly down Graves
end reach. Tho tide was nearly done.
"I'lS'bring up just below the Owens,
mattel" cried the skipper presently. III
this broeze drops at sandown, 'twon't
be very pretty ON the river.
Aye" said the mate. ''It don't look
very pretty now. Belize there won't bo
any wind come flood"
Take a pull ON your main sheet
herei" cried the skipper "Flatten in
your wang bit, then let tho jib and
taups'l run downp'
They had passed the buoy and were
rounding to, to bring up midway be-
tween the Owens and the powder hulk
under the loe OF East Tilbury forts.
Down fores therel'' shouted tho skip
per as he clapped the helm a-lee. "6tand
by your anchorl Let gol
There was a sudden rattle Of rushing
Chain, aud with IL shrillcr cries and
shouts Of pain. The boy had got mixed
up with the chain. His hard and arm
were badly crushed
GOOD heavensp cried tho skipper
when he got beside them forward. "How
the shivors did you manage that2 Why,
this is hospital job.
There's no two ways about that,
skipper. " said the mate But the boy,
a lad Of about is, lay silent, struck sense
less by tho pain.
"Well, what's got to bo has to be, -
said Dick ruefully. "You get the boat
hauled up and Ned down into her when
be comes to. while run aft to tell tho
missus and put tho light out. Wen
have TO leave her in charge Of tho dog. F"
In half an hour or so all their arrange
ments were complete. Dick came on
deck and tumblad into the boat.
$50 long, Bella, lassl" no cried as he
sighted her standing watching Their
departure. "The foods como up. We'll
soon jog along and be back again long
before 10. "
Then they vanished in tho haze astern.
It was a silent, beautiful night, dark,
clear and cold, as Bella stood on tho lit
tie quarter deck, accompanied by Vix-
en-, Dicks retriever, looking away over
the stern where the cleaning lights al
Gravesend and Tilbury threw a glow oi
shimmering twilight into the sky. Near
at hand, passing up and down the greet
black river, steamers and sailing cratl
went silently OH their way, lit with
sparks Of twinkling light Here steam
or scurTied past, radiant with rows Ol
flashing ports, signaling hoarsely foI
the watching pilots at Gravesend. There,
a sailing craft, approaching close, threw
her sails into tho wind as she wenl
about with flutteF and roar Of canvas
and changing lights.
II was growing cold. 80, followed BY
the dog, she went below. Here she seat
cd herself before the cabin stove. stir
ring the fire to a ruddy glow. Tho dos
nestled beside her, eying her wistfully.
''PoOr little dog" sho whispered
''You want your master, don't youf S'
do ], Vixen. Come, what shall we d'
TO mako the tirao pass? Put up tos'
now curtains have-eh, doggicl TheI
Dick will hardly know the old lodging
(bunk) when he comes back. "
50 they busted themselves thus, thI
dog Watching Anxiously. until Bella wa
satisfied and stood back 10 view the 70
suit
'Therei'' she cried, ''I do call tha
pretty. Why, beiievo'-
just then tho dog cooked her ears an'
grOwled.
whats the matter, Vixeng' cries
Bella as she strained her ears to listen
"Hush, it's only masterl Good dogi'
But Vixen know better She few al
the cabin steps growing viciously
Suddenly there was a loud CRY. Then
as q mufied curse broke the still nigh
air, Bella heard a dull thud, afte
which the dog snarled no more.
in another instant Bill Hanson stalk
cd into the cabin.
"What do you want?" cried Bella
who, now that she saw who IL was
throw fear to tho winds and stood bold
ly confronting him.
II want you, Bella. And I'm com
to fetch you
You're mad. Bill Hanson, - erie
the girl nngrily.
II don't know anything about that,
the man returned ioarsely. II know
! lovo you, and I'm going to take you
What else dye think I'm here forl
sighted you coming away from tn
wharf this morning, and II Il hadn'
been for the old man I'd have been stow
cd away aboard the Sultana to waite
my chawnso easy enough instead OF has
ing to tow down following you oil day
so'now you're oop,ing with me