Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-07-04


with me. l am alone in the world, and
no one will care if do not return.
81 think the car win hold us both. I"
t'We shall have chance to find out
in very few minutes. When the car
strikes the water, you hold on with all
your might to this rope. Don't let 90 if
you can help it, unless the car turns
over. In that case drop the rope, and /
will look out for you Y
had no chance to say more, for the
balloon dropped with bump that threw
Miss Wells out into the water She held
to the basket, however, and / soon had
it freed from the balloon by cutting the
cords. The car or basket would hold one
of us nicely, SO l got Miss Wells into it
and swan alongside myself.
IF only knew which way land was
lying, | would swim that way" / said,
''but / have no idea where we are.
''We are in salt water. y
"Oh, yes we are at sea, and our only
chance is that some vessel viii pick us
up"
II shan't give up till am obliged to-
You know who | am, of course?''
Yes; you are Judge Wells daugh-
ter. .
Sadie, yes, and you are Mr. Bates. +"
George Bates at your service. Rather
queer place and way to be introduced :"
Unfortunately, yes, but it will help
TO keep each other III mind if we ever
get back to land =
just before dark ship was seen in
the distance, but it did not come near
enough for us to hail it before night shut
in, and in the morning nothing was seen
of it. don't know how we did get
through the night Miss Wells was so
afraid that would let go the car and
be drowned that she held me by the
hand all night. / was so exhausted be-
fore morning that should undoubtedly
have been drowned but for her. Soon
after sunrise we saw smoke curling up
In the distance, and l felt sure that a
steamer was coming and called Sadie's
attention to it. Somehow we had drop
ped the formal Mr. and Miss during the
night, and she was Sadie and I was
George When we did it, or who called
first names first. neither of us could tell
when we spoke of it afterward
Sadie stood up in the car and waved
her handkerchief as soon as we thought
the people on the steamer could see us
We soon caught their attention, and in
less than an hour from the time we saw
the smoke boat from the outward
bound European steamer Atlantic picked
us up. When our story was known, it
seemed as if the passengers could not do
enough for us.
Staterooms were provided for us and
dry clothes and food, and by the doctors
orders we were both sent to bed l slept
for eight hours, and when l awoke felt
as well as ever, and went ON deck.
Miss Wells slept two hours longer, but
at O'Clock we both sat down to jubi-
lee dinner which had been prepared in
honor of our wonderful rescue. We pass
ed very pleasant evening, and Just as
the company seemed about to break up
Captain Windsor. genuine Yankee gem
tleman, spoke up and said:
Mr. Bates, of course you will not
feel hurt if | give you this roll of bills
We have talked the matter over among
US and concluded that you would need
little ready money, as you started in
such a hurry that you certainly could
not have provided for European trip.
We don't approve Of a young man run
ming away with a girl in this manner,
but yours is very peculiar case, and
we have deci ed to help you out am
an old man, and l want to give you
little advice Get married before we get
to Europe, for should You delay your ef
forts will be III vain, for Judge Wells
Will no doubt cable to London to have
you arrested ON your arrival We have a
clergyman on board, and there are sew
eral witnesses here, besides plenty of
best men and bridesmaids Everything
is ready, and I should be delighted to
have wedding on my steamer, and
when couple are thrown at me as you
seem to have been think it is flying in
the face Of Providence not to take adj
vantage of it. "
AS he finished speaking he thrust
roll Of bills in$o my hand, and amid a
storm of applause the crowd began to
separate for their staterooms.
What was to do? l was SO taken
aback by the captains words that
knew not what to say, and so said moth
ing l knew he was in fun, but the
money was reality
/ looked over to where Sadie was
standing and caught her eye There was
a peculiar expression on her face, but
she was laughing, SO thanked the cap
tain as best could, but told him that
when got my thoughts collected /
would try to get even with him The
next day every one was joking us. We
could not get angry, for they had been
too good to Us.
Toward night Sadie and were walk
ing about ON deck, apart from the rest
Of the passengers. when ! said:
''Sadie, what shall we do when we
get to Europe?"
"Cable to our folks that we are alive.
Eyes, will do that the first thing
Then what?" | asked
1T seems almost too bad to get over
here and then not see something Of the
old world, doesn't it?"
''It does indeed. and wish we might
stay awhile Do you think your father
would let you if you asked him?''
"How could / do thats''
'Iwill cable him the whole story and
tell him you win stay a few weeks with
friends :"
.rsThat will cost too much money l
don t think papa win feel that he can
afford to let me stay.
"But 1 can afford it. / am alone in
the world and have no one to care for
me, and l have more money than / need,
aside from what our generous friends
have given us 2
WYATT moment You say you have
no friends or any one to care for you
Where do I come in?"
turned and looked her in the face
Something told me to say what was in
my mind, and said:
''Sadie, have admired you for long
time, more than two years, when did
not even know you to speak to you.
Now know you, and / love you, tell
me, can / ever hope that you will give
me some love in return: Don't think !