Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-04-14
WANTED TOSAVE HER


ward bound cheerlly over the azure sea.
In few short hours the ship would be in
the English channel
With the greater part Of the passengers
we have nothing to do. But notice par
ticularly that girl lying back in her ample
deck chair. 1t Is marked in deep cut let
ters with her name, Agnes Chard, shelter
ed from the sun by the poop deck behind
her.
She Is the daughter of an officer station
ed in the east and is coming homo on a
visit to her relatives, under the captain 8
charge. She is very pretty
Over her chair, one hand resting ON the
bulwark, young man was leaning. His
buttons proclaimed him what he was-an
officer of the ship, the chief officer, in faot
Miss Chard, this Is my last chance. In
an hour I go on duty, and tomorrow will
be too late. Give mo hope Then will
wait-for years If need be-
She strove to speak ooldly, but her voice
played her false.
You presume, Mr.. Dennis have
given you no ENCOURAGEMENT. You tire
me. Please CO."
agnes, you did encourage me before
he, Mr.. Greene, came on board He can
rattle more guincas in his pockets than l
that, but he Is cad for all his money,
and, Agnes, have pity on mo. Be woman.
ly, be-
l''Here is Mr.. Peplow Greene, nurmur.
ed the girl. "Do go, or" softly, II shall
have to tell Captain Lnncanson that you
neglect the ship to take care of me. And
that would never do, would it9'
Mr.. Peplow-G Greene passed him with u
nod and took his place by Agnes. He was
a smartly got up youth, the rich, only son
OF fabulously wealthy Indian merchant.
Agnes stirred uneasily in her chair. De-
spite his money-and all her life she had
known the want Of it-and his evident in.
fatuation, sho loathed his presence, espe.
cially at this moment, when the contrast
with the man who had just left her was
vivid even to pain.
"FiroW Through the gloom Of the
night rang the awful cry, startling the
sleeping ship from happy dreams of home
and dear familiar faces.
In one wild rush the women were on
deck. Appearances, friends, property, all
were abandoned in that fierce fight for life.
Agnes was carried up with tho crowd.
The first person she saw on deck was John
Dennis. He grasped hor hand and drew
her on ono side.
Let the press 60 first. There are plenty
Of boats. The fire is far forward at pres.
ent. Wait hero.
Patiently she waited. She felt tho love
which she had tried to crush we'll up over.
whelmingly in her heart for this strong
man. She would stay where he placed
her and show how she trusted and loved
him.
All the women were gone now. Their
cries grew fainter as the boats dropped
astern, and the decks were quiet except
for the hideous cracking Of tho fire as it
ate its way toward her.
Once only had confusion arisen. A man
with shrill oaths had pushed his way
through the group Of women and children
at tho gangway, and in spite of tho efforts
Of tho men there had dropped into tho boat
bliDw-. 1Ht;a EYid with terror and
screaming ia his agony Of e!flove. 1t
was Mr.. Peplow- Greene
The fire was coming nearer and nearer.
She had given up all hope. Some mistake
must hayo beon made. Desertion never
crossed her mind. Suddenly tho thick
smoke parted, and burned and blackened
figure sprang toward her. "My God, Ag-
nes told that cur Greene to fetch you
thought you would like to be with him
I was bringing up the powder"
He swung her up In his arms away to
the gangway, where the white haired old
captain stood at his post Of honor, and
down into the waiting boat, The captain
followed him-the last man to leave the
burning ship.
"a near thing that, Dennis. How did
1t happen?"
They had thought the girl was fainting,
but the sharp air revived her. She raised
herself, blushing, out Of her lovers arms
and put her hand in his.
"John wanted to save mo himself, sir.
That's why waited for him.
you're brave lassie, my dear, and
he's worthy of you. Well have you ashore
In half an hour. Yondcr are the lights OF
Penzanoe. Steady there, forward! Steady
nOwP'
Agnes never saw Mr.. Peplow Greene
again. She married John Dennis as soon
as sho got her father permission to 60 so.
And the two most concerned have never
the marriage. London News.