Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-24
A LIFE FOR LOVE.


Capt Burt, of the ship Reindeer, as a
heavy gale which for many hours had
been seen brewing to windward, came
driving down toward the. vessel.
Shall we have a bad storm, papa7
inquired Winnie Melton,-a beautiful
young girl of las she shrank close.
ly to the side of her father, Mr.. Mel
ton, who stood with her on the quart.
er deck of the ship.
The two had taken passage aboard
the Reindeer at the Sandwich Islands,
where Mr.. Melton, with Winne, his
only child, had been to visit an agent
on business. He had taken his daugh-
ter with him because she had express
ed wish to go, and he had thought
the trip would do her good.
Better tor me had | never seen
that girl muttered the poor sailing
master, Warren Cove, as he stood on
the quarter deck, watchiuga a French
vessel to windward, which had been
spoken few hours before. AS soon
as the storm passes l will tell the
captain / wish to leave his vessel and
go aboard younder ship. Better l
snould tear myself away from the
girl at once than remain to be tor
mented by the sight of one whom |
can never hope to make mine
Warren had lately received an hon.
orable discharge from the Chillian
oop-of-war St. May, and had taken
passage for home. He was fine look
ing young fellow, with clear, gray
eyes. sunbrowned face and form in
ured to hardship; for he had lead a
wild, rowing sort of life from his
youth. This fondness for wandering
and adventure had kept him poor,
and that was why he thought it was
better he had never seen Wennie
Melton, whom he loved at first sight.
The rich brunette complexion, the
round plump form, the 1.-THE willowy
waist, the musical, unaffected voice,
were irresistible; but it was the dark
eyes under her arching brows, with
their varied expression-now bright,
merry, sparkling, now shy and soft as
gazelle's; at one moment up'ifted,
the next hidden by the long, silky
lashes--that caught poor Warrens
heart so promptly.
He had spoken to Mr.. Melton,
who liked him and was pleased to
hear him relate some of his adven-
lures.
Winnie, however, seemed to treat
him rather colby. She would some
times stand and listen to his conver-
sation with her father, but whenever
he spoke to her she would answer
briefly, and even seemed little vex-
ed. In fact, she avoided him so
sedulously that he at last concluded
she disliked him and resolved to
speak to her no more, the conviction
itself on his mind that she thought he
was mere fortune hunter and was
attracted by her wealth. There was
one person, however, with whom she
often conversed, a rich young man
named Walter Fitzoerg, who was
passenger aboard the Reindeer, and
whom Mr.. Melton had known before.
AYE, he will marry her., thought
Warren, 'and l shall continue to be
wanderer. / had intended to settle
down., but / never could rest were
she to become the wife of another
With interest Warren watched the
seamen as they sprang to execute the
order to take in sail. AS Winnie put
her timed question, he could not help
giving her a reinsurance glance as her
father replied: Yes, Winnie. | think
we will have severe storm, but the
Reindeer Is a good ship, and we will
brave It'll!
The vessel was soon under reefed
mainsails, close reefed malntopsail
and topmast staysail. With a howl
and Shrek the storm pounced upon
her. The mast bent and snapped, the
rigging bellied in, whistling ropes
and sheets writhed and Slated about.
the ship was whirled down ON her
beam ends, and sent driving along
though the mad waters IN perfect
cloud of spray hummlng thunder,
Standing on tip-toe, clutching her
fathers arm, Winnie was pretty
picture to look at The lips were bali
parted and trembling with anxiety,
tie dark curls drawn loose about the
shoulders, the red mantle futtered on
the wind, the form was drawn up so
that the beautiful outline of the waist
was distinctly revealed. The captain
was about advising his passengers to
60 below, when a tremendous shock
went through the ship.
I'VE are going down. with white
lips shrieked the carpenter. He had
just been in the hold and reported
that whale, or some other sea mons
ter had come into contract with tie
ships bottom and had stove in hole
Clear away the boat!' shouted the
captain, in clear voice.
Warren sprang to assist. The quar-
ter boat and the long-boat were soon
cleared away and lowered. Ere they
could be we'll provisioned an ominous
roaring sound was heard. 1t was the
rushing OF the water into the hold
Fitzberg, losing all control Of himself,
sprang for boat IN his haste almost
shocking Winnie down. The two
oats were soon manned, but ere
| Winnie could be helped into them oy
| Warren Cove and her father the ship
lifted her bows and lurched heavily,
preparatory to going down. This
| nartad rh. hnat warns Mr. MeltOn