The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-12-31

waves that afterward became yeaSty
lashed themselves angrily against the
sides of the little steamer that rolled
and pitched in its efforts to upright it
self against their fury. Thunder rolled
and binding and Zig-zag streaks of
lightning played across the sky. The
rain poured in torrents and swept over
the deck, wetting everything in it's
path. and driving the now thoroughly
frightened people to the opposite side
of the boat, which, with its uneven
weight, leaned and tipped in that direc-
tion. Water rushed in upon the lower
deck. The captain shouted: "Some~of
you go to the other side of the boat.
Don't all rush to one side, or you will
have US overheard" The women be-
came excited, and a general rush to the
cabin began, until the order was given
that no more should come down into
the cabin. Women grew frantic, chill
dren cried and those filed with bravado
laughed at the almost calamity. Young
men who tried to be funny put on life
preservers and walked about exhibiting
themselves, announcing: "The boat
will sink in fifteen minutes; get your
life preservers." But warning look
from the minister soon quieted them.
The fury of the tempest III the mean
time never abated. The steamer was
shrouded in mist of wind and rain,
and the erstwhile jolly crowd was now
and boxes that were carefully placed
under the seats were saturated with
salt water.
Meanwhile the young minister had
laid firm grasp upon the girls arm,
and half lifted, half dragged her to a
passageway leading to the cabin, that
was inc1osed by glass windows and
doors, and thus protected her from the
rain. She did not seem to comprehend
the extent of her danger, and looked on
at the movements of the panic-stricken
crowd like some curious, wild-eyed
child. Mr.. Grimshaw was white to the
lips, and as he lifted his eyes to heaven
one could see that his lips were moving
in prayer. He prayed that the fury of
the wind and waves might be abated
that lives should not be lost, that the
boat should anchor in safety, and "Oh
Lord he prayed, ''if it be Thy will that
sink to a watery grave, let her speak
to me once, let me hear her voice just
once upon earth, as in heaven 1 shall
hear it as she sings with the angel
choir"
The sky became inky black. Nothing
could be discerned on the open deck
but the terrific sheets and gusts of rain
made gray by the blackness. Just ther
the heavens seemed to open, and g
binding fash of lightning played and
capered across the boat; q deafenine
peal of thunder, like the bursting of g
thousand cannon, seemed to shake the
very waters of the deep, and.to echo
and re-echo across the boundless waste
1t was terrific, and people clapped theii
hands to their ears, and white faces be
came blanched. A sharp, shrill piercing
scream rose above it all. A scream OF
agonized fear. It came from the deaf
mute, who swayed for a moment, and
would have fallen had not her evel
watchful companion caught her and
supported her in his arms. What had
caused her to scream? Fright, per
kaps, he thought, as she witnessed the
battle of the elements. Surely she hai
not heard that thunderbolt as it hurled
itself from on high. Pshaw! Was she
not deaf, and how could she hear? Il
made him almost glad to know that she
had been spared that peal that caused
many a heart to stand still for an in
slant.
softly spoke the name Ruth" Sht
lifted those eyes with a glance as swee
as an angels. Her heart fiuttered. Sh,
smiled with smile of recognition, as Il