The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-12-30

reached the outlet and swept through
into the broad sea, which was almost
smooth, there being just enough
breeze to fill the sails and carry them
along.
Bessie sat at the tiller and held the
sheet. She managed her boat with
perfect command, and the Fly-by-
Night seemed to obey her like living
thing. She only moved slightly from
time to time as she shifted the helm,
and in that light her white yachting
suit and cap made her look like q
marble figure, except when the light
sparkled on her red-brown eyes or the
coils of her red hair, which glittered
like FURNISHED copper.
They passed Gallows Hill, where
the English Governor hanged forty
five pirates in o row in the good Old
Colony times; they skirted the Haunt
ed Beach, where they say Captain
Kidd's spirit walks O. stormy nights,
and they drew up abreast with Point
Goodbye. To the east they saw a
brightly lighted bulk coming up
swiftly.
"The Fall River boat, City of
Glo'ster, coming up" said Bessie, and
shifted her helm. holding her boat to
the wind to let the steamer pass. The
steamer came up at speed; they could
see the brightly lighted port holes, and
the green side lights, hear the rumb.
ling, pulsing thunder of tbe engines
and the steady "cur-ur-ur-urr, OF the
paddles. 1t was close ut hand, and
the little boat swung to the surge OF
the steamer.
"Violet," said Bessie, suddenly and
sharply" do you two people love each
other?"
"What a question" said Maurice,
with an awkward laugh.
"No, but do you?" said Bessie again.
The steamer was so near now that
the deck lights shone on their boat.
Then jealousy raised its head in Vio-
let's mind. "Of course we do" said
she and gloriedi lin the pang she thought
she inflicted on the other woman's
heart.
"Then," said Bessie, and her voice
rang like bell, "kiss each other, for
you are about to die"
She swung the tiller hard over, and
the Fly-by-Night swung as a girl
swings in waltz, the sails filed and
the boat rushed clear into the track
of the oncoming steamer. There was
no time to speak, to rise, to cry out;
it happened in fash, in moment.
For one breathless instant the steam
er's lights shone on Bessie's face,
marble white, her eyes shining and
her teeth glistening between her part
ed lips. Then there came one shout
from the steamers lookout man, and
the thirty-foot stem of the City of
Glo'ster struck the side of the boat
crashing blow that smashed it as
paper box crumbles when you step on
it, the mast flew over and whipped the
water and the iron keel of the steamer
rode on, over and through the boat,
while the ''bat-bat- -bat-bat" of the
paddle wheels ground it to pieces.
The City of Glo'ster ran on a quar-
ter of a mile, stopped, reversed and
came back, nearly 10 the spot. With
few short orders and some stiaed
ordinations some of the deck hands
lowered boat, an officer took the
helm and said, "Give way" and they
rowed out past the circle of the
steamers lights.
A little group of passengers and
deck hands clustered at the rail, and
watched the boat rs it swept to and
fro over the water; no one spoke, and
an awe-struck silence rested over the
men.
At last the boat returned, was made
fast and hoisted, and the officer in
charge scrambled up to the deck.
Did you find anyone?" asked aquiet
voice from the upper deck.
''No one, sir"
'sNo one swimming or foating?"
Nothing but few boards; their
boat was smashed to toothpicks. They
must have gone clean under US and
been out to bits by the paddles"
The same quiet voice said eco
ahead" o bell jingled in the engine
room, and the City of Glo'ster tore on
its way up the coast, while few
pieces of wreckage tumbled in the
wake.-New York East Side News.