Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-01-03

lit water between the sea grass. They
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 Ike living
thing. She only moved slightly from
time to tine as she shifted the helm,
and in that light her white yachting
suit and cap made her look like Il
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 a 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 q
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 tc
the wind to let the steamer pass. The
steamer came up at speed; they coulG
see the brightly lighted port holes, an6
the green side lights, hear the rumb.
ling, pulsing thunder of the 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 Vic.
let's mind. ''Of course we do" said
she and gloried in 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 girl
swings in waltz, the sails filled 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 flash, in q moment.
For one breathless instant the steam
ers 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 q
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 1t to pieces.
The City of Glo'ster ran on quar-
ter Of mile, stopped, reversed and
cuiue pach neurly w tue SpOt. WIN
few short orders and some stiaed
exclamations 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 rnil, and
watched the boat as 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 quiet
voice from the upper deck.
''No one, sir"
''No one swimming or hoating?"
Nothing but a few boards; their
boat was smashed to toothpicks. They
must have gone clean under us and
been cut to bits by the paddles"
The same quiet voice said eco
ahead" n bell iingled 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.