The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-08-29

name shrilly There was a sudden
movement in the human heap, white
face peeped out, and then the vision
passed
Miriam lay in her berth, the new
dawn already tightening the SKY. Then
feverishly she got up and went on deck
to see nothing but the gray sky and
grayer sea, to hear nothing but the
throbbing of the engines and the sough
of the wind and waves. Breakfast time
came, but she needed it not For hours
she stood immovable, gazing to the
northeast over the bulwarks What did
that dream of hers mean? Was Dick
floating somewhere helplessly. with 9th
er passengers2
It was noon when the wind, veering,
sent cloud of smoke over her head
and shower of black smudges upon
her hands. With them came passing
sensation of warmth. This slight Incl
dent awoke some vague memory con-
nected with her dream. The black col
umn of smoke, changing at its edges to
brown, thinning out until she could see
the gray sky through it, starting ever
from her side and yet reaching far into
the distance, caught her eye
Inspiration followed quickly. The
smoke was the giant of the night be-
fore, and where it pointed lay Dick and
his companionsl Sight danced into her
eyes, hope beat strongly in her heart
She turned glorifed face to the ship
What could she do9 How save thenP
She saw a foot surmounted by blue
cloth moving .methodically on the deck
above, and in moment flew up the
stairs leading to the captains bridge.
The captain turned round sharply at
the sound of strange footsteps, and per-
emptorily ordered her down. Clutchine
his arm she cried;
"Captainl They are out there, under
the line of smokel A dozen survivors o.
the Meldrum are drifting helplessly an(
nearly deadl"
The captain glanced in the direction
indicated How should this franti,
young woman have seen what his prac
tised eye could not discern2 Then h.
guessed that she was the person who
they said. had lost her lover in tn
wreck
|
hand. "go to your berth and lie down
You are in great trouble.
But the haggard. hopeful eyes stare
brightly at him.
"For the love of humanity, captain
use your glass. You will see them
know you will :"
To humor her he took careful sui
vey of the horizon. upon which tn
d sun was shining. At first he shook hi
head, then he stood for long time e,
amining the spot under the thin ede
! of the line of smoke. He rubbed h
glasses well and looked again. then sal
= quietly
IS Something is there. Sit down
y that corner and wait -
- The course of the steamer was altere
y slightly and boat was lowered ont
II more to gather in the oceans drift
his surprise the captain saw that Il
distant object was really boat, wit
, out sail or oar How could the girl hay
II known it2 Then the group of peop
70 became visible. all evidently in the la
D. stage of exhaustion, and he went ov
is to Miriam and told her to look throue
,o his glass and see if her friend we
~ there.
lie She took it from his hand with
T. wild sob and gazed long and steadily
III the coming boat, then gave the gla
back in the midst of a passion of wee
ing, nodding her head to signify tn
A she had seen Dick Then she set herst
IL to regain self control by the time t
boat came in. When it did, she W
u waiting in the hospital for her believe
For the next "a hours she shared t
II duties of nurse with one of the stewar
esses and saw Dicks eyes open with t
eii first CLEAN of consciousness in thel
With a contented look at her he f
Us asleep, and on the ships arrival at HI
ed flax he with all those who had be
ne saved were well enough to be moved
ia more comfortable quarters on shore.
en- The captain made friends with M
NV lam during those few hours and lear
ed how it was that she knew the be
I'D was afoat He could hardly believe
and he could not explain it, but W
al contented to accept the fact as it sto
and to be present at the simple ce1
ne mony which made Dick and Miris
le1 man and wife. Buffalo News.