Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-07-08

taught Columbus first landed on San
Sa lvador OF Cat Island.
"Oh, my, no. You're quite wrong.
It's been proved he first came ashore
at Watlings. Why, I often, on fine
mornings, get John to drive me over
to the southeastern point OF the island
where it is thought he came ashore.
There's the loveliest white beach
there, and the broad blue ocean
stretches out aud away before you as
You look eastward. make John go
away, for John isn't romantic, you
know, and then sit down and close
my eyes and I see the queer old
fashioned ships with their worn sails,
their high stern and the royal ban
ners waving, tossing at anchor be-
yond the reef; 1 see the line of boats
with flashing oars advancing; l see
the dusky Indian forms standing at
the edge of the wood, and just above
where the surf breaks on the beach I
see the old mariner kneel under the
banner of Spain, his sword uplifted
and his eyes raised to heaven.
"Oh, it's glorious picture, and I
never tire of calling it forth. Life on
Watlings, you see, has its compensa-
TONS"
As the woman told this story, she
unconsciously acted it out, rose from
her chair, and with flaming eyes and
cheeks, new and fair Columbus led a
fanciel band. 1 had grown deeply
interested and I determined to know
her history.
"Tell me about YOURSELF" I said,
"and how it comes that you, with
your evident education and accom-
plishments, choose to live on a place
so remote and lonely as Watlings
Island"
She blushed little. was silent a
moment, and then in low voice
said:
"WeIl, + don't mind telling you.
It's not long story. I see I've given
you wrong impression, for, indeed,
although it is lonely at times, I'm
really very happy and I wouldn't
change places with any woman. am
an English woman, and 1 was born
near London. My father was a civil
engineer in good circumstances, and
with twin sister I had every possible
advantage of education. My mother
died when / was about fifteen, and as
we had no NJ ear relatives we were much
with our father. We were near
enough to London to run in of an
evening to the theatres and the opera
we had pleasant society of our own
we read much, sang and played good
deal. and rode continually.
"Ten years ago last autumn my
father met with a sudden business re-
verse. He was offered remunerative
post in California. and decided to go
there. A ship belonging to friend
of his was just about to sail for the
Isthmus; we were offered passage on
her ut low rate, and in three days
time found ourselves at sea. needn't
tell you of the voyage. 1t was all new
and strange to us, of course, and we
two girls were the pets of the ship.
81 saw with relief my father, who
had broken much under his losses, i'm
prove in health and spirits, and as we
neared the tropics the glowing sunset
skies were emblematic of our hopes OF
life in the new world.
"We had been out some thirty days
when one afternoon as the sun set in
a dark bank of clouds and the air was
close and sultry, 1 noticed the captain
looked anxious and heard him say
something about the Bahama reefs
to the mate.
"That night hurricane struck us,
and for hours we were in what seemed
dull gray cavern of water and sky.
The ship plunged madly before the
gale, and with our father we sat in the
cabin, clasped in each others arms.
"The morning broke scarce less
dark than the night. Suddenly the
wind shifted and the ship righted and
seemed to stand quivering, like an
over-driven horse. A few minutes
passed when, with a wild roar, the
storm was On us once more, and we
drove madly in another direction.
There was a sudden crash, my father
sprang, half dragging us toward the
companionway. l saw huge wall OF
water rolling down upon us-it fell
and all grew dark. I remember sen.
sation of sinking, of being whirled
around, dull, booming noise in my
ears, and I opened my eyes to find
myself lying on sandy beach, two
rough men looking down on me, while
a third and younger one, kneeling be.
side me, was chatting my hands. Fright.
ened, but too weak to scream. feebly
sail:
Where am ~
son Watlings Island, Miss said
the young man.
"'Yes, said one of the older men,
and narrow squeak you had for it,
too. If l hadn't thought it was
mighty queer seaweed washing in over
yon reef, you wouldn't have been talk
ing now
Where's my father?' I said.
"'With all the rest was the reply.
"'Hush! said the younger man
see how weak she is?'
"Then I tainted.
II awoke to find myself on rude
cot in small cottage, tended by 6
native who only spoke a Spanish
patois. The wreckers, for such they
were, had carried me there. The sur
was shining brightly and the storm
was over. Days passed, and when
could 60 about I learnt that I hat
been the only one saved of the entire
bark's crew. The wave that had en-
quilted her and drowned all but my
self had washed me over the coral rec
on which the bark had struck. Thu
wreckers on the shore had seen me
and daring the waves, high even be
tween the reef and the shore, hat
rowed ont and rescued me just as
was sinking.
utterly crushed as I was, I die
not at first realize my position. Twas
told l could go to Nassau on ,