Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-08-10

u
OF his was just about TO sail for the
isthmus; we were offered passage on
her at a low rate. and IN three davs'
time found ourselves at sea. needn't
tell you OF the voyage. It was all new
ana strange to US, of course, and We
two 3irls were the pets Of the ship.
/ saw with relief my father, who
mad broken lnucn 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
dark bank Of clouds and the air was
! close and sultry, | noticed the captain
/ looked anxious and heard him say
something about the Bahama reefs
to The mate.
hat night a hurricane struck us.
and FOR hours We were IN what seemed
dull gray cavern Of water and sky.
ne snip plunged madiy before the
gale. and with our father we sat in the
cabin, clasped IN each others arms.
he morning broke scarce less
dark than the night Suddenly the
wind shifted and the ship righted and
| seemed to stand quivering, like an
over-drlreu horse. 4 few minutes
passed when, with a wild roar. the
storm was on US once more, and we
drove madly in another direction.
There was sudden crash, my father
spranG, half dragging us toward the
companlonway [ saw a huge wall of
water rolling down upon us-it fell
and all grew dark / remember q SEN
satlon OF sinking, of being whirled
around, dull, booming noise in my
ears, and | opened my eyes to find
myself lying on sandy beach, two
rough men looking down on me, while
third and younger one, kneeling be-
side me, was chahng my hands. Fright
ened, but too weak to scream, | feebly
said
Where am II
"'On Watlings Island. Miss said
the young man
Yes. said one OF the older men,
and narrow squeak you had for ii,
too. Ii | 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,
'eaa how woaE nho is2'
Then | tainted.
II awoke to find myself on a rude
cot in u small cottage, tended by
native who only spoke a Spanish
patois. The wreckers, for such they
were, had carried me there The sun
was shining brightly and the storm
was over. Days passed, and when |
could go about I learnt that | had
been the only one saved Of the entire
bark's crew. The wave that had en-
quilted her and drowned all bat my
se.f had washed me over the coral reef
on which the bark had struck The
wrechers on the shore had seen me.
and daring the waves. high even be-
tween the reef and the shore, had
rowed ont and rescued me Just as |
was sinking.
utterly crushed as I was, ] did
not at first realize my position. Twas
told | could go to Nassau on a
schooner in about month, but | felt
no inclination TO do ausht but stay
where fate had thrown me. The young
wrecker was very kind tc me.
"Meanwhlle | grew we'll and strong
in the soft warm air and under the
tropic skies | learnt to like the wild
life, and the few white people and all
the natives nalf worshiped me. One
day a schooner brought some papers;
and | read our bark had been given
up as lost and my name was among
those drowned. These papers recalled
me to myself and l determined I
would go to Nassau, and, if | could.
thence TO England.
Il told the young wrecker, who had
become my firm friend and companion,
aud whom I lad taught to read, of my
decision.
We'll. Miss, he said. If you feel
it is SO. suppose you're right, bnt |
hate to think of losing you.
This and his evident sorrow touched
me, and made me think whether in
the world to which I was returning
would find such simple. loyal devo
tloil as had here been mine When
the day came for my departure all the
inhabitants turned out to bid me fare
we'll A queen could not have had q
mo-e loyal leave taking than the Eng
lish Miss, as they called me The
Young wrecher went with me- He said
he had business IN Nassau. That
night "a night SO soft aud sweet it
seemed as If storms nad never brooded
| there, the Southern Cross blazing low
on the horizon-the wrecker cane to
where I sat on the decs of the little,
schooner.
Miss. be said. L am nothing but
"Conch, poor ignorant Bahama
native, but | can, bear TO have you
| 20 away We all love you, and ! more
than all must ten vou. You know
oar life is poor and rude, ,ha. Ne are
| FAR away from the world. but il you
won't blame me for even daring 20
hope. Miss, you know I have the