The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-04-11
A SAILORS LOVE.
How He Won the Girl of
His Choice.

&.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.'......'...'.A
The Gray Eagle went on her course
parting the waves OF the Indian ocean
She was n packet steamer In the en-
ploy Of great English company ant
carried many passengers. Among these
standing on the promenade deck for
ward and looking across the broad
expanse of water before her, was Il
beautiful girl, in the flush of her youth
and beauty.
In the wheelhouse stood n young
man, second mate OF the ship, looking
ut Mabel Nane. lie was young, with
bold, manly face, curling brown hair
and beard and speaking gray eyes-a
man In grace of person, manly beauty
and pure heart-n man worthy of the
name. He was only Il sailor and had
risen to his present rank from cabin
boy, but yet he dared to love the
daughter of the East Indian million
aire. Arthur Vanc.
He loved her and had no hope-lovcd
her as we worship a star which Is far
beyond our reach. Nothing was further
from his thoughts than to insult her
by telling her that he loved her. But
to be near her, to see her often, per-
haps to do some service which would
win II smile from hcr-that was re-
ward enough for VIII Clay.
She never dreamed of his alteration
and he had heard her say among her
friends that she liked him better than
any other officer on board the Gray
Eagle. She said 1t In the careless way
of girlhood, and yet he treasured 1t ii
his heart. Standing there watching
the course OF the ship and ready tt
| give a word of warning to the wheels
man II II were needed he never took
his eyes from her long
"Mr. Clay" said the man at the
wheel as he gave It II half turn and
rested there, don't you smell smoker
ut comes from the galley"
Perhaps So but what are they burn
Ing rosIn in the galley forf"
'Rosin" cried VIII, raising his head
quickly and snufling the air. He caugh
the peculiar smell himself and lenpet
down from the wheclhouse. "Kecl
steady" he whispered to the man n
the wheel "There may be danger, bu
If there is, for Gods sake, keep /
quiet"
The man nodded quietly and took !
| 1rmer hold on the wheel. VIII Clay
| crossed the deck without apparcn
haste and yet with fearful fear tug
giDg at his heart He caught sight OF
the captain coming out of the gentle
mems cabin and hurried up TO him.
There Is something wrong" he
whispered, Don't you smell burning
rosln, captain"
The old sea captain suppressed n cry
of horror With 80 passengers ON
board IN the midst of the Indian ocean,
far from land, fire was one Of the
most horrible things which could come
upon a'ship,
Go forward and investigate" he
said in low tone. "If you find that 1t
Is fire, you know what to do How
are the bontsr
"All right, sir. You may trust to
them"
They had good cause for fear. The
entire forehold was filled with rosin, In
boxes and casks. and IL fire started
there 1t might rs well be in nest OF
fat pine. VIII ran down TO the lower
deck, where he was met by crowd of
excited firemcn and coal passers, who
were rushing madly on deck. Quick as
thought he seized the foremost and
hurled him back.
"Go back, you fools" he cried.
"Wbere are you running to-"
"Firew whispered the man hoarscly.
"Flre In the foreholdw
Suppose there is. Is 1t your duty to
rush on deck and alarm the passengers
or get buckets and try TO put out the
fire? Back, there, all Of you, for | will
brain the man who darcs To finch u
hair now! Stand back, | say"
The men cowed before his superior
will and saw that hey might yet do
something to save the steamer.
A guard WAS placed ut the hatch, so
that no one could come down, and the
scuttle which led into the forehold was
opened. No sooner was this done than
dense volume Of black smoke rolled
out, and the scutlle was closed again,
for VIII saw that nothing could be
done in that way. The men ran for
ward with uXes. but had scarcely gone
Il dozen steps when they felt the deck
tremble under their feet and saw small
jets Of flame shooting up through the
planks. A moment more and there was
4 sort Of explosion, and the red flame
leaped up suddenly and caught the
planks above.
There was no hope OF concealing the
danger froin the passengers now, for
the steamer was full Of smoke, and
wild cries from the deck announced
that the danger was known. They
must face the most terrible situation
known to .he sea, The one of all others
the most feared fire. Women Shrek
ed and tainted, strong men trembled
and could not move hand or foot, and
others ran wildly about the decks rem
dering no assistance. Mabel yane, ut
terly bewildcred by The sudden horror,