The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-24
How He Won the Girl of
His Choice.

man, second mate of the ship, looking
at Mabel Vane. He was young, with
bold, manly face, curling brown hair
and beard and speaking gray eyes
man in grace of person, manly beauty
and pure heart-a man worthy of the
name. He was only a 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 Vane.
He loved her and had no hope-loved
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 a smile from her-that was re-
ward enough for Will 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 it in the careless way
of girlhood, and yet he treasured it in
his heart. Standing there watching
the course Of the ship and ready to
give word of warning to the wheels
man If it were needed, he never took
his eyes from her long.
'Mr. Clay" said the man at the
wheel as he gave it half turn and
rested there, don't you smell smoke"
"It comes from the galley"
perhaps so, but what are theysburn-
ing rosin in the galley for?"
"Rosinr' cried VIII, raising his head
quickly and snuffing the air. He caught
the peculiar smell himself and leaped
down from the wheelhouse. Keep
steady" he whispered to the man at
the wheel. "There may be danger, but
if there is, for Gods sake, keep 1t
quiet"
The man nodded quietly and took
frmer hold on the wheel. Will Clay
crossed the deck without apparent
ging 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
rosin, captain~
The old sea captain suppressed cry
of horror. With so passengers on
board in the midst of the Indian ocean,
far from land, a fire was one of the
most horrible things which could come
upon a ship.
eco forward and investigated" he
said in low tone. eff you find that it
is fire, you know what to do. How
are the boats|
"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 if a fire started
there it might as well be in nest of
fat pine. Will ran down to the lower
deck, where he was met by crowd of
excited firemen and coal passers, who
were rushing madly on deck. Quick as
thought he seized the foremost and
hurled him back.
$50 back, you foolsW he cried.
"Where are you running tor?
"FireP whispered the man hoarsely.
"Fire in the foreholdp
Suppose there is. Is it 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 dares to finch
hair nowI Stand back, say"
The men cowed before his superior
will and saw that they might yet do
something to save the steamer.
A guard was placed at 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
a dense volume of black smoke rolled
out and the scuttle was closed again,
for Will saw that nothing could be
done in that way. The men ran for
ward with axes, but had scarcely gone
dozen steps when they felt the deck
tremble under their feet and saw small
jets of fame shooting up through the
planks. A moment more and there was
sort of explosion, and the red fame
leaped up suddenly and caught the
planks above.
There was no hope of coneealing the
danger from 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 the 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
1ering no assistance. Mabel Vane, ut
erly bewildered by the sudden horror,
felt a strong hand clutch her arm and
saw Will Clay, blackened by smoke
and singed by flame.
go aftr' he said hoarsely. stand
on the port quarter and wait for me,
and will save you or die trying, OBEY
me, girl; / am your master now"
She looked at him in mute wonder
and obeyed him in silence. He sprang
away and began to fight the fire as he
could, aided by the officers and crew
and some few of the passengers who
kept their heads. Among these was
Arthur vane, handsome old gentle
man with an engaging face.
"You are a man, William Clay" he
said as the two hurled the contents OF
great water cask down the open
hatch. eff we ever escape, the COM
pany shall know that they have man
in their employment. If we don't, 1t is
all the same. Have you seen my
daughter?"
81 sent her aft just now and told her
that would save her or lose my life,
and I'll do it, too, because l love her."
Love her-you!'
Gust now you said / was a man,"
said VIII quietly. Lay hold on that
! cask, you. What are you Sinking
+ for? Can't we talk and work too?"
A strange smile came over the face
of the old merchant, and they hurled
the cask into the water and assisted
the man working at the fall in raising
1t.
Don't think I'm fool, Mr.. Vane,"
said WILL ''If lived thousand years
and saw her every day, wouldn't tell
her as much as I've told you, and,
what's more, you wouldn't have heard
me say it If 1t had not come out before
1 thought"
Mr.. vane said not word, and Will
Clay was silent. They worked hard
to save the steamer. but the flames