Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-25
IN PERIL

BY Q. R.

the furnaces glowing like
fiery eyes in the night. A calmly beau
tiful sea, she moon riding high in the
clear sky and the stars coming out
one by one.
On the promenade deck stood two
persons, man and a woman. both
young-one beautiful as an angel and
the other stately and strong-the man
of all men to win a woman's love-a
Saul among his fellows.
He had passed through a great civil
war unscathed-on which side we will
not say, for since under the shadow of
Bunker Hill t. e "blue" and the gray
have met, we can hope for peace in our
broad land. This young man had done
mans part in the struggle which is
oier forever and day, and then lay.
ing his sword aside he had gone out 60
the growing West TO work out for him
self new fortune under the same old
flag.
The woman by his side was his wife
and they had been married but few
weeks.
She was lovely girl, an orphan.
whom he had met in San Francisco,
and who had won his heart by her
modest, shrinking ways, and he had
made her his wife. Then he sailed in
the Atlantis for Portland, where he
had made his home, and meant to
build up for himself a fortune equal
to the best in that strong, young State
on the verge of the Western sea.
The young wife, leaning on her hus-
bands arm, looked out with mournful
eyes across the sea.
what is the matter, Nina?" he said.
'You look mournful; are you not hap
py?"
Happy, Robert! l never was so
happy before. Mine has been Il hard
life-a life of toll, with hardly bright
spot in it until you came. 1t does not
seem possible that this can last"
"Why not, dear one? Am 1 not
strong enough to defend you from tie
troubles in the world? Trust in me.
my darling; l Will keep you safe from
harm"
II do trust you. Robert. When
cannot do that l will not care to live.
But, dear husband, whatever comes to
us, we have been blessed"
81 don't know what has come to
you, Nina" he said. why have you
spoken in that sad way? We shall
have trouble in the time to come-hu-
man life is not all roses-but whatever
comes we will bear it together
Robert" said Nina Denzil, sadly,
"we shall not 1--we together Some
thing seems to tell me that we have
had our happy days. l cannot help
this feeling l do not know why it has
rome upon me. 1t is weak and fool
ish, but L have The thought deep in my
heart"
why, Nina, in few hours, at
most, we shall be in our new home.
and then you will forget this feeling.
Shall we so into the cabin?'
mo, no; the sea is so beautiful that
l prefer to remain here. at least for the
present.
"As you like, dear one. But the air
is getting chilly, and you must let me
wrap this plaid about YOU This is
our first sea voyage, and you mean to
enjoy it to the full
Have you noticed the captain. Rob
ert? ] have noticed that he seems to
be a good deal under the influence of
liquor
1T is true, my dear Bat lie is a
noble fellow when he is himself"
Noble or not, he is not the man tc
have charge of so many human lives
L am glad that we are having sucl
beautiful weather, for when he left
the deck IN hour ago he was not in !,
condition to take charge OF ship in
a Storm
AT this moment man passed them
with unsteady gait, and went up to the
deck above the wheelhouse. The mate
in charge gave up TO him the speaking
tube which communicated with the en-
gine room below, and came down The
ladder quickly.
rs that the captain in charge. Mr.
Ra@ley? said Robert Denzil. in low
voice.
Yes, SIR
Are you sure he is right to have
charge of the steamer Dick?"
"A little fresh, old boy; but in sucl
weather as this it doesn't matter. The
fresh sea breeze will bring him round