The suburban citizen., 1901-02-09
IN PERIL
BY Q. R.
T HE steamer swept on through
a tranquil sea, throwing be-
hind her a cloud of smoke,


a tranquil sea, throwing be-
hind her a cloud of smoke,
the furnaces glowing like
fiery eyes in the night. A calmly beau
bful sea, he moon ridrg high in the
clear sky and the stars coming out
one by one.
On the promenade deck stood two
persons, a man and woman. both
young-one beautiful as an angel, and
the other stately and strong-the man
Of all men to win a wdman's lOve-a
Saul among his fellows.
He had passed through n great civil
war unscathed-on which side we will
not say. for since under the shadow Of
Bunker Hill t "blue" and the gray
have met, we can hope for peace in our
broad land. This young man had done
a mans part in the struggle which is
orer forever and a day. and then lay.
ing his sword aside he had gone out 10
the growing West to work out for him
self a new fortune under the same old
flag.
The woman by his side was bis wife.
and they had been married but a 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 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, I never was so
happy before. Mine has been a hard
Iife-a life OF toll, with hardly "A bright
spot in it until you came. It does not
seem possible that this can last"
why not, dear one? Am I not
strong enough TO defend you from tie
troubles in the world? Trust in me,
my darling; l VIII keep you safe from
harm"
Il do trust you, Robert. When !
cannot do that ! will not care TO live.
But dear husband, whatever comes tc
us, we have been blessed"
Il don't know what has come tC
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
1--WE shall not live together. Some
thing seems to tell me that we have
had our happy days. l cannot helT
this feeling, do not know why it has
come upon me. 1t is weak and fool
ish, but have the thought deep in pJ
| heart"
"Why, Nina, in a few hours, a
most, we shall be in our new home
and then you will forget this feeling
Shall we go into the cabin?"
mo, no; the sea is so beautiful tina
prefer to remain here, at least for tn
present.
"As you like dear one. But the al
is getting chilly, and you must let MT
wrap this plaid about you. This 1
our first sea voyage, and you mean t.
/ enjoy it to the full
Have you noticed the captain. RoL
ert? l have noticed that he seems +
be a good deal under the influence o
liquor
1T is true, my dear. But he is
noble fellow when he is himself"
"Noble or not, he is not the man {
have charge of so many human livei
am glad that we are having sue
beautiful weather, for when he LEI
the deck an hour ago he was not in
condition to take charge of a ship I
a storm"
At this moment n man passed theI
with unsteady gait, and went up to tn
deck above the wheelhouse The mat
IN charge gave up to him the speakin
tube which communicated with the er
glne room below, and came down tn
ladder quickly.
rs that the captain in charge, Nj
Bagley" said Robert Denzll, in a 10,
voice.
yes, sir
Are you sure he is right to nav
charge Of the steamer, Dick?"
"a little fresh, old boy; but in sue
weather as this 1t doesn't matter. Tb
! fresh sea breeze will bring him roun