The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-09-09

way even X Il that sport cometimee
means playing ct love. ANY other man
I should despiseS for making ! Jest Of
such a serious matter. but. considering
al things, think Jack can be for.
given for having q sweetheart in every
port 81, Z .'';,' = .A...
Miss Nolan, like many an inexperi.
enced girl. prided herself upon being
liberal and broadminded. -. ~.
The fourth day her diary recorded:
Il believe he thinks he Is in low
with me, but that's absurd, How can
he possibly care for me whom he does
not know? He has the audacity also
to tell me that he is sure that love
him. Why DR.. Gibson, who. father says.
is both morally and intellectually one
of the finest men on earth, and who
has been paying me attentions for two
years, would not presume to hint OF
such a thing. l think will marry Dr..
Gibson, after ALL He has such good,
kind eyes. They never make me feel
uncomfortable. wonder why am
so attracted to him-this sailor man?
Even before we had spoken to ons
another, before the vessel left port.
when he was experimenting the stow
ing of the hold, I was drawn to watch
him and listen to his masterfuf voice.
I never saw man work like king
before. How the men under him
obeyed his orders. His strength was
greater than any Of theirs. l don't
believe they could have hoisted those
lighters without, his aid. Then he
moved with such freedom and fear
lessness, scorning the gang-plank and
passing from steamer to dock and back
again 50 quickly and carelessly. How
alert he was to catch and pass the
captains commands, and what a re-
sponsibility he bears. Last night, as
lay awake, thought of him keeping
his watch above with all our lives, as it
were, in his hands. Then, when the
second mate came to take his place,
heard him pass my stateroOm window
whistling cheerily, even amidst the
storm and darkness. What a life his Is
ever contending with perils and
hardships! Whilst Dr. Gibson is warm
and safely housed, my sailor keeps his
watch, with gales bowling and waves
seeking to devour. Great courage and
iron will must undoubtedly be his.
Yes! He lives q mans life. He is \
man. But as to love! Oh, that is alb
surd."
1t was about half-past three In the
afternoon. The sea was rolling high;
but Miss Nolan, rocked by wind and
wave, slept the sleep of the sea sleep
er, and it was not until great shout
went up from some men on deck that
she became conscious of peril. What
was that cry she heard? There it was
again: Haywood is overheard"
She started to her feet, but fell al
most Immediately. She crawled to the
open. AS she did SO, sea mightier
than had been felt before struck thu
ship and capsized her. The girl rea-
liked that something terrible had hap
pened, that death was waiting near;
yet, in this awful situation, closed in
alone under the deck of the steamer,
no sign Of human life around her, only
the warning elements in her ears, the
only clear thought in her mind was
that the man she loved had gone to
his death. She realized now that she
loved him, else why this pain at her
heart-this Indifference to her own
fate?
The sound Of sharp blows on, the
planking above her head aroused her
from the stupor into which she had
fallen. A face she knew looked down
upon her.
II have come for you," said Mark
Haywood.
Then Edna Nolan lost consciousness.
The steamer had capsized with that
side Jof her deck up under which was
Miss Nolan's berth. The capsizing was
an unexpected happening, for, al
though the sea had been rolling for
hours, yet before the catastrophe the
storm had apparently abated, and even
the captain had retired with confidence
for little rest, he and the mate hav-
ing been up nearly all the previous
night
The second officer had been swept
overheard just before the coming IF
the mighty comber which had de-
stroyed the vessel; but Mark Haywood
the first officer. with whirlwind around
him and whirlpool beneath, kept his
clutch on life. How he did it was a
miracle. Every man on deck, includ-
ing the three male passengers, was
swept away. Even the two lifeboats
had been wrenched from their fasten-
ings and smashed to atoms as they
went over the bulwarks.
The storm subsidized almost as quick
" as it had arisen; but the ship was
slowly sinking, and Heywood's only
chance lay in swimming. to shore.
which his experience. told him was
about q mile off, He would take the
chance if some one else would take i:
with him. The opening to tho aft
companion way was near him. da
forced himself down, and there, under