The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-20

was " CdtcH ana pass the captain b
commands, and what a responsibility
he bears. Last night, as 1 lay awake,
I thought of him keeping his watch
above with all our lives, as 1t 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 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 a mans life. He is man. But
as to love! Oh, that is absurd"
1t was about half past in the af-
ternoon. The sea was rolling high; but
Miss Nolan, rocked by wind and wave,
slept the sleep of the sea sleeper. and
1t was not until a great shout went
became conscious of peril What was
that cry she heard? There 1t was
again: Hayward Is overheard"
She started to her feet, but fell al
most Immediately. She crawled to the
stateroom door and tried to push 1t
open. AS she did so. a sea mightier
than had been felt before struck the
ship and capsized her. The girl real
ized 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
fallen. face she knew looked down
upon her.
IT have come for you." said Mark
Haywood.
Then Edna Nolan lost consciousness
The steamer had capsized with that
side of her deck up under which was
Miss Nolan's berth. The capsizing was
an unexpected happening. for, although
the sea had been rolling for hours, yet
before the catastrophe the storm had
apparently abated, and even the cap
tain had retired with confidence for a
little rest, he and the mate having
been up nearly all the previous night.
The second officer had been swept
overheard just before the coming of
the mighty comber which had destroy
ed the vessel; but Mark Haywood, the
first officer with whirlwind around him
and whirlpool beneath. kept his clutch
on life. How he did 1t was a miracle
Every man on deck, including the three
male passengers. was swept away.
Even the two lifeboats had been
wrenched from their fastening and
smashed to atoms as they went over
the bulwarks.
The storm subsidized almost as quickly
as 1t 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 a
mile off. He would take the chance If
some one else would take 1T with him
The opening to the aft-companion way
was near him.. He forced himself
down, and there. under two feet of
water. found a Ratchet, with which he
crawled to the deck and set to work
with desperate energy.
When Miss Nolan opened her eyes
Haywood was tying a rope which
bound them together.
Then 1t was not your" she cried,
in great joy. forgetting present peril.
mo that was a mistake the men
made 1t was poor Brown" he re-
piled. Then. looking straight into her
eyes. he said:
There's to be a desperate struggle
Tell me that you love me-"
81 love you" she answered him. ct
love you so we'll that I am glad to die
with you
The endurance and courage of the
man was put to the severest test, but
the shore was reached in safety.
In the fsherman's home they stood
side by side. colthed and warmed and
fed The minister had just left
IT gave In to you, after all" she
said. softly.
Nay" he replied. you were taken
by storm"