The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-04-18
A COWARD'S EpITAPH.

bells in the middle watch. Half an
hour later she went down. Into that
half-hour were compressed a few
deeds of heroism, many of rank cow
ardice. Some lives were saved, more
were lost. Over the liner ard the
great majority of her passengers the
sea closed in, hiding heroes and cow
ards alike.
The wreck of the Casparia did not
make pleasant reading in the news
papers. Men read the tale of that
disgraceful panic with loathing the
deeper because they looked within
their own souls and shuddered to
think that in similar circumstances
they might have shared it.
A few of the officers had done their
best, but the passengers had STAN
peded like frightened sheep, budding
about the boats; and the crew, a
scraping of the scum of all the ports
of Europe, had got among them, knife
in hand, and had fought for their
own safety, regardless of the women
and children.
Mr.. Granville, the first officer, had
managed tC keep some order around
his boat. Grim and resolute, he
swept the muzzle Of his revolver
around circle of angry faces, and
kept back the men while he assisted
the half-clad women to enter. Ar
thur Railsford, who had been aroused
in his berth by the long grinding
crash of the vessels side against the
rocks, had hurried from his cabin,
sick with fear, not on his own ac-
count, but for the sake of Lillian
Waters, the girl he loved best in the
world.
He met her at the foot of the
cabin companion, and without word
OF explanation, put his arm about
her, and carried her up the stairs on
to the deck. He saw the crowd about
Granville's boat, and pushing his way
violently through it, came out in the
open space within, to find himself
face to face within the muzzle of the
mates pistol.
Stand back" said Granville,
sharply. Zone, two
mot for myself" he gasped, "for
her-for this lady,"
''Pass her in answered the mate,
"and stand back. No men go in this
boat except those who have to man
her."
The ship gave heavy list to port,
and the crowd, who had been kept in
check by the mates pistol, were flung
violently forward in the seething
mass against the boats side. The
mates pistol rang out sharply, once,
twice, but without effect. Fear and
the chance of safety had converted
sane men into lunatics.
Desperately Arthur strove to lift
the girl into the boat. He had al
most succeeded when a young man
leaped up on the gunwale, pushing
her aside in his frenzy, and Chamber
Ing in himself. The girl gave cry,
and stretched out her hands for help,
clutching the edge.
The young man turned, and Arthur
could see his face, livid with fear,
great beads of sweat moistening the
long lock of dark hair that hung
above his forehead. With an oath
the creature turned upon the girl,
beating her hands down; and as she
still struggled he snatched up an oar
and struck her across the face.
Railsford uttered a curse, but,
hampered as he was, he could do no
more. He turned his attention to
Lillian. But the mate had marked
the action and had swung his weapon
round savagely. There was flash,
a choking cry, and the lad who had
fought SO desperately to save him
self flung up his arms, spun round
and fell, stream of blood pouring
from his throat.
The end came with terrible swift
ness. The ship heeled over and
plunged. Railsford gripped the girl
and took long breath. He was a
strong swimmer; but the frightful
suction Of the sea tore her from his
grasp as If he had been a child.
He was dragged under and lost
consciousness. When he awoke he
found himself in a boat among
friends. He looked about him for
the girl. She was not there. He
faltered question. They only shook
their heads.
=
The boat with its few survivors
was picked up by a cargo steamer
bound for Liverpool: and in due
course Arthur found himself once
more on land. He cared little. He
was a changed man, moody and
silent.
There was before him definite
purpose which seized upon him with
the strength Of an obsession. He
had seen no more after the blow
which the lad had struck at Lillian s
face. Even his anger had given way
before the necessity Of comforting the
girl. and he had devoted the whole
OF his attention to her.
He had not seen the mates shot,