The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-10

lay in their berths, because It ssemed
better TO lie there thar to try to stand
upright. and be tumbled about with ths
risk OF breaking bones. Adair, too, WA
~srievously seasick, and so reduced to
utter mental bodily misery, that he
tnought nothing, knew nothing, and
cared nothing, though the heavens
should crack. One night the wind sunk
suddenly. the wave continued to run
INTO high hills and deep hollows with
oiazy ~pertinaeity; but there was y COM
psretive calm. and with the calm cams
q binding. close gray sea-fog. The
steamers speed was slackened; tIis dis
mai fog-horn blew its melancholy
warning note across the heaving wasts
/ or waters; and partially soothed by til
deadly monotony Of the sound, snd the
slower pace at which the ship moved,
all Three Wise Men dropped or iffts
a profound and peaceful slumbsr-the
deepest and most restful they hsd en-
joyed since they came on board. All
at once. about the middle of the nigft,
they were startled up and thrown vio-
lently from their berths by a friglrkfuI
~shock-a huge crash and cracking Of
timber. All the lights went out; then
came roarinss of mems voices, whfs-
things and faint shrieking Of women, 40
companied by the rush and swirl Of
| water.
Whats the matter?' shouted Dap-
nison, picking himself up from the floor
OF his cabin.
Collision. I should say." rsturued
Adair. out of the darkness Get nj
clothes on. Where's George s
"Herei" answered Fairfax. at am
! Stanlipp In q nnnl af txafay- nt,r win
dow is smashed in-the seas pouring
through the portfolio"
They threw on What clothes they
could find. and made the best of their
way on deck. where they at once
learned the extent of the disaster. Al
large foreign steamer had borne down
upon their vessel in the fog, making a
huge rent in the huh. through which
the water was pouring. and the pros
pect of sinking within half an hour
seemed imminent. The foreign liner
had gone on her way. as usual, without
stopping to learn what damage she had
done. All the passengers and crew
were assembled On deck. the former
quiet and self-possessed. the latter en-
aged in actively lowering the boats;
and the captain was issuing his orders
with the customary coolness of a brave
TsiiS bStifldH WlAV CuftS httlc WlfctittF
his own lot be death or life so long as
he does his duty.
by Jove," exclaimed Dennison, as
he surveyed the scene; we're in for it.
They're beginning to fill the boats:
women and children first, of course. If
there's no room for us. We'll have to
sink or swim in grim earnest"
His W friends, Fairfax and Adair,
looked on at the scene for a moment in
silence. What each man thought
within himself concerning the comfort
able homes they had left behind cannot
here be expressed--that they their feel
ings to themselves, and merely went
forward at once tc proffer their assist
ance to the captain.
"Oh. you will take care of me, I'm
sure" suddenly said a sweet. pleading
voice behind Adair, while a face. fair
as an angels, shone full upon him out
of the storm and darkness. 81 shall
not be at all frightened with you!"
Adair turned sharply round.
"Laura!" lie gasped IS
She Slipped her arm through his, and
smiled bravely UP at him.
Eyes, it's me!n she said. 'You didn't
suppose I wa going to part with you
for such a long, uncertain time, did
you? Oh. no, darling! How could you
think il. Are We going to be drowned
I don't mind. il l stop with you. and
you hold ME very tight as we go down.
I'm SO glad I camel
He caught her in his arms an kissed
her with the frenzied passion of q
Romeo. Indeed. it would have been dif-
fcult even for a Shakespeare to depict
the tragic tumult then raging in his
modern husbands soul-the love, joy, /,
terror, emor and reverence that cen
tered round this delicate and beautiful
creature who loved him so well that she
was ready TO confront a horrible death
for his sake, Meanwhile. a little blue
eyed woman was ~clinging to George
Fairfax, sobbing and laughing together.
"Oh, are we going TO die?' she in
CURED. Historically. Dear George, are
we going TO die. Do let us keep to-
gether and poor Bibi with us! I've
brought Bibl!'
Heaven bless Bibi.' cried George,
fervently. hugglng little woman and lit
tie dog together. "Oh. my darling
Belief Who would have thought OF see
ing you here? Why did you Gomez
ITO take care Of YOU, of course!" she
replied, her blue eyes full OF tears. "L
didn't mean to show myself till we got
to that horTfd place In Africa, where
you said the natives die of fever and
things. Oh. dear. are We to get into
boats? I won't go without you, George
nothing shall induce mel"
MY dearest, women and children
must go first" aid the unhappy
George. ooh, what fools we were to
leave England TO think we should
have brought you to this! Why. there's
Mrs. Dennison!'
There she was, indeed. calm and al
most smiling in the midst of danger.
She held her husbands arm, for bluff
John Dennison was completely taken
aback n unnerved. and made no at
tempt to hide the tears that filed his
eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
TITS all my fault" he said. huskily.
IF il hadn't been for me, Fairfax and
Adair would never have started on this
unlucky journey, and you dear women
woul not hav got into this danger.
AS it is, God help Us all! L believe we
are doomed"
ooh, let us hope not" answered Mrs.
Dennison, softly n cheerily; land if