The Cairo bulletin., 1911-05-18
EE CAME HOME:
WITH The SHIP
Drowned SaiicF Reapl2ars to
His Sweetheart.

he lHliPu NtUlpN tlihatt tli~'lf ''tt'
ordered to BraZIE was getting Mp an
ehor lieuteuant Edward Fletcher and
his fiancee ttrsce Banning. were stand
ing Ia corner OF The deck speaking
the last hurried parting words
"From alt can lenrn. sweetheart"
he said well ret back here within
six months, and when we do
"Oh. Ned. suppose something should
happen"
.'What can happen In these times of
peace? No: I'll be here with the ship.
aud then
Don't speak go confidently; there
are storms and, down there. hurri-
canes"
Darling, tell you I'll be here with
the ship no matter what happens
There was a signal for visitors to
leave the ship. long, impassioned
embrace between the lovers. and Miss
Banning went ashore.
On reaching Rio. Lieutenant Fletcher
was ordered to command boats crew
to so ashore and bring Off supplies
The passage was not considered dan
gerous. but Il strong wind and tide, de-
spite the oarsmen's efforts to keep the
boat steady, carried her bow around so
that she fell into the trough of the sea.
At the moment gigantic wave dash
ed against her side. capsized her. and
the young commander and all OF his
crew were drowned.
The shock to Grace Banning at hear
ing of her lovers death well nigh up
set her reason. At first she cried to
him piteousiy to come back to her;
that he had promised to come back
| with the ship. Then she fell into a
stupor, lack Of interest In everything
about her. In vain her mother en-
deavored to provide her with such oc-
cupation and amusement as would d.
| vert her mind. All in vain. She con-
stantly brooded over the last scene be-
tween her and her lover, especially the
words spoken by each, always ending
Darling, l tell you I'll be here with
the ship, no matter what happens"
Mrs. Banning was panied to notice
that her daughter was keeping track
| Of the Pensacola. That ship on touch
ing at Rio received orders to proceed
around THE Horn" to San Francisco,
thence to Hongkong. Grace watched
the government reports, Indeed. her
heart was in the ship sailing around
| the world. Perhaps she WAS waiting
| for it 10 return that she might again
stand In the corner where she had bid
den what had proved a last farewell,
| When the ship reached China she be-
| gan TO appear more cheerful IL was
| as IL her lover was aboard and. having
| sailed over half the globe, would now
| have entered upon the return Mrs,
Banning, not realizing the cause of the
change In Grace, began to hope that
she was mending and even looked
about for suitable party with whom
she might make patch for her. She
knew Grace would never marry for
love and. being Indifferent as to whom
she married. might be influenced to
take rich husband.
| At last 1t was announced that the
ship Pensacola was due She did not
| arrive on time, and Grace seemed trou
bled When she arrived Grace was In
| q ilutter, acting as one about to be re-
united with lover instead OF with the
ship on which he had sailed.
Then came invitations for ball CIV
en- by the officers on board the ship
Mrs. Banning reproved the servant
who unwittlngly gave the cards &c
Grace, but was thunderstruck wher
her daughter told her that she woulo
attend the ball. Finding that she couic
not dlssuade her, the mother consent
ed. with a faint hope that the WISH
under such different circumstances
from the last might break the spell.
On the night Of the entertainment
the ship was brilliantly Illuminated
| while q marine band furnished music
The decks were In possession OF thu
dancers. Mrs. Banning kept an eye or
| her daughter for awhile, but Grace
seemed TO stand up so well under ths
strain that her mother soon gave ove'
watching her Then Grace was miss