The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-06-23

Drowned Sailor ReappearS to
His Sweetheart.


ordered to Brazil. was getting up an
chor. Lieutenant Edward Fletcher and
his 1ancee. Grace Banning. were stand
ing In a corner of the deck speaking
the last hurried parting words.
From all | can learn, sweetheart"
he said, well get back here within
six months, and when we do
'Oh, Ned, suppose something should
happenr'
"What can happen in these times Of
peace? No; I'll be here with the Ship
and then
Don't speak so 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, a long, impassioned
embrace between the lovers. and Miss
Banning went ashore.
On reaching Rio, Lieutenant Fletcher
was ordered to command a boats crew
to go ashore and bring off supplies.
The passage was not considered dam
gerous, but a 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 a 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 piteously to come back to her;
that he had promised to come back
with the ship. Then she fell into a
stupor, q lack of interest in everything
about her. In vain her mother ell
deavored to provide her with such oc-
cupation and amusement as would di-
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 1.-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 to return that she might again
stand in the corner where she had bid
den what had proved last farewell.
When the ship reached China she be-
gan to appear more cheerful. 1t was
as if 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 a suitable party with whom
she might make a match for her. She
knew Grace would never marry for
love and, being Indifferent as to whom
she married, might be influenced to
take a rich husband.
At last it 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
a fiutter, 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 unwittingly gave the cards to
Grace, but was thunderstruck when
her daughter told her that she would
attend the ball. Finding that she could
not dissuade her, the mother consent
ed, with a faint hope that the visit
under such different circumstances
from the last might break the spell.
On the night of the entertainment
the ship was brilliantly illuminated,
while a marine band furnished music.
The decks were in possession of the
dancers. Mrs. Banning kept an eye on
her daughter for awhile, but Grace
seemed to stand up so well under the
strain that her mother soon gave over
watching her Then Grace was miss
ing. She had walked, on the arm of a
naval officer. to the corner where she
had parted with her lover. That cor
AST was uOW III llc llBul, anu COuplea
were walking past 1t to and fro.
Suddenly Grace's form quivered, she
threw up her arms and exclaimed:
Ned! Oh, Ned! knew you would
be herew
She started forward with outstretch-
ed arms, but soon sank in a swoon.
Her attendant, astonished, picked her
up, while several couples who were
passing sprang to his assistance. Wa
ter was sprinkled in her face. and she
revived. Then, with a strange light in
her eye, she walked away, supported
by her attendant. Her mother was
called, and they left the ship to be
driven. Nome.
The officer who had been her escort,
puzzled, went back TO the place where
Grace had swooned. There in the cor
ner where she had seen. or fancied she
saw, her lover he picked up several
strands of wet, Shiny seaweed. He
wondered how they came there.
uaS hpivan m a homo aha nay-