The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-01-23
and during the transition period be-


tween child and woman had been In u
state of uncertainty. She had decided
Mt last in favor of my rival. and | had
no more cause To complain than he
would have had he lost her.
During the next two OF three years
! shipped from other ports than my
home. ! couldn't bear to 30 there to
find Jennie POSSESSED by another. The
bridal voyage was short one. after
which letters from my mother inform
ed me that Jennie had settled down
ashore. Mother knew Of my disap-
pointment and seldom wrote me let
ter without mentioning my lost love.
She has said since that she had feel
Ing that Jennie would yet some day
be mine.
L became master of a vessel and
was sailing between Japan and San
Francisco. On one Of my return vOy-
ages when out on the Pacific ocean
one morning. seeing dark object on
the horizon. raised my glass and dis
cerned a ship rising and falling with
the waves. l could discern no masts;
neither could l see a smokestack. Con-
sequently I was unable to make out
whether she was sailer or steamer
We were heading few points south
Of her. and when we had come nearer
and | was still puzzled as to what she
was directed that the ship be pointed
directly toward her.
"She's a derelict. sir" said the Sec
ond officer, who was also watching
her.
Il believe she is" l replied. Its
lucky we met her by daylight and so
near on her course. We must sink
her"
AS we drew near the vessel we saw
that she was sailer. or. rather, had
nothing to steady her. she was rolling
about. sometimes on her beam ends.
yet sometimes riding over wave-in-
deed. helpless. We saw no one on
deck and had no idea that there was
any one OH her. We approached her
from her stern. and | kept my glass
fixed upon her so that as soon as we
came near enough | might read her
name Before | made out the letters
composing it l read the name of the
place from which she hailed. Ports
mouth New Hampshire"
Get boat ready, Mr. Marks" l
said to the second officer.
The order was obeyed. intending to
send him to the wreck to sink her.
But when we came near enough for
the purpose | changed my mind and
went myself. The sea was running
quite high. but, approaching from the
lee side. we managed to get safely
aboard the vessel. She had evidently
met with prolonged foul weather, for
her masts had been cut away. The
remnants of jib were still tluttering
in the wind. Some of the boats were
gone others were swinging from their
davits. while one. loose at the bow,
was pounding on the deck.
The fore part OF the ship had been
washed by the waves. but was now
dry. The stern was high ont of wa
ter. Descending the companiOnway, we
came upon several corpses of men or.
rather, skeletons, for they had evident
ly starved One Of them | had seen
in life, but | did not know that | had
for he was so changed that i did not
recognize him. Leaving my men amid
ships. went aft, for If there was any
living creature aboard ! would find II
there.
Il said at the beginning Of this re-
cital-it is too serious to call yarn
that would test the creduity Of the
bearer. But. after all. what ! am go
ing to relate was but coincidence.
There is nothing improbable in one
meeting former friend in Patagonia
or in going into morgue and seeing
stretched on a slab brother one has
not met for years. These things are
happening frequently. and why should
not l.
But | am going too fast. ! made my
way to the stern companionway and
descended into the cabin. The door of
a room stood open; it was hooked, and
| looked in.
Would that there were some medium
capable of giving my quick mental
transitions as | stood there gazing on
the object before me. There is no such
medium; only words. and they are not
adequate A living woman lay in a
berth | looked ut her and wondered
where | was. what was doing wheth.
er some mental stroke had not befallen
me. Within few seconds the with
cred features resolved themselves into
those of my lost love. My Jennie was
| there. starving.
There was not the same look of as
| constituent on her face there was on
mine. Her senses were too blunted
went to her. knelt by her berth and put
my arms around her, Then. realizing
| that food was of the first Importance
| ran out and called to the men. Think.
| ing it possible that some living person
| might be found ON the derelict. n bot
| tie OF broth had been brought. This
| called for and began to feed II in mi
| mute doses.
My yarn has been spun. What re-
mains is little more than explanation
! Jennie had gone on Il voyage with her
husband. prolonged storm had
wrecked the vessel. The supplies. ex.
cept few biscuit and II quart OF
water. had been cut off by the waves
This remnant had been given to the
| captains wife We had found her just
| In time TO save her. the only living