The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-01-22


at last in favor OF my rival. and J had
no more ralise to complain than he
would have had De lost her
During the next two or three years
| shipped from other ports than my
home. ! couldn't bear to go 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 a let
ter without mentioning my lost love.
She has said since that she bad feel
ing that Jennie would yet some day
be mine.
became master of 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 a dark object on
the horizon. raised my glass and dis
cerned a ship rising and falling with
the waves. ! could discern no masts;
neither could | see smokestack. Con-
sequenty ! was unable to make out
whether she was a sailer or a 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 derelict sir" said the Sec
ond officer. who was also watching
her
II believe she is" | 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 saiIer. or, rather, had
been, for every mast was gone. With
nothing to steady her. she was rolling
about, sometimes on her beam ends.
yet sometimes riding over wave--in-
Iced. helpless We saw no one on
deck and had no idea that there was
any one on her. We approached her
from her stern. and | Kept my glass
6xed upon her so that as soon as we
came near enough might read her
name. Before made out the letters
composing ii | read the name of the
place from which she hailed. Ports
mouth New Hampshire"
Get boat ready. Mr.. Marks"
said to the second officer
The order was obeyed, / intending to
send him 20 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
met with prolonged foul weather, for
her masts had been cut away The
remnants of iib were still futtering
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
dry. The stern was high out 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 | did not
recognize him. Leaving my men amid
ships. went aft. for If there was any
living creature aboard ! would find II
there.
| said at the beginning of this re
cital-it is too serious to call yarn
that | would test the credulity of the
hearer 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 a morgue and seeing
stretched on slab brother one has
\ not met for years These things are
happening frequently, and why should
not l.
But l am going too fast. l made my
way to the stern companionway and
descended into the cabin. The door of
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 q
berth, ] looked at 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
tonishment 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 1t possible that some living person
might be found on the derelict, bot
tie of broth had been brought. This
called for and began to feed 1t in mi
mute doses.
My yarn has been spun. What re
mains Is little more than explanation
Jennie had gone on voyage with hel
husband. A prolonged storm hat
wrecked the vessel The supplies, ex