Year: 1873

With ansair of nonchalance he pulled
a red cigar-case from his pocket and
asked his companion if she objected to
a smoke. Then he strated, and quickly
returning the red one to his pocket,
pulled forth another of a blue color.
ftHow many cigars do you smoke a
day?" inquired the lady, evidently
amused at the sight of two cases.
The other colored, and it struck me
that his voice slightly faltered and his
hand trembled as he made some laugh
ing reply.
! Soon the storm came pouncing down
upon u.s.. We were midway in the chan
mel, 50 that We caught the full force of
the sea and gale, Both were terrific.


The sea swept the boat, which lay so
far over that her machinery was soon
damaged so that it would not work.
The wind. screaming like a demon,
threw her over still farther.


Suddenly he observed the sailors en-
deaVoring to loosen "A long-boat -on the
davits at the stern. Meanwhile there
was an ominous grinding, smashing
noise under lkaeounter. Thetruth could
not be concealed; We were sinking.


The ladies screamed the handsome
passenger lost his self-possession, and
ran hither and thither.


The cool behavior Of the little lady in
black contrasted strangely with the Agi-
tated demeanor of those around her.


There she stood-calm and immovable,
her bright steel-blue eyes fixed upon
the hnndsonle stranger, of whom she
did not lose sight for moment.


Keep quiet ladies and gentlemen p
sang out the captain; keep quiet, and
don't crowd around the boat so There
will be room IN it for youSiall and, be-
sides there is a schoon coming TO our
assistance, ? pointing TO a vessel blowing
towards us before the wind.


There was, however, panic among
those addressed. The moment the boat
was lowered, into it they all bundled,
among them the handsome passenger.


A huge sea coming along, roaring like
thQnder, parted ths tackles, tearing the
boat from the steamer before the lady
in black or could enter it. The hand
some passenger, losing his balance, fell
over the gunvaEe, and being unable to
swim wildly threw up his arms.


I must acknowledge thatI twas so en-
crossed with the perlious situation of
my fair companion and myself. now the
only two Lett abdard the steamer, that I
paid little atkention to the drowning
man.


The steamer was in. fact going down
fast, was already nearly engulfed in the
stormy waves, her heated and shalf-sub
merged Hers missing as the steam came
gushing out like the spout Of a whale.


1 was advancing 10 throw an arm
around the little lady, fearing to see her
washed away, when quietly motioning
me back with one hand, she seized coil
of rope and threw the end TO the hand
some passenger. BE caught it when
turning to me, the lady requested me to
help haul the man aboard. 1 complied,
narvelng at the love and devotion thus
shown by a woman to an acquaintance of
an hour. bstsa 'Tt >s' 1


His power over the female sex must
be great, 1 thought. He is lconceited
but not without reason.


The idea flashed clearly across my
mind in spite OF my danger. The
schooner, however, was very near and I
had every reason to believe that we
should be picked UP.


Twas right. We were all taken aboard
the schooner, the handsome passenger
among. thsrest.. Then the lady in black
pulled forth revolver, pointing it at
the headof him whom She had rescued.


ssOut with that red cigar-ease 7" she
said sternly. 81 would like to see what