Saved by an Albatross.

Hastings Standard, Issue 263, 5 March 1897, Page 4

Saved by an Albatross.

A STORY OF CEOZET ISLANDS

[Specially wbittkx for ths Hastings Standakd.J

(By Lackestixa.) Standing beneath a large apple tree in an orchard belonging to a Kentish farmer, were two young people—a tall dark girl of eighteen, and a young man of about four and twenty, very boyish looking, with a fair, frank face, and kindly looking blue eyes, with, just now, a suspicious looking mist in them. He was dressed in a sailor's suit and well it became the fine athletic figure. The scene was a thorough English one—the pretty hedges on either side, and the cool lane were bright with flowers, and the trees around them were laden with bloom, while the birds sang incessantly, and worked hard, in their busy, noisy fashion, gathering up wool and leaves to form their nests. But little those two saw of the fair scene. Their thoughts were centred on each other, for they who had always been friends, and were now lovers, were to part within an hour—he to rejoin his ship, and she to return to her homely duties. Withdrawing his gaze from a pair of busy sparrows that he had been looking at in a half unconscious fashion, he turned to her saying, " They are happy, for they can be together ; but oh ! Hilda, we must part, and it is so hard to dc so. If I could feel sure of seeing you again it would not be so bad, but I have a sort of presentiment that our ship will never return. At best it is only an old tub, tho' of course, in good repair; hutthere, my darling, don't let me make you miserable with my fears. We have parted before, and I have always returned safely, and I trust, please God ! shall do so this time." " Oh ! Bertie, I do not know how to say good-bye," and poor Hilda fairly broke down sobbing. " Hush, oh hush, my dear one ! It is hard, but we must not lose all hope. A year will soon pass and then we shall meet again in this dear old place, and laugh at our fears." W 7 ith an effort Hilda recovered her composure, and still standing within his arm lent her head down on his shoulder while she prayed for his safety. " I must now say good-bye, darling, or I shall miss the train. Goodbye, and God bless you, my beloved. Be always true to me, for you are very young, and I am sometimes afraid whether you may not have mistaken our old friendly liking for love." " Oh! Bertie! how can you say that ? indeed I have not, for you know I love you, and I shall be always true. And Bertie if, if you never return, no other will ever be to me what you are, or replace your ring on my finger. I will always be true—true till death," Hilda raising her dark earnest-looking eyes to his. " Forgive my doubt darling, but my happiness seems sometimes almost too good to be true. Bless you for your loving words, and now good-bye." and pressing loving kisses on lips and brow, he put her gently from him, and hurried away, looking back once to wave his hand in a last farewell. Hilda answered him with a wave of her handkerchief, and watched him out of sight through her tears, then turned slowly back to tho house, there once more to take up the daily duties which sometimes seemed so monotonous. Hilda's father was a well-to-do farmer. He, had only two childrenHilda and Harry. Their mother was dead, and Hilda had had the management of the house, with the aid of an old servant, since she was thirteen, and that had made- her more staid and womanly than most girls of her age. Her father had consented to her engagement to Bertie Clair, knowing him to be a steady, persevering young fellow. Bertie was second officer on board a, sailing vessel called the Sea Serpent, which traded from Liverpool to Australia, carrying out a cargo of various goods and returning laden with wool, tallow, Ac. It hart traded several times, but this was Bertie's first voyage in the Sea Serpent. His former ship was laid up for repairs, and, both boats belonging to the same company, Bertie was offered the vacant berth on the Sea Serpent, which he was only too glad to accept, for, although he had a very fair income, be was a born sailor, and could not be happy oil the sea. Bertie reached his ship on the very day she was to sail, but not before lie had written a loving note to 11il,In. Ah ! who does not know the power of a few thoughtful, loving words to cheer the sad heart Hilda read the brief noli', and returned to her work with a more cheerful face, and a lighter heart. I'oor Hilda! little she knew that that was to U- the last note that >he would ever receive from tlie ill fated Sea Serpent. Some time passed, but no news came. A returning vessel had seen the Sea Serpent Ileal' the ('ape of Good Hope, but, the weather being stormy, no letters had been taken from her. Weeks passed, and still no new*. More W I ek p.IS-ed aUaV, the!) enquiries showed that fhe v. •-> I had ii«\<r arrived at its defiliation. Even >-i quiry was made, but no news came , no new to relieve tin* -'.i-pen -i of rhi loving hearts dial waited -mi longin.dv for tsonn- tidings of in<> <• dear ones who had mailed in the ill-fated v< •< 1. j At lint it was felt that there could tie i no hojie, and many more hearts than J Hilda's grew heavy as the faint hope : thtit lee! b< en ~o eagerly chen.-hed. ! dud out. Hilda ■■tood once iimrc beneath tin- -.1.1 appl<- tr- > whin "die ahd her ItjVt-r bad -aot,d a \< tr ; ,igo; bul. although th- n«- w.t-----j a . am bright with the tet.d. r giorv id j thenjiiing, there was »:d v - tdn« iu Hdd.iS he,U"t as >ht* gst/t'd slowly | around th*s familiar wbtru shw

and Bertie had so often played, and where they had wandered in later years. And as the memory of their last parting came to her mind in all its bitterness, she threw herself down on the grass and wept. After a while she regained her composure ; then, rising, she picked a spray of blomi from the old apple tree which she placed carefully in a little handbag, then she turned and went slowly back to the house, where her brother stood waiting for her, for this was their last day in the old home. Their father had sold the place, and they were now on their way to take ship for the far distant land, often called the " Italy of the South "—New Zealand. Harry did not disturb Hilda by talking, but with a kindly sympathy walked silently by her side to the gig awaiting them. They had not long to wait for the sailing of their ship, and, after a pretty fair voyage reached their destination —Auckland • —where they were charmed with the beauties of its harbor. Mr Hood stayed in Auckland for a few months, with the intention of I settling on a farm. At last he met with one to suit, and the young folks were delighted with their new home. It was only a short distance from the town, and was a pleasant drive in. They had not been there long before the neighbors showed themselves pleasant and sociable, and only for Hilda's hidden grief, everything was very pleasant. Harry was a great favorite with some of the young men of the town and with a family named Brown —particularly—where his visits were always welcomed by all but one and that was Emily ; but although she did not say much Harry seemed quite satisfied with the shy welcome the pretty grey eyes gave him, and Jack Brown liked Harry immensely and was delighted when he made the discovery that Harry was " head and ears in love with Emily ! " Go in and win, old boy ! I could not wish her a finer fellow than you for a husband, and she will make you a good wife, for all she is a demure little puss, and Harry lost no time, but did "go in " and won to his own great satisfaction. Hilda was very pleased, and was quite willing to give up the reins of management to Emily when Harry should bring his wife home. One day Jack and Harry were standing on the sea beach when their attention was drawn towards a large albatross which was flying along with a slow, weary, sort of motion, and evidently making for the beach near where they stood. " Must be wounded," said Jack. " Flies as if there was somethingwrong. By Jove ! It has something tied to its wing,', replied Harry, and as the bird fell, rather, than flew to the land they both hastened to it. The poor bird lay like one dead, and seemed too exhausted to move as the two young men drew near. Harry bent ever it to see what • was fastened to its wing, then exclaimed, "Look, Jack! The bird certainly brings a message, for I can see that there is writing cm this, piece of tin ; but the poor creature in its efforts to get rid of this thing has, somehow, slipped its neck through the cord and is almost choked. It must be dying of starvation, poor thing." As he spoke the bird gave a slight flutter, and then lay still —its troubles over. The two young men gazed sorrowfully at the noble bird. Then Harry bethought him of the message he held in his hand and read :—• Chozkt Island. Two men cast away from ship Sea Serpent—Jock McKenzie and Bertie Clair, sjeiut help. We are almost starved. " Good Heavens !" Harry exclaimed, " Bertie saved." "J)o you know this Bertie Clair '?" asked Jack. "Have known him from a child; he and my sister are engaged." " Engaged'?" quickly asked Jack, and a look of pain passed over his face. as he turned away for an instant ; but as his gaze fell on the; poor bird that had carried that pitiful message so far and thought of its sad fate, his better nature quickly repressed all selhsh thought. "Ob, Harry, to think that the message should come to you of all people, and after so long a time. We must see at once about sending help." " Wonderful indeed, it is, for it is nearly two years ago since Bertie's ship left England. Where are the Cro/.ct Islands ? " " They are in lat. 1(! iiOtt., lon. 51. They are bul barren rocks, or almost so. I don't know how they can have lived there so long." " Boor bird, yours has been a long weary journey, and has cost you your life. How could they have caught the bird, 1 wonder ? " "Can't say ; but Come, don't let US waste time come to my father, and he will adiise ns," and picking up the' bird they went back to the house. Only Mr Brown wiui told the names, for the young men had thought it lie-t to withold them, lest the hope of meeting Bertie again might cause Hilda needless an\iety, for who could tell whether the siirvi\ors might still be living tm that inhospitable island. Mr Brown went to tin- flipping authorities and soon a vessel was sent to rescue tin.- two poor men from their dismal prison. 'Tti ItK Cn.VriMKD. '