A SECRET OF THE SEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 30

A SECRET OF THE SEA.

"I suppose that by this time to-morrow we shall anchor in the bay," said Colonel Gray. " Yes, this is the last of our pleasant evenings if the Ocean Greyhound is true to her , promise," said pretty Mrs Mortimer. " This is my first sea voyage," said the Colonel, "and 1 have enjoyed it. But I should be glad enough to see land again." "And I," said the only member of the little group who had not previously spoken, " love the sea, and have had many adventures on it, and am never tired of its sights ( and sounds." The speaker was a woman in the Indian summer of her life, sweeter and more beautiful than many a young woman, stamped as she was with the indelible traces of great joys and great griefs. " Tell us something, Mrs Odell," cried Mrs Mortimer's niece, imploringly. ♦' I know you must have seen real tragedies— shipwrecks and such things." "I have seen many tragedies and more than one shipwreck," she said, half reluctI autly, " and if you like I will tell you an incident that happened on a ship that was wrecked when I was on my way to the Cape in it." Mrs Mortimer drew her fur cloak a little closer about her as Mrs Odell began her story, accentuating bya slight but irapres. sive gesticulation her soft, rich voice and quiet delivery. " Several years ago— ten or a dozen— l was on my way to the Cape of Good Hope in a sailing ship. My husband and children were living then— all three are dead now — but I left them in England to visit my parents in Cape Town,' and I went on a sailing ship, because I had been very ill and was. ordered a voyage. There were but few passengerssis or seven first class and some 20 emigrants in the steerage, Among the saloon passen-

gers was a very pretty young woman, scarcely 20, going out as governess to Australia, ' '•' We put in at Madeira* and took on board two passengers, for whom the baptain's cabin was' secured, a newly- married couple, hot long over their honeymoon. Everything becomes known on board, especially during a long voyage, and the young wife had a maid with her, who probably supplied all the details • she knew and' filled in the gaps with her imagination. It became known, at any rate; within a few hours, that the lady was an heiress of immense wealth' and the gentleman was the penniless younger son of a good family. The marriage was much against the wish of the bride's family, but she was just of age and perfect mistress of her property, and she had been married a few weeks before I met her, and had gone to Madeira, intending to spend the winter there. It was quite a sudden freak, their coining on board, and could hardly have been the poor thing's wish ; for she was a wretched sailor, and for two or three days after we put out to sea again she remained in her berth, waited on by her maid and unnoticed by every one else. The husband was about 30, a very handsome and attractive man— dark, tall, with a heavy black moustache and gleaming white teeth, which were often enough seen, for he was a most lively and agreeable talker, full of wit and nonsense, with an amusing anecdote for every occasion, and generally the sort of man to be a prime favourite on board a sailing ship, where every one is sure to be bored more or less. Especially was he attentive and considerate toward the ladies, and I heard, though I did not see anything then, that the pretty governess usurped a large portion of his care. This seemed natural enough, as she was alone, and moat of us took a little extra notice of her on that account. 11 Well, after a day or two the bride began to come on deck a little, and when she gained some flesh and colour we could see how pretty she was,' and how full of charming ways. Another thing was soon seen also, and that was that whatever might be the state of her husband's affections, she simply worshipped him. Her eyes followed him about with a kind of reverence, and when he spoke she listened with parted lips and glistening eyes, as though she heard the very angels singing in heaven. It is sad enough to see such madness where it is mutual ; but when, as is almost always the case, one gives all, and the other takes and gives nothing — Well, well— that's no part of my story. " We had been about a fortnight out from Madeira when the weather, which had been pleasant enough, though cold, changed suddenly, and we were driven by storms every way but the way we wanted to go. For several days the hatches were on, and none of the passengers were allowed on deck. Most of the ladies, myself among them, were ill, and the rest were too frightened to notice anything ; but I was told afterward that the only woman who was neither sick nor terrified was the governess, and she seemed joyful— full of wild spirits, and keeping up a constant banter with the bridegroom, with whom she played at cards half the day. ' ! " I do not remember how long the storm continued ; but just as we were beginning to take courage and pull ourselves together a little, we heard one morning a sound that made our hair rise with new terror — a pecu- ! liar, slow, regular clanking — and a whisper went round that the ship had sprung a leak and the pumps were manned. "For two mortal days and nights those brave, indefatigable men struggled with the encroaching foe. while signals were hoisted and rockets sent up to attract passing ships. At last the captain came to tell us he had no hope of saving the ship, that the storm had abated, and that as soon as it was broad daylight he would get the boats out. ! " I was standing at the foot of the com-panion-way when the bride came out of her 'cabin, which was immediately behind me. She was' deathly pale and her eyes were slightly distended, but otherwise was perfectly calm and collected. She had on a 'thick waterproof cloak and a woollen hood, and carried a little satchel in her hand. " • Where's your husband 1 ' I asked. " She made a little movement of her head toward the cabin. ' " ' He is securing some important papers,' she said, ' and I think,' she added, but her voice was almost inaudible, 'our marriage certificate and my will.' "At this moment the first officer came down the companion-way. ' Mrs Odell,' he said, seeing me, • there are but two serviceable boats — the others were injured during the storm. Come up at once and I will put you in the first. Oh, Mrs Blank,' he added, seeing the bride, ' come, too, I will try and put you together.' " • Sir,' said the poor girl, ' I will not stir without my husband.' "•Come, then,' he cried; 'there is no time to lose — I will call your husband — but go up stairs with Mrs Odell, and I will bring him to you — take her up, there's a good soul,' he added to me. I took her hand and almost forced her up, but further than the top of the companion-way she woald not move. " The sight that met us there was startling enough. The ship had already sunk so low that I cannot imagine how the water kept out of the saloon ; it seemed as if we could step on board the life boat that had already been manned and was raised by every wave almost to the level of the deck. AU on board was perfectly orderly, except for the crying of one or two of the steerage passengers who were being separated from their male companions and passed into the boat. It was nearly full when the captain saw us, and, grasping Mrs Blank's arm, was about to hand her forward, when she wrested herself from him, and with sudden fury flashing over ■ her face, exclaimed in a tone I shall never forget: 'lean die here, if necessary, Captain; but I will not stir without my husband.' " He did not say another word, but seized me unceremoniously, and before I could draw my breath, I was in the loaded boat. The painter was cut, and one great billow carried us many yards away. "Then .we lay to, to watch, the second boat, and witness what was unseen by her occupants. She was full, all but a very small space, and almost every one was off the ship. I saw the young couple standing together, her hands clasped around his arm, and cvi-! dently refusing once more to be saved with-, out him. At the same moment the pretty governess darted {forward flung herself

i: „ i. f:, ; ,; x -^ 7 upon his other arm,,, evidently, imploring to be saved. A stentorian voice from the boat 3 shouted : •We can. make, room^for two.' They a evidently saw the- ! wife's straggle to die with her husband and were willing with true sailor-like generosity to risk sofdething to re* ward her heroism. I saw him clasp 'the .girl with one arm and push his wife, away preparatory to making a spring. „ Then as aha clung with agonised strength, he; raided his cowardly fist, and struck her full in the face. With an unearthly shriek she fell back as he sprang into the boat with the other woman in his arms. "The whole thing was like a flash of lightning, and as they cut away the boat, almost betore she was clear, the ship sank slowly forward and went down head 1 foremost, carrying the captain, the bride, and about a dozen men to. the bottom of the sea." As the thrilling vibration of the narrator's voice ceased there was a momentary silence. Her excitement at the pioture conjured up by memory communicated itself to the listeners, and at first no one seemed able to break the spell. At last the Colonel spoke; " We are very glad to know that you were saved by ocular demonstration, Mrs Odell 5 but how about that scoundrel and his companion in guilt ; for she was every bit as bad as he ; were they drowned 1 One could not help hoping so, except for the sake of the innocent people in the same boat." " No," said Mrs Odell, quietly — every trace of her agitation had passed away now, and her tone was calm and inexpressibly bitter. "We were picked up a few hours after, having sparated from .the others in the fog ; but they were also soon rescued by a home-bound vessel and carried back to England. There this loving hu3band proved his wife's death — there were .plenty, of witnesses, though none had seen his brutal aot, and most believed, as I afterward- heard; that she was left behind by mistake. • He then, proved her will, which he had carried off the ship with him, and which had been executed in Madeira within a month of her marriage, leaving him every cent of her immense wealth. Her relatives, I understood, made an attempt to upset the will, but without success, but before she had been six- months dead, he bought an elegant villa near Florence, and married the' rescued 'governess! I never saw him after that, but I have reason to believe he is living and prosperous." " I suppose you never saw his second wife again ? " asked the niece thoughtfully. "Yes," said Mrs Odell, slowly, "I have seen her — quite recently;" • - ' "Your story was really too interesting, Mrs Odell," murmured pretty Mrs Mortimer, rising . languidly from her steamship chair. "You quite made us forget how late and cold it is getting. Thanks, so much. Colonel, may I trouble you for that shawl ! ' I think I will go' down now. Come along, Sybille> A demain, gentlemen. Mrs Odell — goodnight." • The eyes of the two ladies met as she moved away; but eyes tell no tales, and some women can keep a secret. — " Drake's Magazine."