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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 1909)
The Last Voyage vf 15he Donna Isabel By Randall Parrish Author bf Bob Hampton ot Placer. Illustrations by Deaborn Melvill r should greatly" have preferred Lady Darlington to remain below dur ing the ceremonies. There U much de pression about such burial scenes at sea, especially so In our circumstances and surroundings. Dut she Insisted upon being present, and so at the last moment I returned to the cabin and escorted both her and Celeste to the deck. It was a dismal, melancholy scene, and I did not wonder at the slight shiver with which her ladyship glanced about. The swiftly descending snow, the whitened decks, trampled beneath tha feet of the men, the bare Bpars overhead; the low-flying, dun colored clouds; the gray, tumbling waters; the low growl of the Ice as the waves battered Its front; the si lent semicircle of men "standing mo tionless except for their shuffling feet; and those two white-draped figures ly ing extended across the rail all com bined to form a grim sea-picture the memory of which can never dissolve. Protected somewhat from the sharp wind by the cabin the men had flung aside their mufflers, so that their weather-beaten faces, most of them heavily bearded, were plainly revealed. I could not but be Impressed with the motley crowd, as the lineaments of negro, Kanaka, and every variety of white degenerate were thus exposed. Their uneasy, shuffling feet, and the impatience depicted on their faces, aroused me to the requirements of the moment. I advanced to the rail, stand ing beside the corpse of the mate. "Lads," I said, soberly, "when we hury shipmates at sea there Is a solemnity about the simple ceremony unknown to the land. Far away from friends and home we give the body up to the great ocean to keep for eterni ty. Yet we are sailors, long accus tomed to the vicissitudes and perils of the deep; we have parted with ship mates before in many seas, and not a few among you look forward to the time when comrades will be called upon to perform a similar service of respect over 'j our bodies. Even now we sail forward into great danger, and none among us can prophesy what the morrow may bring of either life or death. Yet the sea Is the sailor's srpulcher, the roar of the great waves his requiem. I am no sea preacher, able to address you upon the here after, or fitted to eulogize the spirits of those whose bodies we are about to bury. You desire nothing of the kind. Neither can I read over these forms the usual burial service, for I can find no book containing it on board. Is Her Voice Arose, Low Yet Distinct, Trembling to the Accent of Rev erent Prayer. there any one among you, mates, who will voice a prayer before we drop these bodies overboard?" I looked along the semi-circle of faces, expecting nothing from the members of the crew? yet faintly hope ful that some one or two might be led to respond. No one stirred, however, the only sound on board tho wind whistling through the rigging and the heavy breathing of the men. "Well, then," I added, regretfully, "nothing remains but to commit their bodies to the deep, and may God have mercy on their gouls!" I lifted my hand In signal, but even as I did so Lady Darlington spoke, the men who were about to tilt the planks pausing In wonderment. "Walt, Mr. Stephens; not without one word of prayer. Let me speak It, If 110 one elso will." She came forward, throwing back her veil, and grasping my sleeve to retain steady footing on the heaving deck. For an instant there was an Impressive silence; then her voice arose, low, yet distinct, trembling to the .accent of reycront prsyer, I know not wnai inn Rffrt? the simple breathing upward of a petition to the, Almighty Father for pardon and guid ance; yet never before did faith lay such mighty hold upon me. It waa short, only a few faltering sentences, but the honesty of It, the faith so 'rlv vldenced Id both words al Wee. impressed the roughest there. She paused, her head still lowered; I heard some one say "Amen" solemnly, and raised my hand In signal. Noise lessly the ends of the planks were up tilted, and the two sneeted figures slid downward Into the gray water. In stantly they disappeared beneath the unfathomable depths. So silently and expeditiously was this accomplished that she even failed to note the action, lifting her eyes wonderllngly to the bare planks, and with a choking sob burying her face In her hands. With out venturing a word I led her gently to the companion. Five minutes later I stood again upon the bridge, the deck beneath throbbing to the pulse of the released engine, as the Sea Queen raced recklessly forward through the Ice-girded waters In des perate effort to attain her goal. It was not a dark night, for tho stars were out such cold, dead stars thej seemed and a little later I knew the moon would come stealing up above the waste ot waters, yet there was a haze hovering all about us, as though the entire surrounding atmosphere was thick with frost. I crouched down behind the slight protection of the tarpaulins, sweeping the horizon with my glasses, but discovering nothing to awaken alarm. I saw nothing of the watch, except as I called for them. Then they came, clawing their way out of the snug holes where they hid from wind and water. However, there was little enough for any of us to do; we could simply hold on, trusting in the strength of the keel under us, and sheering to eastward of the ice-pack. It was a wild, mad night, the wind freezing to tho marrow, and every wave dashing Its Icy spray hurtling against the front of the wheelhouse. At eight bells I went below again, every muscle, of my body aching, and my face tingling as though pierced by a thousand needles. I sat down before the red-hot stove in the cabin, think ing I should never get tie cold thawed out of me. Yet Inside of ten minutes, with head resting on tho chair-back, and legs extended to keep my balance, I was sound asleep. Whether a sudden leap of the ves sel or some unusual noise aroused me I cannot say. Dazed, confused, I sat upright, staring about me, for the mo ment scarcely realizing where I was. I could hoar the fierce pounding of the sea without, tho shrieking of wind through the cordage, and the rattle and groaning of the woodwork as the struggling vessel dived into the hol lows and fought her way back to the crests. A shower of hall lashed the windows, rattling like shot against the shutters. As I glanced backward across my shoulder, I heard, above all that hellish uproar, a hollow, unearthly groan. I was upon my feet in an Instant, grasping at the edge ot the .table, striving .vainly to place the sound. For some cause I could not keep my eyes off Tuttlo's door, every nerve pulsing with agony. Was It Imagination, Illusion? By all the gods, I beheld a white visionary form glide noiselessly forth and disappear as though dissolved In mist. It was cer tainly there, yet, In another Instant, had vanished, I knew not how. I stared about Into the dim corners, then leaped toward the door, seeking to open it. It was locked; of course it was, for the key was In my own pocket. Many tlmos I have known fear, but not such fear as this which now smote me. Hero waa something Intangible, something I could not reach and throt tle, a dim, frightful shade, coming from God alone knew whence. I pressed my hands to my head, and en deavored to laugh, to woo back my courage. Great heavens, was I also losing my mine'? Was I to be haunted and pursued by evil fancies? Had the curse of this ship now descended upon me? I staggered to my feet, holding on desperately to the table, seized the decanter from off the swinging shell and drank deeply. Lord, what grim fancies a man may have when the physical organism Is unstrung! I glanced at my watch, discovering I still had two hours below, and crossed over to my stateroom, nerving myself to play the man, jet glancing about fearfully Into the dancing shadows. I laughed as I closed the door, but shot the bolt hard, and lay there for an hour listening, every nerve atlngle, before fatigue finally closed my eyes. CHAPTER XVIII. In Which We Lay the Ghost. The coming of night found our situ atlon less promising a thick veil of clouds obscuring all Rleam of stars, the wind veering more to the west ward and growing bitterly cold. The barometer was falling slowly, nros- aging the approach of storm; yet nothing openly threatened with the exception of these thickening cloud masses scudding up from out the southwest, their wlldness reflected In the dnrkenlng sea, and the continuous thunder of wave along the Ice-front blocking our passage. I visited the epftin s.zA bailor riisj:. ordered half speed and prompt attention to signals, I to; x one bs searching glance about the (M-'-r.'n? horizon, and finally thtv myself, without undroasing. oa my bunk for a brief rest below. As 1 lay there, thinking of that wild scene without, I discovered sleep Im possible. Was I doing right ihus to hold on for further southing? My conscience was not altogether clear, for I realized that It would be luck rather than seamanship that would take us through and bring us safely out a;ala. Qjnly. some mysterj ot -c had thus far given us passage, had held the wind to anoth er point ot the compass, beating back the invading floes and yielding to us an open sea. But would such fortune last a day, two days, more? We could race northward with the Ice, but what about that vast field stretching to the northwest? It by some shift ol wind it were to elose In, the helpless Sea Queen would be crushed like an eggshell. And Lady Darlington had said she trusted me implicitly. Was I showing myself worthy by thus push ing the yacht deeper into danger? By heaven, for her sake, if for no other reason, I would play the man! Ay, and I comprehended exactly what such resolvo would cost realized ful ly what that mongrel crew would say and do the moment their ghostly ter rors fled, and they knew I had given up search for the treasure. I should have to command by brute force, by threat and blow. There would be mutiny aboard for every league until we made port. I knew the nature of that sea-scum forward how they would whine and curse, how they would hate me for tailing to hold them to their course in face of death! Well, let them hate; my love was worth by far the more, and tho life and honor of Lady Darlington out weighed all else on board ay, and the treasure of the Donna Isabel! "Im plicitly" I saw her eyes again as she said It, and sprang to the deck, fum bling In the darkness for the latch ot my door. The main cabin was dimly lighted and chill, the fire In the stove low. I paused to rattle It, and add a few lumps of coal from the scuttle stand ing near by. In spite of surrounding comforts what a grim, inhospitable place this was for any woman like her! The very snugness of tho cabin served only to emphasize the gloom and peril without, the frightful polar mystery which surrounded us, whfch drives men mad amid its awful dis tances, its shrouded silence. Suddenly, directly opposite where I stood, I saw it again that same Bhapeless, white, gliding figure. An Instant only I stood rooted to the spot, my blood like Ice, my eyes full of hor ror. Then the swift reaction came, the reserve courage of a man ashamed of such weakness, and I leaped straight toward the misty object, grap pling at it with my hand3. I touched nothing but air, falling headlong with a violence jarring the entire cabin, and overthrowing a chair crashing to the deck. Dazed, confused, I stag gered to my knees, staring about Into th6 dim shadows. A white-draped figure was at my very elbow, and I sprang to my feet, only to take a quick step backward, grasping at tho table, as I recognized Lady Darling ton. "Good God! was that you?" I gasped, the horror still possessing me. "This certainly Is," she answered, swiftly. "But what do you mean? What has occurred?" "I hardly know," and I looked about me, and then Into her face, breathing heavily. "I seem unable to separate the real from the unreal. I am half afraid I am losing my mind. Lady Darlington, it Is not only the crew for ward who are, seeing ghosts on hoard. I laughed at my experience before, be lieving It a mere' Illusion that could never occur again. In that spirit I told you about seeing a white, misty figure In this cabin tho night after Tuttle died. It vanished like a wreath of smoke, and daylight made me be lieve the vision was born of a tired brain. But I have seen It again now yonder, as plainly as I can see you. It was no dream, no Imagination; yet when I sought to grasp the thing, my fingers encountered nothing but air." I saw her hands tremble, her white face turned whither I pointed; but she had not beheld what I had, and her mind remained clear. "What was It you saw?" "A shapeless white figure, misty, vanishing like a bubble." "Yonder, you say? Just where you saw It before?" I had not thought of that, yet It was true there, beside Tuttle'g door. An Instant she stood motionless, her eyes searching the dim corners of the cab in, as though tracing some suspicion awakened within her mind. Suddenly she clasped my arm. "We do not believe In ghosts, Mr. Stephens, you and I," her voice grow ing firmer with conviction. "Our edu cation and training make such a con ception impossible. There is a natural cbuso for this, a reason, an actual presence back of the shadow. There must be, and we roust find It. Where did you stand when you saw this ap parition?" I stepped back to the spot beside the stove, realizing that sho still clung tightly to me. "Here, and I lifted my eyes like this." She leaned eagerly forward, her breath on my cheek, her fingers clutch ing my arm. "Why why that Is a mirror you are looking into! 8oe! What Is It re flected there? Turn up the light until I locate the spot. Oh, I see now the npen pantry door. Mr.' Stephens, there Is where your ghost stood It was the shadow of a man reflected In that mirror." Our eyes met, all my former terror Bed. shame and anger dominating me. Tn h Continued) LE3JE Where They Spend tho Day. Charles Auk at Lake Manawa. Miss Etta Hyde in Glenwood. Miss Agnes Foster at Glenwood. Mrs. Peter Evers at Clenwood. Miss Mary Kraeger In Omaha. Miss Ella Anderson In Glenwood. Tom Mack In the city of Murray. Will Sitzman and family at Oma ha. Aug. Hofman and wife In Oma ha. Dave. Anilck doing some tall fish ing. John Lindeniau in Glenwood and Tabor. Will Simons and wire nt Council Bluffs. G. W. Glenn and family nt Glen wood. L. E.- Engle and family nt Glen wood. Cliff Brlgga in the city of Glen wood. I. H. Sitzman with the people of Murray. Miss Helen Egenbcrger at Red Rock, la. Mrs. Lettle Bird nnd children at Glenwood. C. A. Dare In the thriving city of Glenwood. Riley Jones with old friends In Glenwood. Earl Travis In his Incubator at the court house. Eddie Todd nnd wife with tho Loulsvllleltes. Mrs. M. E. Buttery and son In Council Bluffs. John Richardson and son Floyd at Lake Manawa. Wade W. Windham with tho peo ple of Louisville. Martin L. Frlodrlch nnd daughter with Murrayltes. Col. M. A. Bates among tho good people of Murray. Mrs. Charles Harvey and non Oliver at Omaha. Harry Smith, wife and two daugh ters at Glenwood. George Schoerman with the good people of Louisville. Gus Olson taking pictures of the crowd at Glenwood. Mrs. Wm. Howland and baby In tho city of Lincoln. Mrs. N. II. Isbell and son John In the town of Omaha. Councilman Mendenhall with the Inhabitants of Glenwood. Lee Cotner and family and Miss Laura Tower at Glenwood. elson Jones, wife and daughters spent the day In Glenwood. Mrs. George Sayles and children In Cedar Creek with relatives. Misses Ethel and Pearl Hayne at Pacific Junction and Lake Manawa. Ye scribe in Plattsmouth grinding out cold blooded facts for tho peo ple. General Foreman Hayes of the Burlington at tho dry town of Lin coln. W. C. Hamilton assisted Prof. Schulhofs musicians to play the na tional airs at Glenwood. Senator Thomas and F. Clnre Thomas in Council Bluffs stirring up tho Jackson automobile people for more machines. W. A. Tulene and family, J. W. Tulene and family and 11. C. Tulene and family al lare visiting today in Glenwood and duly celebrated the day. Roy Thompson, Clyde Adamson, MIhs Jennie Batton and Miss Lillian Thompson spent today with the people of MurrBy helping to cele brate the fourth. Master Milton AtiNtln, one of the brightest bo j In the town tonight In " China Doll" at the Parmele. Children frs. Parent ft nnd 10 ccnU. ' Buy Cool Pair of Trousers for the 4th Your choice of a large assortment of grays, tans and greens, Dutchess make, guar- Ef anteed, at HfDJ Your choice of a handsome range of patterns in flannels and homespuns, peg-top (X CA and belt loops, at HJ DU C. E. Wescotfs Sons "Where Quality Counts." We ARE AGENTS FOR THE NANCY HANKS Mrs. Pickett laitertalns. Mrs. W. L. Pickett entertained a few lady friends at her home last evening. The evening was devoted to the always Interesting gamo of bridge, the company filling two ta bles. During the evening a delicious luncheon was served by tho hostess, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. Those who comprised this party were Misses Mia and Barbara Gerlng and their guest, Miss Woodruff, Vera Leonard, Mesdames T. P.- Livingston, W. ,T. Strelght and A. E. Gass. Mrs. Pickett was also hostess at a kenslngton on an afternoon of this week. On this occasion tho ladles had come prepared to ply the busy needle and (sew) they did while so ciability reigned supreme. An appe tizing luncheon whs served which fur ther augmented the pleasures of the afternoon. The ladles present were Mesdames F. O. Frlcke, C. G. Frlcke, W. A. Wil son of Detroit, Mich., II. N. Dovey, W. K. Fox, W. S. Wendell, A. E. Gass, Misses Lena Frlcke, Frances and May McKlnley. Is Shipping Mmiy t'licriicH. J. C. Petersen, tho well known fruit raiser near the city, Is creating a big market for his cherrleH. Hardly a train goes out of tho city that does not enrry some baskets of his products. Mr. Petersen Is one of the kind of men who sees that what he ships out is high class fruit and In this manner he la rapidly making a market for fruits. He ship ped twenty-nine baskets in one ship ment the other day each bringing him about ono dollar which Is not a bad day's work In Itself. Mention was made sometime ago of the straw berries which Mr. Petersen raises and his cherries aro at least equal In value and worth to the ber ries. If the other fruit growers of this section wont after business as Mr. Petersen does there would bo no trouble in making ths city a big market. Judge TravU Holds Court. Judge Travis came up from Ne braska City last night and today to hold a brief session of court' at which he transacted the following business. First National Bank of Platts mouth vs. Ilatt & Son et al. Objec tions to Jurisdiction overruled. City of Plattsmouth vs. Wescott et al. Defendants have leave to with draw demurrer and answer within thirty days. White vs. Sturm, Demurrer over ruled. Plaintiff excepts. Javorske vb. Javorsko. Restrain ing order granted plaintiff. State vs. Clarence. On application of the county attorney the hearing on tho motion for a new trial Is post poned to July 17, 9 a. m. Pasture to Rent. The undersigned has about 40 acres of good grass to rent for pas turing horses only. Good running water and plenty of shado. One dollar per month per head. C. Ilengen, ' 7V4 miles south of Plattsmouth. Don't Forget TliK Saturduy evening, July 10th Philip I Hid will give a bnrn dance at his tome six miles west of Myard. Everyone Is Invited and a good time assured to all who attend. Short horn for Kile Three good registered Shorthorn yearling bulls for snlo. Also good fresh milk cows. Mark White SUSPENDERS, 50 and 75c Pleasant Ulrth.by Surprise. Miss Lillian Thompson, Saturday afternoon, was made the recipient of a more than pleasant surprise party, which had been secertly planned by Mrs. J. L. Thompson, the occasion belngMIss Lillian's nineteenth birth daj'. Tho company consisted of the members of the Euterpean Glee Club. thoJr leader, Mrs. E. H. Wescott and a few friends of the young lady. Sho .vas very mich surprised when lV i.uests came In on her r,ut soon recovered and gave them a very plc.isunt afternoon. Tic; time was lA.-ted with u:.c!c. '.:h vocal and inmumontal, and ? clal conversiitl n. until vho early tv-ning when a dJifclitful liiithday luncheon was served. As a memento of tho auspicious ac- T.slon, thero were many handsome gifts left with Miss Lillian, who could not but feel other than highly pleas e'. a' the kind remembrances of her fl'lofldd. Tliire who part cbai-d l:i this i:.-st Iinppy event were MUkpj J'tha . 'al lll. Carrie V:.hc. UHiV-r! L ook. Lucilo Randall, Mur Barthold, Alice Tuey, Helen Spies, Garnet Cory. VIrglo MrDanlel, Nora Batten. Jen nie Bntten, Ferris York, Alleen Ren nJe, Elizabeth Kerr, Myrtle Hall. Mario nnd Opal Fitzgerald, Hermle Spies, Mary Sharp, Delia Moore, Florence Cory, Mabel Leesley, Dora KefTenberger, Varna Ilatt, Minnie Holnrlck; Mrs. E. II. Wescott. Oc for tho North. Rev. J. II. SalHbury departed this morning for Omaha where he will meet the incoming members of the Society of Christian Endeavor of this state and organize the Endeavors special train for St. Faul, Minn. Rev. Salsbury is president of the Society and as such he will have charge of tho train which promises to be the largest ever sent out by the Endeav orers. One feature of the train will be a marriage, the ceremony to be performed by Rev. Salsbury free of charge. It Is also expected and hoped that Hon. William Jennings Bryan will bo a guest of honor on the train and deliver a short address. Those who will attend from this city Include Mrs. J. H. Salsbury and son Russell, Mrs. Charles C. Parmele and daughter Hallle, Miss A!nm Larson.Mlss Alice Kerr, Misses Estclla and Carrie Balrd, Miss Pearl Staats, Miss Ruth Johnson and Miss Frances Weldman, all of whom de parted for Omaha this Bfternoon. . yuj Entertain M. 10. Ladle Aid. The Ladles Aid Saclo'y of tho M. E. Church were nun delightfully entertained at the homo of Judae Allen J. Beoson Wednesday after noon, with Mesdames Ed. Brant it nnd .'Jecson as hostesse. In deference to the season, th. d'-coratlons consisted lnrgcy of tlngi snd flowers, carry'n,: out the colli Ftiiemo of red, white and blut. A musical program wnq rendered during the iifwrnoon all of which vim most thoroughly enjoyed by Hope fortunate rnonri". to In pivs eit. Tl.o n'rihhment diversions In the term of ice cream and oiko materially Y.UC. In the social go id time. Trnch pleasure wti expressed by it- ladles, as they too1! tlidr de parture, at the cordtxl hospitality y Mesdames Brantnur nnd Heeson. special services at the Christian church In Murray Sunday night, July 11. A lecture sermon. Suh Jeet, "Fools." Everyone come.