The Story Teller.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 147, 27 May 1892, Page 6

The Story Teller.

HOW HE WON HER.

: A COMPLETE STOBY. Toward the close of an autumn day the gallant ship Colombia was standing in towards the Atlantic coast. Her rusty chains and weather-beaten sides gave ample proof that' her voyage had been a long one Land was not yet in.sight but the captain said it ;Woukl be spoken within 24 hours, and the passengers were in the highest spirits ‘••'These were but three in number : a gentleman somewhat advanced in years, his daughter,' a beautiful girl of nineteen, and Mrs Beaumont, her companion. They were now grouped on the quarter-deck, admiring the autumn sunset. A thin golden mist veiled the sky, assuming toward the west a soft green tinge, changing into a deep and glowing purple, crossed by streaks of brilliant crimson in the immediate vicinity of the sup.- ‘ How beautiful I’ exclaimed Miss Haz—elfcop. '‘'Did' jou ever see such a sight, father?’ ‘ It is is indeed lovely, ’ said Mrs. Beauipbnt.A And yet glorious as is this spectacle my dear, I fear it portends no good. The last. time I crossed the ocean, an evening jpst like this ushered in a fearful tempest,’ Miss Hazelton’s face lost its gaiety, and she looked inquiringly at her father. ‘ Mrs. Beaumont is right, ’he said. * I don’t like the golden haze, nor that bank of crimson clouds which you think so beautiful. We shall certainly have a gale before morning. But there is nothing to fear. Our ship is staunch and new, and the captain an experienced officer ; the worst thing that can happen is a delay iu entering port. As' it looks now, we may not reach Boston to-morrow.”

‘ I hope you are mistaken, Mr Hazelton. ’ said the captain, approaching at that moment. /We are only a few hours’ sail from the eby, and the gale may favour outpassage. * A father is more timid than one of youi profession, captain, ’ said Mr. Hazelton ; and he drew his daughter near him and kissed her forehead. 1 should be anxious, too,’ replied the " tffcher,' ‘ if 1 foresaw danger. But you may continue to watch the sunset without fear. I do not think there will be much of a storm.’ Tile party continued on the until after dusk, ' Slowly the sun sank, and yet, long after his disappearance, the western horizon continued to blaze with splendour Gradually this faded away,and masses of dark grey clouds covered the sky. The air grew damp and chilly, and the wind came in moaning gusts. .. v.Afc about eleven in the evening Mary Haze)ton, who had retired early, was a wakened by the rapid tread of feet overhead, the crea of blocks overhead and the shouts of 'flic officers. She arose and dressed c>v: -kiv. At the door of her state room shi‘ t ■ Mrs Beaumont, who had come to SO k 'ter--1 What can be the matter ? ’ asked Mary. Where is, my lather ? ’ •: J jle has gone on dock my dear. There rri-ble- storm, and the ship is in great peril,’ At this moment Mr Hazelton appeared L?is elotlies wi re covered with brine. As he-entered the cabin the'Ship gave a sudden turn, : hen quivered in every timber, and a torrent of wat. r poured down the companion way. Both women screamed with fright. ‘ Oh, father, is there any danger ? cried Mary. •" I am afraid so, dear .* wc aie neaiei the shore than we thought, and there are breakers abend. If we cannot keep clear of them

we are lost. , , .., -‘’'Mary grew deadly pale, hut did no.

sneak. , t q'he captain is doing all lie can, continued Mi Hazelton. ‘ Our snip is a stout craft and carries her sail nobiy. If nothing gives way overhead we shall escaped § .An hour passed. The gale had got abated, and the struggles of the ship had by no means lessened. Every now and then a o-jerantic wave struck it with fearful force. Suddenly a crack like a clap of thunder was braid, . , , r : ‘ Wha,, can that he? cried Mary, as the ship plunged desperately leeward, • It is the foretopsail, I fear, torn 1° l'Wfootis. God preserve us ! ’ said Mr Hazelion, rushing on deck.

Mary hesitated a moment, then fojowed him She looked instantly toward tli® foremast. The sail was indeed gone. Clinging to a railing she peered eagerly around, The night was still dark, but she could see distinctly, close under their lee, a long line of breakers, where the huge waves boiled and foamed. Presently Mr Hazelton returned." ‘ Mary, my child,’ he said solemnly, ‘ I fear there is no hope. We must surely strike in a few moments. Where is Mrs Beaumont ? ’ ‘ Here, sir,’ answered that lady faintly. She had kept close to Mary, and was paralysed with terror. ‘ Let us remain close together as long as we can,’ continued Mr Hazelton. - and await the end with courage. It cannot be far off.’ # # * At this very hour two young men sat in the parlour of the Marysville inn, A fire blazed in the grate, a bottle of not indifferent wine stood on the table beside them, and a cloud of smoke rose from their fragrant cheroots, ‘ A bad night, Graham,’ said one. ‘ How the wind rattles these windows ! I tell you, if you had not known of this little fishing village, we should have had rough riding to Crampton.’

‘ Oh, I am acquainted with every nook in the vicinity. The people, I see, don’t recognise me, hut when a boy I used to be here every summer. Many the wild duck have I brought down in the salt marsh a mile below the village. Hallo ! What’s that ? ’ He rose to his feet excitedly. ‘ That was a gun surely. God help the ship that goes ashore tonight! ’ The young - men listened, and could hear distinctly the boom of a cannon repeated again and again at intervals. It was a strange and startling sound, and bore to the listeners’ ears a tale of peril, of death, perhaps. Graham seized his hat and started toward the door. ‘ Where are you going ? ’ asked his friend. ‘To see if any aid can be rendered. Come along ! ’ ‘ What nonsense, Graham ! We can do nothing. The shoremen will help tho shipwrecked people. You must be less tired than I am, if you prefer the rain outside to this warm fire.’ Graham turned back and faced his friend. * Arthur Hazelton,’ said he, in an earnest tone, ‘suppose you knew that t here were friends of yours on board? Would you sit hero and let them perish ? 1 know these shoremen : thvv are brave, hut they need a leader. What if you were to stay here and learn tomorrow that your sister and father had been in deadly peril ?

‘Good henveus ! You alarm me !’ Hazelton exclaimed, rising, ‘But they cannot be in that ship. It is several hundred miles out of their way.’ ‘ There be those aboard who are as dear to others as your sister is to you, aid I for one will do what I can to save them. If you are of the same mind, Hazelton, hasten.

‘ Well, since you put it in that way, I’ll come.’ said his friend : and he followed his companion without further words. When they arrived at the beach they found a crowd of fishermen already there. ‘ Has the vessel struck yet?’ asked Graham, addressing a person near him. ‘ I do not near her guns.’ ‘ We heard them a moment ago —ah ! there is one now.’ As he spoke, the distinct report of a cannon came apparently from a short distance in front of them. ‘ They are not all lost yet.’ said Graham ‘ Where is the life-boat that used to be here ? ‘ You have been in these parts before, I see,’ said the man. But, Heaven bless you ! You don’t know much of the coast, or you wouldn’t propose going off to the wreck on a night like this.’ ‘ I know it is perilous,’ replied Graham, ‘ but I have resolved to make the trial. Surely some of you who have braved so many storms will come with me.’ f It is because we are accustomed to such storms/ said an old salt, ‘ that we hang hack. Bravery is bravery, but foolhardiness is not courage,’ ‘ The man is right, Roy,’ said Hazelton, earnestly. I No one is justified in throwing his life away.’ J 11 yon you will not help me then?’ cried G ralia.nl.

‘ No—such an undertaking as you propose is suicide—neither more nor less.’ Graham turned abruptly to the fisherman.

‘ Where is the life-boat ?’ he asked. ‘ln the shed yonder. It’s been so long out of use that it is unseaworthy. Take an old man’s advice, and don't tempt Providence.’

‘ I am resolved to reach the wreck, and I will give fifty dollars to every man who eonics with me Will none of von try il ?’

For a moment there was silence ; at length some one said :

‘ You are liberal, sir, but money can’t buy us. If we go at all we go for nothing. But we’ve wives and families. Besides, if that ship has struck on Deadrnan’s Shoal, she’s gone to pieces before this We have not heard a gun these five minutes.’

* Good Heavens !’ said Graham, ‘ what am Ito do? Arthur come with me! I feel sure you will regret it if you do not. Say you will, old fellow. Y r our example will inspire the rest.’ ‘ Then I will !’ cried Hazelton, touched by his friend’s earnestness. ‘ Thank God ! Who comes with us ?’ Several of the young men in the crowd came forward and volunteered their services.

‘ Now let us be off,’ said Graham, when the life-boat was pulled on to the beach. Are you all ready ?’ ‘ Ay, Ay,’ was the answer, every eye turned towards the brave young man. He gave the word, and off into the water the boat shot ; the men spraug to their work, and after a short struggle she breasted the waves and made her way out to sea.

Headman’s Shoal was a bar of considerable extent placed in the confluence of two currents, and celebrated for the number and fatal character of its shipwrecks. Pew vessels that struck upon it were able to hold together through the night ; they generally went to pieces in less than an hour. When the Colombia grounded it was with a jar that lifted the sailors from their feet and snapped the foremast off like a pipestem, close to the deck. A gun was fired just as they were driven on the bar, and immediately afterward the stern, with the majority of the crew, disappeared in the wild vortex of waters.

The fore part of the vessel still remained together, and on this were gathered the passengers, a few sailors, and the captain. ‘ How long do you think this will last ?’ said Mr Hazelton, addressing the latter. ‘ Not long—possibly not five minutes.’ ‘ Let mo hide my face on your Shoulder, papa,’ said Mary, who had conducted her - self like a heroine till now. ‘I am not afraid of death, but I cannot bear to see it coming.’

‘ My poor darling,’ lie answered tenderly; clasping her in his arms, ‘ How little we thought of this a few short hours ago!’ Ten minutes went by. The wind still blew with violence. Now and then a gigantic wave came in toward the ship, its vast point rising over all round, towering higher as it approached, until finally it plunged upon the wreck, almost burying it for a moment, each shock of tin’s kind threatening to be the last. Suddenly Mary raised her head from her father’s bosom. ‘ Hark ! Did you hear a human voice ?’ she cried. The captain listened but could hear nothing. Raising his hand to his mouth he shouted : ‘ Hei-lo—o ! Hello !’ ‘ Ahoy !’ came faintly up the wind. ‘ Hillo! Hillo !’ shouted the captain again. ‘ Ahoy—ahoy !’ came back in reply, clearly and distinctly. There was no longer any doubt. Help was at hand. ■ God be praised 1’ said the captain. ‘ A life-boat is coming to take us off.’ * Y r ou are saved, my darling !’ exclaimed Mr Hazelton, embracing his daughter. Mary said nothing ; but her lips moved in silent thanksgiving. The boat soon came in sight. Graham stood well forward, directing his men and shouting words of encouragement to the people he had come to save, and in a few moments, gaining courage from his example, all were safe on board, although the transfer was made with uo little difficulty and danger, What was the astonishment of young Hazelton when he found it was his own sister and father who had been rescued ! His heart smote him as he remembered that hut for Graham’s persistence he would

have remained on shore. With difficulty the life-boat readied land; no craft less buoyant could have survived that night ; but it seemed as though providence rewarded the gallant crew by bringing them safely home again. One more item and our storv is. told. Love, says the old adage, often springs from gratitude ; it must have been so in ibis case, for barely a twelvemonth alter Roy Graham and Mary Hazelton became husband and wife ; and they are the happiest pair in the world.