Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1911 — HE GAME HOME WITH THE SHIP [ARTICLE]

HE GAME HOME WITH THE SHIP

Drowned Sailor Reappears to His Sweetheart ;C

The United States frigate Pensacola, ordered to Brasil, was getting ap anchor. Lieutenant Edward Fletcher and his fiancee. Grace Banning, were standing in a corner of the deck speaking the last harried parting words. “From all I can learn, sweetheart," he said. “we’B get back here within six months, and when we do”— “Oh. Ned. suppose something should happen!" “What can happen in these times of peace? No: Til be here with the ship, and then”— “Don’t sjßwk so confidently; there are storms and. down there, hurri"Dariing. I tell yon I’ll be here with the ship, no matter what happens.” There was a signal for visitors to leave the ship, a long, impassioned embrace between the lovers, and Miss Banning went ashore. On reaching Rio. Lieutenant Fletcher was ordered to command a boat’s crew to go ashore and bring off supplies. The passage was not considered dangerous. but a strong wind and tide, despite the oarsmen’s efforts to keep the boat steady, carried her bow around so that she fell into the trough of the sea. At the moment a gigantic wave dashed against her side, capsized her, and the young commander and all of bis crew were drowned. The shock to Grace Banning at hearing of her lover's death well nigh uplet bey reason. At first she cried to him piteously to come back to her; that he had promised to come back with the ship. Then she fell into a stupor, a lack of interest in everything about her. In vain her mother endeavored to provide her with such occupation and amusement as would divert her mind All in vain. She constantly brooded over the last scene between her and her lover, especially the words spoken by each, always ending. “Darling. I tell you I’ll be here with the ship, no matter what happens.” Mrs. Banning was pained to notice that her daughter was keeping track of the Pensacola. That ship on touching at Rio received orders to proceed around “the Horn” to San Francisco, thence to Hongkong. Grace watched the government reports. Indeed, her heart was in the ship —fling around the world. Perhaps she was waiting for It to return that she might again stand in the corner where she bad bidden what had proved a last fsrewelL When the ship reached China she began to appear more cbeerfnL It was as if her lover was aboard and. having —fled over half the globe, would now have entered upon the return. Mrs. Banning, not realizing the cause of the change in Grace, began to hope that aba was mending and even looked about for a suitable party with whom aha might make a match for her. She knew Grace would never marry for love »«d being Indifferent as to whom aha married, might be Influenced to take a rich husband. At last it was announced that the ship Pensacola was due. She did not arrive on time, and Grace seemed troubled. When she arrived Grace was in a flutter, acting as one about to be reunited with a lover Instead of with the ship on which he bad sailed. Then came Invitations for a ball given by the officers on board the ship. Mrs. Banning reproved the servant who unwittingly gave the cards to Grace, but was thunderstruck wh n n her daughter told her that she would attend the balL Finding that she could not dissuade her, the mother consented, with a faint hope that the visit under such different circumstances from the last might break the spell. On the night of the entertainment the ship was brilliantly illuminated, while a marine band furnished music. The decks woe in possession of the dancers. Mrs. Banning kept an eye on her daughter for awhile, but Grace seemed to stand np so we* under the ■train that her mother soon gave over watching her. Then Grace was missing. She had walked, on the arm of a naval officer, to the corner where she had parted with her lover. That corner was now in the light, and couples were walking past It to and fro. Suddenly Grace’s form quivered, she threw up her arms and exclaimed: “Ned! Oh. Ned! 1 knew you would be herer She started forward with outstretched arms, but soon sank la a swoon. Her attendant, astonished, picked ber up, while several couples who were passing sprang to his assistance. Water was sprinkled in her face, and she revived. Then, with a strange light in her eye, she walked away, supported by ber attendant. Her mother was Called, and they left the ship to be driven borne. The officer who bad been ber escort, puzzled, went back to the place where Grace bad swooned. There in the corner where she bad seen, or fancied she saw. her lover be picked up several strands of wet slimy seaweed. He wondered bow they came there. 7 Grace waa driven to a borne she never afterward left. She made no mention of the cause of her shock, and her mother never asked for Information concerning 1L The physician who was called In pronounced her case one of hysteria, the result of monomania or brooding ou one subject. However that may be. ber melancholy never left her.