Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

Page 15 text:

friends, especially Mary. It was a peculiar thing but her fate did not worry me. I had almost forgotten her. and would have already done so. but for tlu lingering thought of her phantom-like appearance on the night of the storm. I knew she would come again but it only interested me. I did not fear her. either dead or alive. I glanced out at the port where all was bright and animated. Then that light, which I knew must precede Mary's coming, began to appear. Slowly Mary came from the dull light and stood forth in strong relief. She beckoned me to follow. I followed her across the deck, but she pointed to the shore. I hesitated. Site urged me on. 1 turned and fled to the shelter of the saloon, but she came to me and begged with such piteous eyes that my will was broken. I told the captain I had changed my mind and would go ashore. “That was only the beginning. She has never let me rest since that time. I have followed her for more than five years. That night at Aden, I discovered that the yacht sent out only one C. Q. I), and was never heard from again. She must have sunk1 the day I left her. I returned to the Pacific, still led on l»v that ghost-like vision of Mary, and for two years searched for the unknown island. I found many strange things, hut never a trace of Mary. I rescued one man. who claimed to have been alone on an island for twelve years. Xo ship had come for him. Would any come for Mary? Still I kept searching but in vain. I wandered over the whole world in answer to her beckon, but I could find no trace of her or of the ill-fated yacht. I circled the globe and came back to Aden. That night I walked along the wharf. The Regina of the P. ( . was in harbor. Mary came to me and called on me to board the ship. I was accustomed to do as my phantom told me. so I hoarded her. We left the harbor in great spirits, but the captain told me in private, that he thought he and his ship had left harbor for the last time. I can not tell you what happened, but there was a storm. 'The captain let me come on the bridge. Mary came to us agaim Her face had changed now. Instead of that cold smile, there was a frown. Her face had a triumphant look that frightened me. She spoke and seemed to tell me tint 1 had seen her for tlu last time. 1 understood. My life of misery and failure was about to cud. I smiled lightly for 1 had no fear, and if it did come—well, would you blame me? I returned to the saloon. The passengers were making merry in spite of the elements. I stood on a table—I know not why and I told them that we had loosed our cables and were drifting home, that they had their tickets for eternity. They thought me insane—but they soon knew the truth. Even as I spoke, there came a crash and an awful grinding, grating noise. The ship staggered, broke ami settled. I knew she was doomed. I rushed on deck and, leaping overboard, managed to reach shore. I crawled up the beach and dropped in exhaustion. When I recovered tlu sun wa dropping in the west. 1 staggered to mv feet ami limped along tlu beach. There was something vaguely familiar about the outline of tlu coast. 1 thought of Mary. Then it rushed to my mind that this was tlu island where I left Mary. I hastened along the shore. Reaching the cove I stopped, for there lay a huge skeleton. I could not tell what the skeleton had been for I had never seen anything resembling it. Across from this skeleton was a smaller one. I crossed and examined it. It was Mary! I knew the ring on that finger only too well. 1 wish I could say that 1 swooned in horror. Hut I did not. There was no sudden rush of sorrow. I had lost mv last vestige of hit inanity. 1 was a beast. The only thought that entered my mind was of curiosity as to how she died. How did she happen to die alone with this huge skeleton? Perhaps she died of fright, perhaps of hunger. I do not n

Page 14 text:

change. The slight gust I had felt had already died away, and the sea was as smooth as glass except for the long, sulky roll, occasionally cut by the dorsal fin of some cruising shark. A lone gull circled the ship and uttered a cry. as though to tell us of impending danger. I he trees on the island began to rock without any apparent cause, and we could hear a noise like the groan of some gigantic creature. The sailors, having finished their work, were either swearing, drinking, or praying. The sky had been changing rapidly. Now it was black and was full of small clouds. Then all was silence. long, white line of foam formed on the sea and came racing towards us. 1 he storm was about to break. “With a crash the squall was on us. The yacht lurched over until her lee bulwarks were under water. Down, down she was forced until it seemed she would never right herself. With a crash her hawser parted. 1 he ship righted herself with a spring that threw everyone to the floor, and was off before the wind. On. on. into the gathering gloom she rushed, crashing through the great waves with awful force. Now rising, now falling, crashing, bucking and plunging she went, kaeh minute we wondered how near her next plunge would take us to our fate. “It was then I thought of her. With overwhelming horror. I realized that Man was on the island. What must she think, deserted there. 1 he thcvglht tunned jne. With a wild shriek. I rushed on deck, only to he hurled hack, half-drowned and sorely bruised. Again I tried and succeeded in reaching the bridge. There, 1 shouted my story in the captains ear. He looked at me in horror, but perceiving my wild attitude, he turned away, thinking 1 had lost my mind. Then in a .sudden lull we heard the waves beating on the rocks. The captain listened attentively and ordered the engines reversed, but it was no use. I he propeller was powerless in the awful tempest. The captain and 1 peered ahead. 1 he darkness seemed to he clearing and a sullen glow appeared ahead of us. “The glow brightened. It took shape. It was my Mary. I hid my face in terror, but she only smiled and beckoned me on. 'I he pilot steered in her course. Huge rocks and reefs rose all around us. but we passed safely through, still following her. All that night she guided us. Her face still wore that serenely cold smile. 1 stood on the bridge entranced. As the day broke the storm ceased and with a farewell nod. she. my Mary, melted away. I sank to the floor of the bridge exhausted. s I roused myself. 1 saw the captain descending to the deck. A cold terror and a hatred for all mankind seized my heart. 1 could not face the passengers, but must flee. I crept aft and grasping a life preserver slipped overboard. I watched the vessel receding in the distance and hid my face in shame. Looking up again I saw no ship—the yacht had disappeared. Wondering how she had gone so quickly, 1 turned my attention to my life preserver. “I got inside the buoy and securely fastened mvself. Overcome with anxiety and sorrow. I soon lost consciousness. 1 do not remember anything more until I awoke in the doctor’s cabin of the S. S. Marmora. No one was present, so I had plenty of time to collect my senses. 1 must tell them I fell overboard. I mused. But what about the life buoy? Some one tossed it overboard. I must say that the ship came hack but I was so weak, the tide so strong, and the night so dark that she could not find me. although I saw her very plainly. So I made tip my storv and it was received with great interest bv the officers and passengers. The officers agreed to take me to Alexandria where I could obtain more money, and try to forget the past. The boat reached Aden, but I did not prepare to go ashore for I knew Aden well. I was sitting on deck, musing on what had happened to my 12

Page 16 text:

know ami must leave the mystery for someone else to solve. But I do know that my fate will he the same. 1 must die. but 1 do not regret it. Death will he a relief, a sweet sleep and rest from-this awful life of mine. 1 shall (lie with a smile and go to my God like a man. What 1 have sown that have 1 reaped. I’ll die like 1 have lived and no one can say that I did not die game. I'll say farewell to the world through this, my last expression and as we used to sav I'll cash my checks and go home to the only home I ever had.” That was all. —Robert Goodall, ’12.