New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-09

.
But Margaret caught her round the neck,
and NJ. 6oaxingly:
80 back let us 60 on the sands, only
just INIT point where the star-fsh are
The tide was low, they went down the
stsf1, on the sands and round the point. At
the very foot Of the cliffs blacklline appeared,
much above the usual water mark collected
SEA weed of all sorts, which the waves had torn
firm their rocky hold, from the broad scalloped
With its gracefully falling fringe and pen
60, which might have draped the halls of
Thetis, to The laced and crimsoned threads Of
which fancy might have woye her coyerlet; here
and there these were tangled with knots of
transparent green, brillianta as emeralds Here
and there they had to scramble. over heaps of
collected pebbles, which the sea had thrown UP
Of regular distances, leaving smooth sandy iln-,
dulations between, where Margaret would lin.
ger over pearly shell or star-fsh, with its
FADING hues OF crimson, pink and or4nge. Pres
emily she made longer pause, and then came
struggling through the wind with some ne@
found treasure. af
Look, look isn't it beautiful, if NE could
only wash it,
Well, love, we will go as far as the spring
and wash it.
Their walk under the cliffs had brought them
almost t0 the part near the top Of which Mr.,
lredale's hot Mss; for it is his daughter whose
pAth Ne kax6 been following.
TN spring spoken Of was a crystal stream,
which, summer and winter, burst out of tbe
sandstone cliff few yards above it's base. and
falling into baain Of large fints. trickled away
n through many little channels into the sea or in
aryer weather lost itself in the sand. When
tney reached 1t, to the disappointment of Mar
ny surprise o. her companion, its usually
sRlensfdI fow had ceased, and this was more 70.
Variable as it was after a period Of much rain.
- increasing gloom Of evening warned them
70 return, the gale, which had lnlled for n short
time, seemed to be acquiring new yigor. and
now came charged with moisture, while volumes
q dark vapor were rapidly accommodating in the.
distance, By the time they reached home it
was nearly dark, The house stood neal, q sharp1
turn q me road, about three parts up the hill,
a y On reaching it they could just discern, in
tnt increasing mist and darkness cart thrown |
over on its side some men near seemed examin-
ing broken wheel, and two horses. stood by
uneasily covering in the wind. They did not
give this much attention, but speedily sought
shelter from the storm. 80
on reaching the town. the driver, of this cart
reported that as he was descending the hill
about dusk, ct q moderate pace, the horses
seemed 70 stumble, and almost at the same in
slant the cart plunged doWnwards, was as sud
aenly checked. and the wheel breaking, was
On.h
q narrow crevice across the road, and an alb
raPt step, as if one partof the path had broken
away and sunk from the other. After a night
OF almost palpable darkness, morning dawned
upon lew faces that were not pale with watch |
ing and apprehension; it dawned npon waves
that 1eaped and roared more frightfully than
any on the day before; it dawned' gloomy and |
rayIess Of hope, as its own sunrise on a wave |
tossed bark, which the lifting mist for a moment
showed 70 those on shore, and quickly shrouded
AGAIN Far inland, flakes of white foam met
the evening coach on its way to Rhudglath. and
missed past it, or chung quivering to the sides
on surmonnting the last hill on the road. Fl mot
the storm full IN the face; horses and all STAG
gered under it, and came to stand, The oniv
passenger outside drew his cloak more firmly
about him, and Tightening his grasp upon the
coacn the driver for some seconds piled whip
sIll rem IN vain, but the first impetus of the
gust passing over, they moved on, and were less
exposed as they went down into the valley
MI Ihs sole traveller on such a day was Gerard
lredale, who had reached England earlier than II
was expected, and was speeding to his daughter
ane Indian rhyme wac still ringing in his ears.
HIS thoughts were so wildly anticipating the
meeting with his child, that fancy already gave
aor to his arms hope suggested another pre-
sence; lie was actor in scene which the rails i
ing OF an eyeid served to dissipate, vet how 9
often IN that ride was it repeated! From one ,
OF tnese distractions he was recalled by thel
~ - .AA'sl
Did you hear that, sir % he said and wbile
ne was yet speaking, full heavy report came
doEn on the wind. The horses were pressed 10
Their fuH speed On reaching the town, thew
[ound y almost deserted, and Gerard hastily
made g his WY towards the coast It was
lhronged with people. Just visible through the t
irving mist and twilight was the dim Outline ,
q large ship; the tapering spars, which :
snouia nave lowered over her, and all the pic.
turesque bravery Of cordage, sail, and ffar.
were gone, and she heaved and plunged in tbe v
waters shapeIess log, arrested for the time in Ia
ner progress towards the destroying rocks bv r
an anchor, the last hope Of these fated yovarers
y men nignt lei! she was slowly setting towards
me reel, where it was almost rcertain She would
80 TO pieces before morning. In anticipation of Il
ms the Watchers on shore had prepared a large
pie 81 prashwood and other combustibles stand |
ng ~ shls, ME- " slredale heard rafting like y
stones descending over the face of the,alif: in
moment something came bounding down fbo {
loping beach, and, scattering the fagots, passed
IN, and was lost in the foam. The man Who ,
'tood Dy had narrow escape, and when sur I.
,rise allowed him. he said
All, this rain and wind have been brino;no
Town loose pieces all day This same man Il {
vas who had driven the cart on the night be-
ore md he added, 81 doubt but there'u he
more down before the week is OUT :
Why 50 Z" and Mr. Iredale remembered his :
laughter in her Gerry home.
Half mad, he quilted the shore, red with the q
beacon glare, and hurried up the Winding road O
hat LED to his house. <Tremulons hiIooks of | n
r Jay an around, arrowy sleet met him in \
ne face, and beat him back. Still he went on
Inere was clamor of voices, loud waihngs,
iashlng lights, and above all, the constant lfn t
JASON Of the waves; he knew the ship was n
Still ne went on.
For moment, as he gained the top he mans. d
d; for from below he heard roar 50 loud thot G.
VI the howlings Of the storm erewhile we've S
Whispers to this horror. The sound returned fl
he pinnacles Of foam rose pale as spectres, He y
cached the garden-gate; the instant that he
aused before it saved his life, for one step moro
nd the black sea that held SO many dear ones c
lad been his pail. b
The cliff had fallen. n
Home and child were gone. 1t seemed, in.
Iced, his love was turned a curse, and like the :.
uilty lsraeiite OF old, his step upon the thresh-
I'D was enough to bid the loved one die.
There is light again. The sea is angry still, b
'ut it is as the passion of youth to the fury of
liant There are huge white clouds burryinc :,
cross the azure, and snowy crests above the
urrowed waves. 1t is the morning after the 81
,reat storm. We are near the spot where Mar. p
aret and her gOverness fingered hut lately &