The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-10-26

Il in voice which,was familiar, but whose il
was could not recollect. zos-1i.cL ~ f11A
"James Watson" IL called, @are you game to
night? tsjust the timc for sail--a glori-
Gus breeze and bright moon! Come, will you?
And the boat was thrown up out of the wind,
and the next moment was beside me-
AT first was angry at being disturbed, but
that feeling left me in moment 1t was still
blowing very fresh; there seemed sort of ro-
nance about the Invitation and the scheme al
together; above all, it was good nature in the
sailor to think of me; Yielding, therefore, to
theso, or other impulses-rather acting as if
involuntary-I rose, stepped forward, stepped
down and was aboard the little craft
sat down where could, but my compan-
ionhad to get the boat into the wind once more
and as tho sail shifted it nearly swept me from
my seat. When recovered from the sudden
shock, the little vessel was scudding away be-
fore the wind; the crisp waves were fuming
and fretting against It as she flew along; every
thing around seemed full of life and joyous.
turned to look at my companion, bh-- largo,
heavy cloud had suddenly risen up to the heav-
ems, and foated across the moon, and shut her
light away. could see nothing but the white
sail above me and the lights on shore, and
few dim stars in the distant sky--all else was
suddenly dark around
And SO it continued for long time: longer
than can tell you. The boat went sailing on;
the wind blew fresher, and ever fresher, as we
got further from the shores and now the short
waves gradually changed into that longer and
moro rolling swell which sets after stormy
weather, between the Forelands.
Aud still the darkness was about US; dark
ness and silence too, save the rushing of the
vessel through the waves. i had frequently
spoken, but either the wind drowned my voice,
or my companion would not reply.
sense of mystery was over ne-seemed
to gather dimly round me; and tho motion of
the boat as it plunged and sprang onward, and
the darkness brooding round us, joined with
the strong silence of the helsman, to rouse
a kind of vague terror in my heart. Who
could he bei .
Among the people at the little Watering
place, were several acquaintances The Miss
Frazers' brother was there-a wild helter-
skelter fellow,-It might be Henry Frazer.
"What are you so confoundedly silent for:'
cried out. "Henry, do you think I don't
know your
Still there was no reply.
"Not such good night for sail you
thought shouted, determined that he
should hear. at would have been much bet
ter if we had not lost sight of the MOON"
No answsr
"How long were your sister to stay with
Lucyr
Still no response.
81 wish you had brought them out too l
pursued, speaking at tho full pitch of my voice.
1--WE should had some talking then. Why
don't you speak, man.
Not word.
strained my eyes to see him. In yain.-
The aloud of;1l hur, ,aA thu otu
1t had however, lifted lt,lo from the horizon,
and few stars were to bo seen beneath, but
no light reached us. | could not even make
out where my companion was sitting; whether
in the stern or close beside me- / did not
know what tackle he had for steering; he
might be at my side.
| strained my eyes to sec the lights ashore;
they were dim and very distant now. The
North Fore land Light itself, was long way
off, and one of the Goodwin becons seemed
very near; and the wind rose ever stronger,
and the boat still flew over the seas; and still
no sounds were to be heared but those of the
waves as they burst against the prov.
"Confound it!' / cried out at last, "this
passes joke, Henry. You are going out too
far. must get back to Lucy
The word had scarcely left my lips ere sud
den tempest of wind swept down upon the
boat. With quick dexterity he steered her
round into the teeth f the gale-momentary
salvation!-but the boat shook and trembled
all over with the shock, and falling of, sprang
forward again at frightful speed.
The cloud was broken up-broken and
whirled away from the face of the sky. In
an instant the whole armament seemed to oper
before our eyes in tho. sudden light. Not Q
vesting of cloud remaindd; but the solemn
moon looked down from among the stars OF
the wild waves, as they fought and struggled
with the wind.
turned and looked at my companions face
1t was that of ALFRED WATERS!
Instantly he saw he was known he sprana
up, his hdeous face working with passion, ant
while he still held the tiller of the rudder firmly
in ono hand, he pointed with the other to the
sands, which we were so fast nearing.
1t seemed as though he wished to speak ant
could not. My tongue, too appeared to bt
tied in my jaws. / strove but strove vainly, t.
say a word. But also sprang up from my
seat, and made as though l would advance t.
HIM.
What intended to do do not know; per
haps to wrest the tiler from him, to turn tn,
boat right round, and once more make fo
shvre. But before could reach him, some
power--what, know not-he could not hav,
done il, at least thought so--struck me dowr
on one oe the seats, where | remained, al
though fastened to it-as though in sensible
unable to stir limb for long time--how long
i never knew.
4 But when came to my self again, and look
ed up at him, saw that he was once more il
the stern sheets of the boat, and seated rs a
first. The moon still shone upon us-the gal,
still blew; it was fearful wind, and the boa
was strained and leaking in many parts, ant
the sea was constantly dashing over us. Still
he sat steadily there, and steered her on to
wards the Goodwin sands.
II Steadilyl-he sat too steadily there! A
first when glanced at his face, and saw il
repulsive features by the moonlight, and it
wide open eyes, I thought there was laugl
upon il; but II was not so; the shifting Of tn,
boat, made the appearance. He was not laugh
ing.