Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-31
MAHIN & CLEMENS.
The Bride Of the Wreck.

W VII lul LAN0s
The Bride Of the Wreck.
ssI was lonely sort Of bachelor, and
had never yet known what young men style
"ths passion" OF passion had snosgh,
asmy cid mate ysndsr can tell you. broke
his head twice, and his arm once, in Ats Of
il; bat he has always seemed to love nae all
the better, and he elings to me new very
much - two pieces Of the same ship cling
together when drifting at sea. We are the
Sols survivors of thousand wrecks, and Of
the gallant company that sailed with us two
years ago, no ether one is left aAoat. had
bssn sailor from boyhoed, and when was
twenty-five, may safely say no man was
more ct 10, command vessel amsng the
mariners Of England. And at this tims my
uncle died and left me his fortune. I had
never sssnl him, and hardly knew bis exist
snss; but had now speaking evidence Of
the fact that he existed, and equally good
proof that he existed no longer. was very
young, strong in limb, and think stout in
heart, and was possessed Of rental Of
some thousands per annum. What bar was
there to my enjoyment Of the gesd things
of lifs2 Ne bar, indeed, but felt sorely
ShS lack OF means Of enjoyment. was q
sailor in every sense. Ny education was
'tolsrable, and had read some books; but
ny taltss we're nautical, and pinsd on
shore. You will easily understand, then,
why IL was that built yacht and spent
most Of my time On her. She was fine
craft, suited to my taste in every respect
and remember, with sigh, now, the hap
py days l have spent in the Foam. / used
to read considerably in my cabin, and oc-
casionally, indeed weekly, invited parties
Of gentlemen to cruise with me. ButJthe
feet Of lady had never been on the deck
Of my boat, and began to have m old
baehslor's pride in that fact. Yet, eon-
fess to you a secret longing for some sort
Of affection different from any had here
tofers known, and q restlessness when men
talked Of beautiful women in my presence.
ssOns summer evening was at the old
hall in which nay uncle had died, and was en-
tirely alone. Towards sunset was surpris-
ed, while looking over my books, by the
entrance Of gentleman, hastily announced,
and giving indications Of no little excite
nent. a
"sYsur pardon, sir, for my unceremoni-
sss entrance. My horses have run away
with my carriage, and dashed it to pieces,
near your park gate. My father was badly
injured, and my sister is now watching him.
have taken the liberty to ask your permis-
sion to brin., him to your residence
aOf course, my consent was instantly
given, and my own carriage dispatched to
the park gate.
ssMr. Sinclair was gentleman Of fortune
residing about forty miles from me; and his
father, an invalid, fifty years or moro of age.
was on his way, in company with his son
to the sons house, there to die and be
buried. They were strangers to me, but '
made them welcome to my house as il it
were their own, and insisted on their us
ing it.
ssNiss Sinclair was the first woman who
had crossed my door-stone, since had been
the posssssor of the hall. And well might
she have been loved by better men than /.
She was very small, and very beautiful-of
the size Of Venus, which oil men worship
a. the perfection Of womanlY beauty, but
having seft blue eye, strangely shaded by
Jet black brows. Her face presented the
contrast Of purity Of whitsnsss in the COM
plaxion sst OF BY raven hair, and yet that
hsir hanging in clustering curls, unbound
BY oomb or fllst, and the whole face lit Up
with an expression Of gentle trust, and CON-
plsts confidence, either in all around her,
Or else in her own indemitabls detsrmina-
tion. For Mary Sinclair had mind Of her
own, and far.sssing emo too. She was
nineteen then.
"IIsr father died in my house and / at
tended the solemn procession that bore his
rrsuains oysr hill and valley, to the old
Church in which his ancestors were laid
Once after that called on the family, and
then avoided them. cannot tell yeu what
wastAs cause Of the aversion had to en-
tsring that house, or approaching the inau-
snes Of that mstchless girl. Ibelisvs that
II feared the magic Of her beauty and waa
impressed with my own unworthinsss to
slsvs her OF be believed by hsr. knew her
associates were Of the noble, the educated,
the refined, and that was none Of these
What, then, could / expect bat misery, il
Yielded TO the charm, Of that exquisite beau
ty,, or grasss which knew were in her ssul :
90 f.Alyssr passed, and Was very bey in
my continued thoughts Of her; persuaded
myself . thousaad times that did not levs
iAsr, aal : Thousand times determined to
prsss by entering her presence. At length
I threw myself into the vortex Of London
society, and was lest in the whirlpool.
rose evening at . crowded assembly,
was standing near the window in . recess,
taking with lady, when ! felt strange
thrill. ] cannot describe it - ysu, but it,
elect was visible to my companion, who
Instantly said, 'sYsu are unwsll, Mr.. Stew.
Art, are you not7 Ysur face became sud-
Asaly auahed, and ysur hand trsmblsd 80
~ g shake the curtain.'
II - ~-.>ye LA -