The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-05-18


her to my spar by my side, and SO, in the
black night, we two floated away over the
stormy ocean.
My companion was senseless--for
aught knew dead. A thousand emo
tions passed through my mind in the next
five minutes. Who was my companion
on the slight spar? What was the yes
sci had sunk? Was with the body of
only human being, or was there a spark
of life left and how could / fan it to o
1 flame? Would it not be better to let her
sink than float of with me, thus alone to
starve or die of thirst and agony.
Il chaffed her hands her forehead, her
shoulders. In the dense darkness / could
not see feature of her face, nor tell if
she were old or young-scarcely white or
black. The silence on the sea was fear
full
| so long as had been on the deck of
my boat, the wind whistling through the
ropes and around the spars. had made a
continual sound; but now heard nothing
but the occasional sparkling OF the spray,
the dash Of the foam cap, or the heavy
sound of wind pressing ON nay ears.
AT length she moved her hand feebly
in mine. How my heart leaped at that
slight evidence that was not alone on the
wild ocean. I redoubled my exertions.-
passed one of her arms over my neck to
keep it out Of the water, while I chaffed
the other hand with both of mine. l felt
the clasp of that arm tighten, bowed my
head toward hers She drew me close to
her, laid her check against mine. let it
rest there-it might warm hers, and so
help to give her life. Then she nestled
close to my bosom and whispered THANK
YOU Wy did my brain so wildly throb
in my head at that whispered sentance?
She knew not where she was that was
clear Her mind was wandering At
this instant the end of the spar struck
some heavy object, and we were dashed
by huge wave over it, and to my joy
were left on floating deck. l cut the
lashing from the spar, and fastened my
companion and myself to the part of the
new raft or wreck, knew not which, and
all that time that arm was around my
neck, and rigid as if in death.
Now came the low wild that precedes
the breaking up of the storm. The air
seemed filed with viewless spirits mourn
fully singing and signing. never thought
of her as anything else than human be-
ing. It was that humanity, that dear
likeness of life, that endeared her to me.
l wound my arm around her, and drew
her close to my heart, and bowed my head
over her, and in the wildness of the mo-
ment passed my lips to hers in a long
passionate kiss of intense love and agony.
She gave it back, murmuring some name
of endearment, wound both arms round
my neck and laying her head on my shoul-
der with her forehead pressed against my
cheek, fell into calm slumber. Thatkiss
burns on my lips this hour. Half a CEN
tury of the cold kisses of the world have
not suficed to chill its influence. It thrills
me how as then! It was madness with
idle worship of the form of God gave in
the image Of himself which in that hour
I adored as ever God! feel the unearth-
ly joy again to-day, as I remember the
clasp OF those unknown arms, and the
soft pressure of that forehead. I know
not, I cared not, if she were old and hag
gard, or young and fair.
1 only knew and rejoiced with joy un-
told that she was human, mortal, or my
own kin, by the great Father of our race.
1T was a night of thought, and emo
tons and phantasms that never can be
described. Morning dawned gravely, the
first faint CLEAN of light showed me a
driving cloud above my head-it was well
coined with shudder. l hated light
I wanted to float over the heaving ocean,
with that form clinging to me, and my
arms around it, and my lips ever and anon
pressed to the passionless lips of the heavy
sleeper. l asked no light. 1t was an in
truder on my domain, and would drive
her from my embrace. I was mad.
! But as saw the face of my compan-
ion gradually revealed in the dawning
light; as my eyes began to make out one
by one the features, and at length the ter.
rible truth came slowly burning into my
brain, mourned aloudin my agony, God
of heavens, she is dead!' And twas Mary
Sinclair
But she was not dead.
I'VE foatcd all day long on the sea, and
at midnight Of the next night 1 hailed 8
ship and they took us off. Every mar
from the Foam and the vessel was tht
FAIRY, a schooner yacht, belong to afriend
of Miss Sinclair, with whom she and he1
brother and party of ladies and gentle
man had started but three days previous
ly for weeks cruise. I need not tel
yon how [ explained that strange thrill a:
the schooner crossed orr how the pioh