Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-08-28
34i3GGi(uuE0Us*
rIH BRIDE Or THE WRECK
a Beautiful story.

I was cnce a lonely Y sort Of a bachelor,and lad
never vet known what young m.n style the
passion OF passion hat! enough, rs my old
mate yondcr can tell you. J broke his head
twice. aal his arm once in fits of it; but lie
has always seemed to love me all the better,
he cliugs to me now very much as two pieces
to the same chip cling together when drifting
at sea. We are the sole survivors Of thou
sand wrecks, and Of the companies that sailed
with lis two years ago, no other one is left
ailoat: had been Il sailor from boyho0d,
and when 1 was twenty-five I may safely say
no man WAS more ft TO command 4 vessel
among the mariners of England. And at this
time my uncle died and left me his fortune.
had never seen him, and hardly knew of his
existence; but had now speaking evidence
of the fact that he existed 10 longer.
] was very young and strong in limb aud |
think stout 5f heart, and | was possessed oEthe
rental of some thousand per amnum. What
bar was there to my enjoyment OF the goods Of
life No bar indeed, but | r.t screly The !atk
of means of enjoyment l was Il sailor II e"ery
sense. My education was t2erable, and had
some books, but my tastes were nautical, aud
rned on shore. \ ou easily understand, t3ea,
why built yatch and did spend much Of
my time on her, She was iiue craft, and sui,ed
to my taste in every respect and remember
with sigh now, the happy days have spent
in the Foam
used to read considerable in my cabin,
and occasionally, indeed weekly, invited par
ties of gentlemen to cruise with me. But the
foo! of a lady had never been OH the declS OF
INV boat, and began to have an old bachelors
pride in the fact Yet | confess to you se-
cret longing for some sort of affection differ
ent from any had heretofore known, and a
restlessMess when men talked of beautiful wo-
men in my presence.
One summer evening was at the old hall
in which lny uncle died, and was entirely
alone. Towards sunset was surprised, while
looking over my books, by the entrance ot1a
gentleman hastily announced, and giving in
dication of no little excitement.
Your pardon, sir, for my unceremonloHs
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. l have taken
the liberty to ask your permission to bnnS
them to your residence.
OF course my consent was instantly given
and my own carriage dispatched to the park
gate: So
residing about tortY miles from tsc' anu htS
father. an invalid, fifty years or more OF age,
was on. his way in company with his son, to
his sons house. there to die and be buried
they were. strangers to me but made them
Welcome to my. house, as If it were their own,
and insisted on their using it
Miss Sinclair was. the first woman who had
crossed my doorstep since had been posses
or of the hall aud well might she have been
loved by better men than l.. She was very
small and and very beautitul-of the SIZE qf
Venus. which ali men worship as the pertee-
ton of beauty, bat having a setts blue, eye;
shaded by jet-blacE bfows, her face presented
the contrast of purity of whiteRess in the COM
plexicn set off by raven hair, and yet that ha;r
hanging in clustering curls, unbound by eomb
or iIlet, and the whole face lit up,with the ey-
preston OF gentle trust md complete cont
dence either in all around her, or else IN 1feE
own indoulitable. hetermination for AfaE7
Sinclair had mind Of her own, aud far aae-
ing one, too. She was nineteen then,
Her father died in my house, and / attended
the solemn procession that bore his remains
Over hill and valley,to the old church Which
his ancestors werelaid. Once after that cali.
al on the family, and then avoided them. !