Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-09-19

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suaded myselfta thousand times that I
did not love her, and thousand times
determinedto to prove it by entering her
presence. 5Atlength l threw myself into
the vortex Of London society, and was
lost in the whirlpool.
One evening, at a crowded assembly, /
was standing near window in a recess,
talking with a lady, when felt strange
thrill. I cannot describe it. but its effect
was visible to my companion, who Instant
ly said, You are unwell, Mr.. Stuart, are
you not Your face became suddenY
flushed, and your hand trembled SO as to
shake the curtain"
was inexplicable to myself; but was
startled at the announcement of Mr.. and
Miss Sinclair. I turned and saw she was
entering on her brothers arm, mote bea-
tiful than ever. How 1 escaped did not
know, but did so.
Thrice afterward I was warned OF her
presence in this mysterious way, till be-
lieved that there was some mysterious
link between us two, of unknown, but
powerful character. have since learn
ed to believe in the communion Of spirits,
sometimes without material intervention.
heard of her frequently now as en-
gagged to Mr.. Weller, man whom 1
knew well. and. was ready to dohonor as
worthy of her love. When at length l
saw as supposed, satisfactory evidence
of the rumor, left London, and saw them
no more. The same rumor followed me
in my letters, and yet l was mad enough
TO dream Of Mary Sinclair, until months
after | awoke to the sense of what fool
had been. Convinced of this, went
aboard my yatch about midsummer, and
for four weeks never set my foot on shore.
One sultry day when pitch was frying
en- deck, in the hot sun, we rolled heavi-
ly on the Bay of Bisca, and passed the
afternoon under a sail on the larboard
quarterback. Toward evening fancied
a storm was brewing, and having made all
ready for it, smoked on tafFrail till mid
night, and then turned in. Will you be-
Icve me, felt that strange thrill through
my veins, as | lay in my hammock, and
awoke with it, fifteen seconds before the
watch OH deck called suddenly to the
man at the wheel, " Port-port your
helm a sail on the lee bow; steady sol"
| was ON deck in an instant, and saw
small schooner, showing no lights, had
crossed our lorc>foot within pistol shot,
and was now bearing up to the north
west. The sky was cloudy and dark, but
the breeze was very steady, and | went
below again, and after cndeavoring vain
ly to account for the emotion | had felt
in any reasonable way. at length fell
asleep, and the rocking Of my vessel, as
she tlcw before the wind, gave just mo-
ton enough TO my hammock to lull ME
into sound sIumber. But dreamed all
night Of Mary Sinclair. dreamed OF her,
but it was i'll unpleasant dreams l saw
her standing on the deck Of the " Foam"
and as 1 would advance toward her, the
form Of Weller would nterpose. would
fancy, at times, that my arm was around
her, and her form was resting againstmy
side, and her head lay on my shoulder
and then by the strange mutation OF
dreams, it was not l, but Weller that was
chained to a post. looking at them, and
she would kiss him, and again tho kiss
would be burning on my lips. The
morning found me wide awake, reason
ing myself out Of my fancies. BY noon
L had enough to do. The ocean was
reused. A tempest was out on the sea,
and the L" Foam went before it,
Night came down gloomily. The very
as we flew before the terrible blast l
was on deck lashed to the wheel, BY which
stood, with knife within reach to cut
the fastening, if necessary. We had but
Il rag of sail on her, and she moved more
like man bird than boat from wave to
wave. Again and again a blue wave
went over US, but she came up like a
duck and shook of the water and dashed
on. Now she staggered as blow was
on her bow that might have stove
IL mau- of-war. but she kept gallant
ly on ; and now she rolled heavily and
slowly, but never abated the swift flight
toward shore. Twas midnight when the
wind was highest. The bowling of the
cordage was demonical Now a scream
now shriek-now wall and laugh Of
mocking madness. On, on we few.
looked up, and turned quite around
the horizon. but could see no sky, no sea,
no cloud, all was blackness. AT that mo-
ment felt again the strange thrill, and
at the instant fancied denser blackness
ahead and tho next, with crash and
plunge, the Foam was clear gone!. Down
went my gallant boat, and with her an
other vessel, useen in the black night
The wheel to which / had been lashed,
had broken loose and. gone over with me
before she sank. 1t was heavy, and l
cut it away, and it went down in the deep
sea above my boat. And, seeing spar,
l seized it, and thrill of agony Shot
through me as 1 recognized the delicate
figure of woman. l drew her to me,
and lashed her to the spar by my side,
and SO in the black night, we two foated
away on the stormy ocean.