Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-21

Dare you
Il dare nothing; there is nothing
which my church does not dare. Con-
verse, my children; l hinder you not.
The deck is free for ALL"
He bowed and let US pass, then fol-
lowed. Every sound of that slow smooth
step seemed to strike on my heart like
the tracking tread of doom.
Alexis and | spoke little or nothing.
A leaden despair seemed to bind us
closely round, allowing only one con-
sciousness, that for little, little time,
it bound us together! He held my arm
SO fast that | felt every throbbing of his
heart. My sole thought was now to say
some words that might be fixed eternaIly
there, so that 20 lure, no power might
make him swerve from his faith, the
faith which was my chief warrant of
meeting him, never, oh never in this
world, but in the world evellasing.
Once or twice in turning we confront
ed fully NJ, Anastasius. He was walk
ing in his usual slow pace, his hands
clasped behind him-his head bent, a
steady respose, even pensiveness, which
was his natural look, settled in his grave
eyes. lie was man too great in intel
leet to despise, in character too spotlcss
to loathe. The one sole feeling that he
inspired was that of unconquerable fear,
because you saw at once that he feared
nothing either in earth or heaven, that he
owned but one influence, and was amen
able but to one law, which he called "the
church," but which was, himself.
Men like NJ. Anastasius, one idea'd
all-engrossed men, are, according to slight
variations IN temperament, the salvation,
the laughing stock, or the terror of the
world.
He appeared in the latter form to
Alexis and me. Slowly, surely came to
the conviction that there was no peace
for US on Gods earth while he stood upon
1t; so strong, so powerful, that at times
| almost succumbed to vague belief in
his immortality. On this night, especi-
ally, was stricken with a horrible curl
osity, l think it was--a wish to see
whether he could die, whether the grave
could swallow him, and death have power
upon his flesh, like that of other men.
More than once, as he passed under a
huge beam, | thought, should it fall -
as he leaned against the ships side,
should it give way: But only, 1 declare
before Heaven, in frenzied speculative
curiosity, which | would not for worlds
have breathed to human soul, especially
to Alexis Saltram, who was his sisters
son, and whom he had been kind to as q
child.
Night darkened, and our walk ceased.
We had said nothng-nothing, except
that on parting, with kind of dest era
ton, Alexis buried my hand tightly in
his bosom, and whispered, Tomorrow
That midnight a sudden hurricane
came on. In half an hour all that was
left of the good ship Argo was little
boat, filed almost to sinking with half
drowned passengers, and few sailors
clinging to spars and fragments of the
wreck.
Alexis was lashed to a mast holding
me partly fastened to it, and partly sus-
tained in his arms. How he had found
and rescued me l know not but love is
very strong. It had been sweet to me
afterwards to think that | owed my life
to him, and him alone. l was the only
woman saved.
He was at the extreme end of the
mast we rested, face to face, my head
against his shoulder. All along, to its
slender point, the sailors were clinging
to the spar like flies, but We two did not
see anything in the world, save one an
other.
Life was dim. death vas near, yet ]
think we were not unhappy. Our Hea,
ven was clear for between US and Him
to whom we were going came no threat
ening shadow, holding in its remorseless
hand, life, faith, love. Death itself was
less terrible than NJ. Anastasius.
We had seen him among the saved
passengers in the boat then we thought
of him no more. We cIung together
with closed eyes, satisfied to die.
ssNe room, off therel No room ~
heard shouted, loud and savage, by the
sailor lashed behind me.
! opened my eyes. Alexis was gazing