The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-05-21

and complete confidence either in all
around her, or else in her own indomita-
bic determination for Mary Sinclair
had q mind of her own. and farseeing
one, too.
Her father died in my house, and I
attended the solemn procession that bore
his remains over hill and valley, to the
old church in whicE his ancestors were
laid. Once after that | called on the
family and then avoided them can
not tell YOU what the cause Of the aver
sion felt TO entering that house or APP
preaching the influence of that match
less girl. / believed that | feared the
magic of her beauty, and was impressed
with my unworthness to love her. |
knew her associates were of the noble,
the educated, the refined and that was
mono of these What then could l OK
poct but misery, if | yielded to the
charms of that exquisite beauty or grace
which | knew were in her soul
A year passed and | was the very boy
in my continued thoughts of her. ] per.
suaded myself thousand times that |
did not love her, and a thousand times
determined to prove it by entering her
presence. AT length l threw myself in
to the vortex of London society, and was
lost in the whirlpool.
One evening. at a crowded assembly.
| was standing near window in re-
cess talking with lady when felt a
its effects was visible to my companion,
who instantly said,
You are unwell Mr. Stuart. are you
not Your face became suddenly flush.
ed and your hand trcmbled so as to
shake the curtain"
1t was inexplicable to myself but |
was startled at the announcement of Mr..
and Miss Sinclair. turned and saw
she was entering on her brothers arm
moro beautiful than ever. How | cs.
capped | did not know, but | did so.
Thrice afterwards was Warned Of her
presence in this mysterious way, till |
believed that there was some mysterious
link between us two. of unknown. but
powerful character. l have since learn
ed to believe the communion of spirit,
sometimes without material interven-
ton
heard of her frequently now as en-
gagged to a Mr.. Wellor. a man who |
knew we'll, and was ready to do honor as
worthy of her love. At length | saw. as
| supposed. satisfactory evidence of the
rumor. left London and saw them no
more. The same rumors followed me in
my letters. and yet / was mad enough to
dream Of Mary Sinclair. until months af
ter, awoko to the sense of what a fool
! had been Convinced Of this | went a.
broad in my yacht about mdaummcr,and
for four weeks never set foot on shore.
One sultry day. when pitch was fry.
ing on deck in the bot sun, we rolled
heavily on the Bay of Biscay, and pass
ed the afternoon under sail on the lar.
board quarter deck Toward evening |
fancicd a storm was brewing, and, having
mndo all ready for it, smoked on the taf-
frail till midnight. and then turned in.
Will you believe me felt that strange
thrill through my veins as | lay in my
hammock, and awoke with it. fifteen see.
onds before the watch on deck called
suddenly to the man at the wheel, Port
port hour helm sail on the lee bow;
steady so +
was on deck in an instant, and saw
that a stiff breeze was blowing, and a
small schooner, slowing no lights, had
crossed our forc-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 endeavoring 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 flew before the wind, gave Just mo.
tion enough to my hammock to lull me
into a sound slumber But ! dreamed
all night of Mary Sinclair. J. dreamed
of her, but it was in unpleasant dreams
| saw her standing on the deck Of the
Foam" ard as | would advance toward
her the form Of Weller would interpose.
| would fancy. at times that my arms
were around her, and her form was rest.
ing against my side, and her head lay on
my shoulder and then, by the strange
mutination of dreams, il was not ]. but
Weller that was holding her, and was
chained to a post looking at them, and
she would kiss him, and again the kiss
would be burning on my lips. The morn.
ing found me wide awake, reasoning my.
self out of my fancies. The noon | had
enough to do. The ocean was reused.
A tempest was out on the sea; and the
foam went before it
Night came down gloomily. The very
blackncss of darkness was on the water
as we few before the terrible blast.
was on deck lashed to the wheel by which
| stood, with knife within my reach TO
cut the fastening if necessary. We had
but a rag of sail on her, and she moved
more like bird than boat from wave
to wave, Again and again blue wave
went over us. but she came up like duck
aud shook of the water aud dashed on.
Now she staggered as blow was on her
that might have stove a man-ofwar, but
she kept CALAMITY on and nov she roll
ed heavily and slowly, but never abated
the swift flight toward shore. 1t was
midnight when tho wind was highest.
The bowling of the cordage was demoHi-
cal. Now a scream, now a shrek, now
a wall, and now a laugh of mocking mad
ness I'm on wa flaw