Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-08-20

her fevered eyes towards the sailor, come and
lelp me. Listen-I will confess myself to
you
She raised herself on her elbow, and made the
| sign of the cross. Matthew seemed startled
| but could not make any objection. He belong
ed as we have said, to that race now almost ex.
| Iinct, even in Brittany, among whom the strong
and simple faith OF another age still survives -
| Many times, in shipwreck, have such as he
been SEEM after exhausting every means of saw
| ing themselves, kneelng down To wait for death
| confessing themselves to one another, like the
knights of old before battle. He was, therefore,
| more disturbed than surprised at Genevieve 5
| request; and when he heard her murmur the
| prayer which precedes the confession of sins he,
| TOO, uncovered his head, and crossed himse f,
| in order to fulfil the holy office necessity had
! in trusted to him.
| 1t was mournful and touching scene. The
| first glimmering rays of morning threw an un.
certain light upon the bed Geneveve's dis
| heveled head was bent towards the gray head OF
Matthew the low whisper of that last holy con-
hdence was heard proceeding-often interrupt.
ed by the sailors entreates that she would
| shorten it--and as often resumed, with the
strong persistence of those who, with severely
elfjudging consciences, think they can never
accuse themselves enough.
| At last, when she had finished, Ropars took
down the ivory crucifix from the head of the bed
put il TO the lips of Genevieve, and, laying his
| hand upon her forehead he said, with mournfu
| earnestness -
Nav God pardon you-as do, as well as l
| am able and if is not His will that you should
live for my happiness, may He find place foi
you with him in paradise
| An expression of unspeakaole calm came over
the face of the dying woman.
| Thank YOU murmured she your dissolution
will prevail before the Holy Trinity, Matthew
now am in peace
A sunbeam which was shining through the
window curtains reached her bed She turned
towards it.
The day is come continued she never
hoped to see it again. God has given me res
pite He has consented to grant me the last
| happiness which / wished for on earth. You
will not refuse it me either, my Matthew
| Speak. Genevieve,' said the seaman 1 will
do all that man can do
| She took his hand and looked at him.
Did you not tell me that our cousin could
see and understand your signals
| Yes, did.
Then, as you love me, Matthew, beg you to
give notice, directly, TO bring Francine out up
on his battery when she is there, you must
| take me in yOir arms, and carry me rs far as
the great rock and, If God permits, shall reach
it with life enough to see my child, and take her
| to my heart once more
| 1T shall be as you wish, Genevieve,' said
| lHt Sttiidtt, WIN, uFeICOUle Nv Tue uJlilR W.
| mans forebodngs, had given up hope, and had
no niger the power to refuse her anything.
'Quick, then-very quick y stammered she ;
for feel that God is calling me-
The quarter rushed out, rs if he feared
he should not be in time He came back almost
Immediately and said that Francine was on the
battery of the powder-magaZlne, with Dorot.-
The dying woman uttered a feeble cry of Joy,
and stretched ont her hands TO her husband
He wrapped her in his winter cloak and carried
her gently in his arms up to the ba:tery-para-
pet.
Where is she asked the sick woman, whose
eyes were dazzled by the daylight, as she tried
in vain to see. i distinguish nothing, Matthew
where is the child Show me my chi1dr
Look down there replied the seaman; do
you see the great rock y
Yes
And can you follow the ripple of the sea
along the bar p
Yes, yes =
And down there still further, over the reefs.
do you distinguish the battery walsY'
Down therel No it is nil mist-I see
| nothing oh, lift we've too late If had her nm
der my eyes, and yet could not see her more. o
my God, my God only once, once more let me
see my child !
These words or rather ordinations, of ma
ternal love, were so woeful, that ROpars could
! not conceal his teaIs. He placed the diving wo.
man upon the parapet, and knelt by her, to sup
port her.
Courage, Genevieve,' stammered he look
well on this slde-between the sky and the sea,
Il am looking said the diving woman who
seemed to gather all her remaining life together
into this effort. Lift up my head Matthew
Shade the sun from me-
She interrupted herself, by stfed exclama.
ton.
'Ah, there she is She sees me she holds out
her arms Francine! nv chld!'
She bent forward with su n sudden impuIse
that, but for Ropars, she would have fallen over
the rocks which went down to the sea pass
ing ray of life lit up her features; she sent her
kisses to her child-speakng TO her as if she
could hear her; she raised her casped hands to
heaven, with rapid and broken prayers she
smiled and wept at once. At last, the strength
for such utterance of her feelings failed her. and
her head fell back upon the quarter masters
shoulder, who, frightened, took her again in his
arms, to carry her back to the house but she
made a sign to him that she wished to stay in
the open air He placed her on the bench where
the family were wont to meet every evening, in
front of the sea, now lighted by the rising sun
After long fan,ing fit she again opened her
eyes, and asked for her daughter Matthew
looked towards the pOwder-magazine, and told
her Dorot had taken her away. She bowed her
head, sadly, lut in resignation
lie has done right said she, in a weaker
tone i feel, besides tn 1t my sight is confused
something to say to you Come near, Matthew,
nearer-my voice is going give me your hand
i must be sure you hear me-.
Ropars kne!t down on the sand, with one of
his hands in those of the dying woman, and
with the other passed round her, to support her
You will be left alone coninued she You
might, perhaps bear this, elsewhere: but here in
the middle Of the sea, it is not a life for a man.
or Christian. You are used TO have some one
to keep you company-to love you. When /
am no more, another must fill my place
Never = interrupted Ropars.
She motioned him with her hand to be ST.
lent.
Hush said she gently; 1T is right you should
think so as long as | am with you: but when
they have laid me in my coffin, you will feel
your need Do not think | reproach Won for it,
my poor husband-I would not carry away
your happiness with me in my winding-sheet
No, no wherever | am, l shall always wish to
be sure that you are in want of nothing
Enough, Geneviave = murmured the seaman,
his voice broken by emotion.
Let me finish resumed she have still
something to ask you. When you take the
Grape from your arm, Matthew, promise me to
think of the darling creature who is child to us
both, and who will remain with you, as a re-
membrance of NE. Look for wife who will
| supply my place TO her.
What are you asking me, and whom could
| give her for a mother after yOul cried Ropars
| Some one who will not grudge my having
| been chosen first replied Genevieve; an honest
heart, willing to take kindly to an orphan, to
talk to her o me, to teach her to love God, and
to obey you. If you promise me she shall be
| this, Matthew-if you promise il on your honor
and on your hope OF salvaton-l shall sleep In
peace, and blessing you
! Ropars promised, through his sobs and this
/ % 81 A-fva