Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-07-23
AZ OLD MAIDS STORY.
BY CORA MAY.

earted this shall be the last voyage,
I'D shall then have money enough to
- the pretty cottage and farm, and I
aa till its broad acres, and you will
my wife, the light and joy Of my
Icould only cling closer to him, and
Use my white face imploringly to his.
ssDon't, Sarah, you will break my
cart if you look at me SO ; it will be
tut six months, and such treasures as
shall then CLEAN from those barbarous
oreign lands to deck my bride, my
pretty Sarah, when she goes with me to
The little church and gives herself to
ne."
"You. must not 60, Harry. Oh,
Harry! had dream last night-such
wild, fearful dream. thought | had
ecked myself in bridal robes, and was
kaiting for you. I could see the
knowy sails Of your ship, as she came
bounding over the waters towards me.
All at once the blue sky was darkened
"a fierce gale swept over the sea,
flashing it to foam. For me ment the
ship struggled and quivercd, :hen slow
~ sank beneath the waves. l then
shrieked and tainted, but the dashing
SPRAY soon revived NE, and l saw a
form floating upon the waters a huge
wave dashed it upon the sand. The
fcold. white face was yours, Harry, and
I laid my hot cheek against it, but the
icy GOODNESS chilled me. l could not
weep, nor call for help +; the wild winds
moaned sadly, dead, dead, dead.
His face was pale, and there was
strange look in his dark eyes.
.Darling,'' he murmured sit was but
q dream-do not trouble yourself with
Dit. Look up, and tell me once again
that you love me, and will pray for me
when am away"
81 love you, Harry Seymour; l will
pray for you, but, oh, God, l shall
never see you again en- earth y
eyes, you will, my precious Sarah !;
you cannot get rid of me so easily. l
will soon be back again, and then You
have promised to be my bride. But
see, darling, there is the signal ; I must
now leave YOU"
He pressed me close to his heart, and
left warm kisses upon my brow, lip,
and cheek. / twined my arms tightly
around his neck, and so firmly that he
had to tear me from him.
ssGood bye, Sarah God bless you"
"Good bye, Harry"
l gazed after him as for the last time
on earth, as he fastened to the little
boat and rowed swiftly over the curling
waves to the ship. Then the sails were
unfurled, and the vessel moved swiftly
away over the broad ocean. I strained
my eyes, and kept them fastened on
the Auttering scarf which Harry waved
until the ship was mere speck, then
disappeared from view. threw my
self upon the sand, and sobbed, and
wept until | could weep no longer, for
the fountains Of grief were dry; then I
went to my home with my heart aching
--aching with the burden Of sorrow I
had garnered there Days, weeks,
mouths rolled by. When five months
ha | passed away, l received letter
from him.
.MY DEAREST SARAH Our good
ship is homeward bound. I shall soon
Fbc with you, soon lead you to the little
church, and the holy man Of God will
make us one. The little cottage shall
/ be our homo, and l will never leave
you again. Your pale face, and fear
fully imploring look has haunted me
through the long voyage, so pray you
look your sweetest when you come to
welcome me home. It has been such
sweet thought that you pray for me-
God surely will hear the prayers Of such
as you and, dearest, God has led me
to sec how sinful | have been in reject
ing His goodness and mercy; and l
have repented-oh, how sincerely
and God has accepted me for Jesus
sake. Now can joyfully place all my
treasures, my hopes, my all in his
hands, feeling that He will do all
things we'll. viii you not feel so too,
darling? If your fearful dream should
be realized, could you not say, Thy
will be done? But forgive me for
reminding you Of that which was the
cause Of so much sorrow to you. The
weather is fne-each moment brings
me nearer to you; my heart bounds
with gladness at the thought. Adieu,
my own, my darling Sarah | trust
soon to greet you in cur own home;
I laughed and wept for joy, and
danced gaily around the room. | push.
-pd.back my flowing hair, and gazed
long at the face which was reflected in
nv mirror; noted each trace Of care
and sadness, and, while I banished
them, called up smiles and looks Of Joy
and love.
The last day had come, the day when
j the good ship was due, the day which
VAS to bring Harry to me. The soft
golden haze Of the Indian summer gave
e dreamy look to the ripping waves !;
he brown fields and the gorgeous hues
che forest leaves, which were, one by
Sedropping from the branches and
here and there, had new,
beauty For me; but it was the
10y Of my heart which made
kso beautiful. Slowly passed
The flaming sun passed
b dark, sullen cloud. /
upon the broad ocean !;
kened the horizon
~ way homeward,
ny eyes at the