Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-25

reach to cut the fastenings, II necessa
ry. We had but rag of sail on her
and she darted, like bird from wav,
to wave. Again and again blue wave
went over us, but she came up like Q
duck and shook off the water and dart.
ed on. Now she staggered as blow
took her on the bow that might have
STAYED man Of war, but she kept gal
lantly on; and now she rolled heavily
and slowly, but never abated her swift
flight toward the shore. 1t was mid.
night when tho wind was highest. The
bowling of the wind through the cor
dage was demoniacal. Now scream,
now y shriek, now q wall and laugh iot
mocEing madness. On, on we flew.
l looked up, and turned quite round
the horizon, but could see no sky, no
sea, no cloud, all was blackness. At
that moment | felt again the strange
thrill, and at the same instant iancied a
denser blackness ahead; and the next
with crash and plunge, the "Foam"
was clear gone ! Down went my gal
liant vessel, and with her another ves-
sci, unseen in the black night. The
wheel too which had been lashed, had
broken loose and gone over with me be-
fore she sank. 1t was heavy, and l cut
it away and it went down into tho deep
sea above my boat. And seeing spar
| seized ii, and a thrill of agony darted
through me, as near it recognized the
delicate figure of female. 1 drew her
to me, and lashed her to the spar by
my side, and so in the black night we
two fdated away over the stormy sea.
Ny companion was senseless for
aught / knew she was dead. A thou
sand emotions passed through my mind
for the next five minttes. Who was my
companion on the slight spar? What
was the vessel / had sunk Was with
the body of only human bcing, or
was there spark of life left ? And
how could fan it to fame ? Would
it not be better TO let her sink than float
off with mo alone to starve-to die OF
thirst and agony
| chafed her hands, her forehead, her
shoulders. In the dense darkness
could not see her face, or tell il she
were old or young-scarcely white or
black. The silence Of the sea was fear
ful.
So long MS / had been on tho deck OF
my boat, the wind whistling through
the ropes and around the spars made q
continual sound but now lheard moth
ing but the occasional sparkling OF the
spray, the dash of foam cap, or the
heavy sound Of the wind pressing on
na,s ears. .,.--~r-4-ses~ 80 sf--.'.' -
At length shc moved her hand feebly
in mine. How my heart leaped at thi:
slight evidence that was not alone
on tho wide ocean. / re-doubled my
oxertcns. l passed one of her arms
over my neck to keep it out of the wa.
ter, while chafed the other hand with
both Of mine. felt the clasp of thai
arm tighten; | bowed my head towards
hers. She drew me close 20 hcr-ca
ressingy-laid her cheek against minc
let it rest there-it might warm hers
and so help to give her life. Then sh,
nestled close TO my bosom and whisper
cd,-"thank you" She knew no
VIII ,ro she was, that was clear. Hel
mind was wandering. At that instan
the end of the spar struck some heavy
object, and we were dashed by n hug,
wave over it, and to my JOY were LET
on q floating deck. cut tho lash from
the spar and fastened my companion
and myself to the part OF the raft OF
wreck, | know not which; and, all tn,
time that arm was around my neck, rig
i'll as death.
Now came the low, wild wall tha
precludes the breaking up n Storm
The air seemed filed with viewless spir
its, mournfully singing and signing.
never thought her anything else than
human being. 1t was that humanity
that dear likeness of life that endearet
her to me. / wound my arm arounC
her and drew her close to my heart
bowed my head over her in tho wild
lips to hers in long, passionate kiss, O
intense love and agony. She gave !
back, murmuring some name of cndear
ment. She cluhg about my neck, an,
laying her head on my shoulder, witt
her forehead pressed against my check
fell into calm slumbcr. The kiss burn
on my lips now. Half century of tn
cold kisses of tho world have not sufii
ced to chill its influence. it thrills m
now as then
1t was madness; wild idol worship Q
the form God gave in the image Of him
self, which l adored in that hour q
even God / feel the unearthly jo
again to day. as / remember tho elias
of those unknown arms and tho sol
pressure of that forehead. | know no
} cared not, if she were old and hae
gard or young or fair. only knc'
and rejoiced with joy untold that sh
was human, mortal of my own kin, b
, the great father Of our race.
1t was a night of thoughts and emo
I tions and phantasms that never can b
described. Morning dawned grayely
: the faint CLEAN of light showed me
driving cloud above my head-it Wa
welcomed with shudder. hate
light wanted to float over that hea,
} ing ocean with that form clinging to m
! and my arms around it, and my lips e'
or and anon pressed to the passionle'
lips Of the heavy sleeper. / asked n
I light. II was an intruder on my d.
: main, and would drive her from m
embrace. was mad.
/, But rs tho face Of my companio
: gradually revealed in the dawning ligl
0 ms my eyes began to make out ono
{ one the features, and at length tho to
rible truth camo slowly burning in m
j. BRAIN, I mourned aloud in my agon
; "God of heavens, Is she dead T. and
was Mary Sinclair. But sho was n,
y dead. Wo foated all day long on u
r sea, and Mt midnight Of tho next hal