The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-28
LOST IN THE FOG.
From Chambers Journal.

From Chambers Journal.
In that wilderness that lies west of
Brompton, at the time we speak of, there
existed Liliputian cottage, wherein lived
George Richardson, lately managing and
confidential clerk, now junior partner in q
merchants house in the city. One evening
in November, 1S5-, home came George by
the bus, and startled his little wife by an
nouncing that he must start on secret mis-
sion to LeghOrn the next day events of
Importance connected with the business had
occurred there, requiring the presence of
one OF the partners, and the lot had fallen
on him, as the junior in respect, as well as
position, in the firm. A steamer was to
leave the river the next evening
Therefore" said George, "get my things
ready, and l will take them with me to the
office tomorrow morning, for | shall not
have time to retrun home"
. "Shall not see you again after you leave
home tomorrow morning?" asked Bessie
Richardson, anxiously.
"No, darling you must wish me good
bye then."
Bessie's face put on disappointed look.
"Why, you silly girl, the parting must
come, sooner or later, and why not in the
morning as we'll as in the eveniDg?" said he,
smoothing her hair caressingly.
Bessie did not see the force of this rea-
soning. TO a woman, good-b is no good
Dy at all, unless it occurs at the very last
moment.
However, it could not be helped, it seemed;
so the little woman hustled about, and got
the things to rights, and stood in the little
dining-rOom with tears swelling up in her
eyes. The next morning, when the cab
drove up to the door, there was thick fog,
and Bessie felt alarmed, as women do at
parting, with vague, underlined dread of
some calamity.
"How soon shall l hear from you, George?''
SIN month, I hope; but it may be six
weeks, or even more, so don't be uneasy. /
will write, you may be sure, the first oppor-
tunity, and 1 may be back myself before my
letter."
81 wish you were not going in this fog p
"Foolish grill" kissing her. "The steam.
er wont start in fog; don't alarm yourself
about that. Besides, it's only the morning
frost; when the sun gets up, it will be bright
and clear"
She bore the parting better than could
have been expected; for, truth to tell, she
did not mean that to be the final one. In
her secret little heart she had determined to
make an expedition to the city, and have the
real gOOd.by at the proper time, and she
was looking forward joyfuly to the surprise
and pleasure it would be to George. SO she
put up cheerful face to his, and returned
his last nod from the cab with smile.
But when, as the day advanced, the fog,
instead of clearing, increased in density, and
when she perceived that her journey to the
city was impracticable, then the reality of
parting came full upon her. 1t was their
first separation, and the suddenness of the
thing and the distance, and the uncertainty
of the post, and, finally, the breaking up Of
her little plan for final and overwhelming
good-by Overcame her, and she retired to
her room, and was no more seen for several
hours. ..
By afternoon the fog was so thick in the
city and on the river, that Richardson felt
certain the steamer would not start. allow.
ever" thought he, a will have my trunk
taken down, If necessary, to be ready di-
rectly if she is able to get under way"
W lCCi uio Woy
through tie narrow lanes to the river; by
aud by he found the wharf gates, but beyond
all was blank, save where some red spots
of lights, looking high and distant, told him
OF lamps enveoped in the misty cloud
Confident, however, in his knowledge of the
place, but in reality deceived in all its bear
ings, on he went, till, in moment, his foot
trod only on the empty air, and he fell head
long-a splash--and the black river closed
. over him-one struggle to the surface-a
desperate attempt to strike out in his thick
great coat and water-lOgged boots, and
George Richardson was swept away by the
renorseless tide only to be yielded up a
corpse. sr r0 rIat3 G
A month passed away Bessie was daily
expecting the promised letter, but the post
man passed the door, or only knocked to
bring any other but the looked>for envelope.
'6eorge would surely be at home himself,
and adlay her anxiety by his presence in a
day OR two. Did be not say be might re-
turn before letter could reach her?
Six weeks and no letter. Bessie be-
came really anxious away she went to the
senior partner. He was somewhat uneasy
himself; but so far from adding to her anx-
iety, he assured her there was yet no cause
tor alarm. They bad expected to hear be-
fore from him, Richardson, certainly, but it
was quite possible bis voyage might have
been longer than they had calculated. His
letter might have mscarried, or he might
be at home, himself, any day in short the
good old man almost reassured the poor lit
tie wife, and she went home more tranquil
day.
Two months had now elapsed, and it
could no longer be concealed that there
was grave cause for apprehension but for