Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-03
Drifting Away.
TGneluded.1
RY T. s. ARTHUR.

dition of Bertha. And yet my friend showed
no anxiety, no dim consciousness, even, o.
the peril in which his wife stood. How
can he gaze into that pale, thin face, - woulC
ask myself over and over again, "and no
take the warning that nature gives ?" Wa
his own enjoyment OF mere sensuous lite 81
great that he could not understand a con
dition like Bertha's? He loved her, nay
almost idOlized her; and when would hint
occasionally, in a concerned way, my fear
touching her health be would regard me witt
a vague, bewildered countenance, as if wert
troubling him with the shadow of some far-ot
evil. 1t never seemed to occur to him tina
the evil was at his door.
One morning Bertha did not make her ap
pearance, as usual, at the breakfast-table.-
On asking for her. my friend answered, tha
she had been up for most of the night witt
her baby, and was too much indisposed tC
rise.
Nothing serious p | remarked.
"Oh nor he answered. "She often has
such spells. We shall see her at dinner-time
as usual, only looking little palef, perhaps
Only little paler That must be 8
death-like pallor, l said TO myself
This morning we were to have a sail on the
river. Soon after breakfast we went to the
boathouse, and unmoored the fairy bark il
which we had already spent so many pleasant
hours together AS she glided gently out,
like a bird floating on the buoyant water,
through some mishap the light cord by which
my friend held her slipped from his hand
and she passed from his reach in a moment
out into the current, and commenced drifting
away. Ny friend became instantly excited
and showed great anxiety about the boat
His face flushed, his eyes dilated, all his
movements were hurried and disturbed. He
ran here and there in an incoherent manner
and appeared for some moments to lose all
self-possession. At last, catching at a small
coil of rope, he tied a stone to one end Of it,
and gave me the other end to hold; then
throwing the stone with all his strength, il
fell into the boat. Eagerly taking the rope
from my hand, he drew on it until the slack
was in. Now came the moment of suspense
The boat was moving steadily with the cur
rent; should the stone not obtain a firm an
chorage inside, but release itselfand be drawn
over the gunwale, the little vessel would float
beyond our present means of rescue. But
the expcdient proved successful. The stone
held with sufficient tenacity to overcome the
pressure ofthe current, and soon the pleasure
boat came floating to our outstretched hands
"Safe p exclaimed my friend, as he grasped
the side of his pet with eager fOndness.-
f" How careless | wasl' he added, as he
stepped over the side, and commenced ad-
justing the sail.
"You could easily have recovered her
again, said ], seven if she had drifted away
a mile or so before row-bOat could be pro-
cured in which to go after her"
'Oh yes n be replied "but didn't think
of that. l was only conscious that my
beauty was drifting away beyond my reach
Don't laugh at me; but have a real affec-
ton for this boat"
Soon we were moving away over the rip
pling water under the pressure of a gentle
breeze, my friend every now and then recur-
ring to the little incident have mentioned
"You don't know" he said as we hoated
into sheltered cove where the wind no
longer laid its soft cheek against our snowy
sail, that hung loosely against the reed-like
mast show that little peril Of my boat dis
turbed me, again alluding to the circum-
stance.
looked at him without answering.
"You are SOBER he remarked. "Wha
thoughts are shadowing your mind ?"
Thoughts that concern you. Shall lei
them come into speech ~ I said, after mo
ment of silence.
"By all means, my friend. Don't hesi
tate"
He leaned forward, and looked at me anx
iously.
Il was thinking" said I, 'of far NOR
precious thing that Is drifting from you
steadily drifting, and getting more distan
/ every day, and vet you heed it not"
81 don't understand you" He looked be
wildered.
"Bertha." merely uttered the name.
He grew pale instantly.
"Bertha is drifting from you, said ''an
unless you stretch forth hand to save hel
right speedily, she will pass out of you
| reach"
He let the rudder, which he had been hold
ing, slip from his grasp, and leaned, with
! frightened look, toward me.
"Why do you say this ?" he asked, in
breathless manner.
"Because so appears to my eyes. Bel
tha has failed sadly since saw her last. A
her color has departed, and all the fine round
ness Of face and limb has wasted away. Sh
eats nothing comparatively, yet is taxed wit
! duties that would wear out a strong man.
| You, with your vigorous health, could NJ
endure them"
"But what can do2" asked my frien,
with pale alarm in his face. Ny few ser
tences had startled him from pleasant lif
dream. ''She will bury herself as you Sc
What can do ?" he repeated.
"YOu can stretch cut your hand and SAY
her before the current, that is now hOatiI
her away, bears her beyond your reach, sa
| confidently; sand take the privilege of
friend 10 warn You in time. Not once sin
have been here has 81 le shared our racre
ting drives lor refreshing hours on the rive
She does not sit with us in the library, hOI
ing IN with our pleasant talks, and mRkiI
thought more beautiful, as in other days; al
when we meet her at meal-times, looking
pale and sPirituelle, it is plain to- be SCI
that miEd and body are feeble from excessi
wearincss. Can this go on long, and
delicate organism not give way2 Be {
sured net, for the rain is too great"
"But what can do2" asked my frie
again, looking still more alarmed. "s he
welded to these household cares, and ensL av
to her children"
a have not seen" said I, " any attempt
your part to win her away from them. The
mas been no remonstranoe against her SCI
sacfihelng course; no manifested concern;
urgent invitations to join US in our rides a
ramoies-l speak plainly, for there is life
stake-Dut dull kind Of acquiescence. NJ
II you wish TO keep her long, all this m ust
changed 1ou must at any cost of effo TT (
that sne no longer violates the plainesti Ia