Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-01-06

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four years younger than myself; but even
when first knew hor--and she was not then
more than fourteen-sho was a woman in in
tollect and grace, though child in simplicity
Of love and confidence. Mr.. Thornton did
not object to my suit, so | loved her with all
my soul, and was blessed to know that she
loved me in return. II had been arranged
that we should be married when she was
twenty years old, that had been our plan for
more than two years, Mr. Thornton having
set the bounds himself 1t lacked two months
of the time, and had arranged to remain at
home until we were married. Bnt-Thurn-
ton had heavy ship freighted for Copenhagen,
and her captain was dying. He could find no
one to take his place but me, and he asked me
to go. | could not refuse but asked that
! might be married first. Mr.. Thornton shook
his head. and said no. But he had another
plan which he said would be better. He had
been planning to visit Copenhagen, where he
had two brothers in businoss-they were in
company within him-aud he said he would
take the next ship, and bring Carrie out with
him, and we should be married there. l
finally consented to take out the new ship, and
Mr. Thornton, with his daughter, was to meet
me in Copenhagen, and there we were to be
married, and all three come home together
The evening before | sailed spent with Carrie.
and when ! left her felt that was leaving
my very life.
WELL continue Lester. wping MS eyes,
II went to Copenhagen. waited month
then heard that the American ship, White
Farm with William Thornton and daughter
on board had touched at Dover, and that all
were safe and well when she left. ! waited
l.. Al.
Hamburger; but | could learn nothing there.
Next | went to London, and there learned
enough to assure me that the ship had been
lost! On the second day after she left Dover
severe storm had arisen. aud several vessels
had been reported lost | sent my ship homo
in charge Of the mate, and spent four months
in searching after the lost ones but | could
got no trace of them. Not even piece of
the wreck could ] fnd--not mark of the
ship, nor of one Of its crow came home
with a sad and heavy heart
Maurice Leicester stopped few moments,
and bowed his head upon his hands, for his
feelings had almost overcome him In little
while, however. he looked up again, and al
dcd. in a touching tone
"Ah, my dear friend, you do not know what
| have suflered--tonguc cannot tell it, nor can
pen write it. That blow did break my heart
broke it in the rending of its tonderest cords,
and in the crushing Of all earthly hopes -
DO you believe in dreams T"
The mate started, not SO much at the char
acter of the question, as from the sudden man
ner in which it was put
"Wel, said Lester, in lower tone, 81
have had dream repeated many tirnea bnt
never has it come to me so directly and so
wildly within the past three or four days
Carrie Thornton IS not dead know she is
not.--she has appeared to me repeatedly in
dream, and calls upon me to save her To-
night, as / stood all alcne by the mizzen rig
ging, trying to peer out into the thick gloom,
heard her voice as plainly as you now hear
mine, and she called out for me to save her.
OF course what followed was mere fancy.
though even that affected mo much thought
! saw her, standing not far off upon a huge
sea, with her arms stretched implorngly to-
wards me--saw her then, with my eyes open,
as have often seen her in my sleeping
dream -"
AT this point the captain was cut short in
his speech by the cry of "L1Gnr-uor' from
the deck. They hurried up and found the
men crowding forward.
"What is it :" Lester asked
81 think il is light sir. replied Parker
"Here, sir,-just stand hero.-Now turn your
eye about four points upon the larboard bow
Wait, now, till she rises-H a-thcro -
there See Did YOU sec it, sir?"
Yes-he had seen it; and he know it must
be light upon the shore: but it was a great
way Off He watched until he had seen it
several times, and then he remarked to hi.
mate that it must be lighthouse The light
was bold and distinct and evidently at con-
siderable hight above tho level of the sea for,
had it not been so, it could not have been seen
at that distance. After a short consultation,
during which reference was had to the chart
of the Northumberland coast, it was decided
that this light must be upon Dorton Point
To the north of Dorton, as the captain knew
from personal experience, as well as from the
chart, there was snug harbor, of easy en-
trance These things were settled.
As soon as it had been determined where
the light was, Captain Lester made all possi-
Bile haste to determine his course of action.
Had the thing been practicable, he would
have laid his ship to; but that could not be
done. No one even gave it serious thought.
So it was determined that the ship should
stand on, at least till something further was
discovered.
At half-past twelve the gale had moderated
considerably The light was now to be seen
very plainly whenever the ship rose, and the
captain and his officers felt sure that they
were right in their calculations.
AT all events, said the former, tive have
no choice but to stand on, at loast-"
He was interrupted by a cry from the bows
that made every soul start with horror;
"BREAKERs BREAKERs"
Captain Lester leaped forward. and in a very
few moments he was satisfied that the warn
ing had not been false one; for he could
not only hear the awful roar Of the breaking
seas, but he fanoied that he could see the
cleaning Of the white foam as /, flew biob in
the air. As quickly as possible the ,opsail
was taken off, and the anchors cut LOOSE
The ponderous grapplings plunged III to the
kissing sea, and the iron cables were spun
through the hawse-holes like lightning. Snap
went the starboard chain; and in a moment
more shock was felt as the larboard anchor
found bottom; but it could not hold. The
cable parted as though it had been hempen
string, and on swept the devoted ship.
"ln heavens name r gasped Griffin, "what
does this mean See The light is still
burning as brightly as ever-at least league
away-and yet here arc the rocks directly I'M
der our bows What can it meant"
Maurice Lester did not answer: but an old.
weather-boaten sailor, who stood at the wheel.
and who had looked thousand danpers in
the face, answered for him