Shreveport daily news., 1861-06-21
Selected Ezp,ssly for the Daily Neses.
The Death Of Alice Bland.
A PATHETIC TALE.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
error, that my abrupt communication
had had a fatal influence on her
strength. How dear-how unuttera
bly, dear did bold her at that mo-
ment How gladly would I have
bartered the rank and honours that
years Of perilous service had won to
have insured her life-nay, to have
merely placed her on a comfortable
couch, where her spirit might calm
~ pass away!
At the twilight we ran under the
lee Of Chausey, and anchored in a
little inlet. Alice was numbed in
every joint by the spray that had
drenched her, and her articulation
1continued to be confined to indistinct1
murnurs but her looks expressed
the depth ofsisterly affection. car
ried her ashore, through the surf, to
the hovel in which we had been
taught to look for shelter; but my
heart sank ia despair when I saw the
miserable accommodation it afforded.
It was rude hut, formed ofplanks;
and almost destitute of furniture !;
for the family that inhabited it
only made it their abode during the
summer half Of the year, and
were contented with the simplest
conveniences. They were hospita-
ble, however-as all French peas
ants are-and readily gave us the
shelter we solicited Situated as we
had lately been, ! felt thankful to
see my dying Alice laid Hpon pal
let-no matter how humble.
Until this was done, ] made no
disclosure Of eur consanguinity to
her kind protectress, who had been
brought ashore by Vidal and his sal
lors. Her congratulations l pass
lover. She subsequently found that
was not ungratefuL 1t is Of Alice
Iwould speak.
| We had some sea stores On board
1.-THE vessel, and part Of them, togeth-
or with dry clothes for Alice, were
landed. l dipped rask in wine,
and put it to my sisters lips. 1t
partially revived her, and had at
length the satisfaction of seeing her
drop into qeiet sleep. Her friend
! lay down beside her; and the crew
Of Le Curieu1, and the help-burner' s
family. gathered round the fire Of
dried fuel which had been kindled at
my request, and endeavoured to be-
guile the hours with legends of the
dangerous gulf in which we were iso-
: lated. 1 caught, occasionally, a
few sentences Of these wild tales
9 but what mattered it to me that the
,, Livre Noir of Coutances told of q
Seignsur de Hambye having slain q
huge serpent in Jersey-or that the
: annals of the state prison of Mount
ST. Michel recorded a thousand and
> one tales of crime and death
sat by my sisters couch, listening
to her gentle breathings. and watch
ing the flight of the impereeptible
spirit that already hovered on he1
Ilips.
An hour before day-brake Alice
became restless, and her respiratio,
irregular and obstrueted. The fire
had died away. and II dim lamp
brought from the shallop, alone ligh
: ted the cabane. All my fellow voy
> ayers We're asleep. stretched on thu
bare earth; and though l saw tina
o finger of death was already pointed
Y at my sister. I felt it useless to dis
: turb them. They could give 40 re
!. lief. She was passing into eternity
and cared not that they should SCI
my tears. Nevertheless, / longet
early for the light Of the morning
= and. for a moment went to the thresh
hold to look for its first beam. Ih'
storm had passed away, and the sun
was just raising his broad dis
above the Norman hills. I heard :
v deep sigh proceed from the cabane
N and FASTENED back to my sisters side
c Her hand returned my pressure