The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-07
"Ah! excitement" said the husband,

uncOncernedly.
"No, sir, the seal men the tea.
shall go to my berth. When we get to
KingstOwn, you can see Frankly. and
"FrankyI Who's Frankly p asked the
husband.
Mrs. Thirlby looked him full in the face
as she answered: Your son. sir"
Another lurch of the vessel threw Mr..
Thirdly into a seat, as lie repeate1-"My
son !" lie hardly understood the mean
ing Of the words.
Your son and minc," said the lady
"my dear, dear boy, Frankl"
Something rose to the husbands throat
and eyes as he looked first up and then
down at his long.loSt wife, as the position
Of the cabin floor hoisted or lowered her.
He was born three months after your
departure" continued Mrs. Thi-lby.
"Why did not know itI"
kept 1t out of tine papers purposely,N
said she.
And you called him Francis" >ad the
now thoroughly humbled husband.
YcS--ailcr lis father"
Thank you, Maria; that was kind"
MY duty--nothing MORE" said the
lady.
How old is hc!"
"Ten in August-on the 9Th"
God bless him, said the father. is
he handsome p
"Oh vcry-very handsome" replied
the mother.
'A-at all like me ? enquircd the father.
Il liza uhnf un,t t.aro-u.rr
And in his manner?'
'lle is passionate in the extreme like
what yon wcre-vcr,. Here is letter
! had from him last Thursday. lie is on
visit to my cousin, who was married to
Col. O'Grady three years ago.
The father took the letter, and held it
under the shaking lamp. The gale had
blown itself into perfect storm, and he
could hardly keep upon his feet as he read
the large School.boy hand:
MY DEAR, DEAR MANxA-I am so glad
that you are so soon coming. have no
news. | am quite well. Freddys pony
hurt one Of his knees yesterday. We go
to Sandy Mount every day. Aunt sends
her lcvc-So does Frcddy-God bless
you. Your afFectionatc
FRANKIE.
Mcrryon Square, Dublin, Ireland.
The letter was read and re-rend till the
lines became blurred and indistinct, and
a deep sob hcaved up. from the fathers
heart as he stretched forth his hand to his
wife, and said Maria, forgive me-
But Mrs. Thirlby remained silent and
impressive.
For the sake Of our boy he urged,
the child Of whose existence l was una
observation-disclosures mel"
"Do you wish to keep the letter 2" in
quircd the wife.
With your permission. Do you ever
speak to him about me! -
"Often."
80! Mari1, let us be friends!"
Mrs. ThUlhy answered slowly and de-
;iberately, with q pause between every
third or fourth word: "After an absence
of more than ten years meeting so un.
cxpcctcdly--you could not con;rol-your
violent and sarcastic nature Il will not be
its victim. | pardon what is past-but
when we leave this boat-we never meet
again -
Maria, he tried to take her hand, but
she Withdrew it. can't you forgive INC?
The past, yes; the future will not
trust in your hands. AS sail, when We
leave this boat
The stcwardcss entered the cabin sud.
denly, by the stairs leading to the deck.
The door was heard to lock behind her,
and there was noise overhead as of shut.
ting and fastening. She staggered for
ward. and said, in low, resigned, but
trembling voicec II you would wish to
pray, d" so at once; we are expected togo
down every minute'
Thirdly looked at her for an instant,
then taking his wife up in his arms, he
rushed to the cabin door.
We are fastened dowlIi' said the stew
ardess with terrible calmness. The crew
is in the rigging. ! shall 60 to my cabin,
and meet it there. Oh! pray for your
souls sake, for we have not long to live =
She went to her own little cabin at the
side, and shut the door.
Husband and wife were locked in each
others arms. How poor and paltry
seemed their enmitcS and jealouSies, their
poisoned arrows Of speech and verbal
victories Eternity was near tbcm. and
about them, lashing at the shaking vcs-
sells sides, bowling for them in the wind,
roaring for them in the sea! The ship
palpitated like tirnid bare, as though
eager to offer human victims to appeasc
the hungry elements, and save ITSELF
Neither spoke, but long. endearing kiss
proclaimed mutual forgiveness - then
heart beating against heart, hand in hand,
their fingers mtwined within each other,
they knelt and prayed. In his height of
health and pride Of sarcasm, Thirlby
sometimes scolFed at religion, and rid.
culed his wife's strict observances with
considerable humor-nOw, he felt sure
that she was right, and check to check
and lip to lip ut cred fervent prayers for
heavenly pardon and her safety.
Only once during the night the world
came back to him, when he sobbed out,
] shall never see my boyP
And minute after minute, each longer
than the last, passed away; every sue
cecding lUrch of tho frail boat, they ex-
pected TO feel the floor sink under them,
and the water pour down into their cush-
Toned sen tomb.
\ violent crash shook the ship from
stem to stern the cabin lamp fell shiver-
cd into atoms. and all was darkness.
They clutched tightly hold of each other,
and thought their time had come.
The night passed. A ribbon of gray
light in the horizon separated sea from
sky; the gray grew whittier and brighter
it was morning. Husband and wife
looked into each others haggard faces
they had thought they should never see
them more
The daylight was an inexpressible re.
lief; they should not perish in the dark.
Light was the breath of Heaven. They
were not forgotten
Think you there is any hope p whis.
pered the wife, almost afraid to trust the
sound Of her own voice.
AS she spoke, there was q noise upon
the deck, and the sounds of sea and wind,
and straining boards and creaking cordage