Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-20
VOL. XVIII.


floor hoisted or lowered her.
He was born three months after your de-
parture," continued Mrs. Thirdly.
"Why did not know of it ?"
II kept it out of the papers purposely," said
the wife.
"And you called him Francis ?" said the
now thoroughly humbled husband
"Yes-after his father"
"Thank you, Maria; that was kind"
My duty-nsthing MORE" said the lady.
"How old is he?'
Ten in August-on the fifth"
God bless him :" said the father. 'Is he
handsome ?''
ooh! very very handsome" said the
mother.
"A-at all like me?" inquired the father.
Like what you were-Very."
"And in his manner?'
He is passionate in the extreme; like what
you were-very. Here is a letter I had from
him last Thursday. He is on a 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 storm, and he GOULD hardly keep upon
his feet as he read the large school boy hand ::
MI DEAR, DEAR MAMA: am 50 glad that
you are soon coming. Ihave no news. am
quite we'll. Freddy's pony hurt one of his
knees yesterday. We 60 to Sandy Mount
IOV6-SO
Freddy. God bless you
Your affectionate FRANKIE.
Msrryon Square, DWbitn, Ireland.
The letter was read and re-read till the lines
became blurred and lndistinct, and a deep sob
heaved up from the fathers heart, as he
stretched forth lis hand to his wife, and said:
"Maris, forgive me-"
Mrs. Thirdly remained silent and impassive.
g For the sake of our boy" be urged, the
n - II
forgive me-"
"Do you wish to keep the letter." inquired
the wife.
to him Of me?"
"0ften!''
go, Maria, let us be friends"
Mrs. Thirdly answered slowly and deliber-
ately, with pause between every third or
fourth word: after an absence-of more than
ten years-meeting SO unexpected-you could
not control-your violent and sarcastic nature
II will NOT bets victim. / pardon what is
past-butAwhen leave this boat-we never
meet again"
"Msria"-he tried to take her hand, but
she withdrew it-"can't you forgive me?'
"The past-yes the future will not trust
in your hands. As I said, when We leave this
boat
The steuardess entered the cabin suddenly
by the stairs leading to the deck. The door
was heard to lock behind her, and there was q
noise overhead as Of shutting and fastening.
She staggered forward, and said in a low, calm,
resigned, but trembling voice: "If you wish
down every minute D."
Thirdly looked at her for an instant, then
taking his wife up in his arms, rushed to the
cabin-door.
I'VE are fastened down." said the steward
ess, with terrible calmness. "The crew is in
the rigging; L shall go to my cabin and meet
II there: Oh, pray for your souls sake, for we
little cabin at the side, and shut the door
Husband and wife were locked in each
others arms. How poor and paltry seemed
their enmities and jealOusies, their poisoned
Arrows OF speech and verbal victories, Eter-
nifty was near them, and about them lashing
at the shaking vessels sides, bowling for them
in the wind, roaring for them in the sea The
ship palpitsted like timid hare, as though
eager to offer human victims to appease the
hungry elements, and save itself Neither
spoke but long, endesring kiss proclaimed
mutual forg: eness-then heart beating against
heart, hand in hand, their fingers intertwined
within each other, they knelt and prayed In
his height of health and pride of sarcasm,
Thirdly sometimes scOffod at religion and rid
iculed his wifs's strict Observances with con-
siderable humor-nOW, he felt sure that she
was right, and cheek to cheek and Iip TO lin
uttered fsIvant prayers for heavenly pardon
and her safety.
Only once during the night the world came
back to him, when he sobbed out: ''I shall
never see my boy"
And minute after minute, each longer than
the last, passed away; every succeeding shock
and lur"h Of the frsil boat, they expected to
feel the hoor sink under them, and the water
pour down into their cushioned sea- tomb.
violent crash shook the ship from stem to
stern the cabin lamp fell shiyered into atoms,
and all was darkness. They clutched tightly
come.
The night passed. A ribbon OF gray light
In the horizon separated sea from sky: the
gray grew whittier and more bright-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 relief:
they should not perish in the dark. Light was
ten
Think you there is any hope ?" whispered
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 oordage grew
more audible. The csbin-do few open, and
the steward, wet as from q bath. and his face
bleeding, looked in. "All right" he gasped,
" we're saved saved. where's nv missus :?
Jane; dear, open the door-ws'rs saved, tell
you"
The stewardess opened the door, and both
couples repaired to tho deck.
we shall weather it, praised be God ="
SAID the white-haired captain. "Who would
nave thought this six hours ago"
"Hush! We have received a severe and
proper Punishment for our presumption and
our crime"
steam-tug came out to their rescue, and
carried them safely into Kingstown harbor.
There was smiling lady, a mustaohed gem
tlemsn, and handsome yellow haired boy
awaiting them.
Mamma dear, dear mamma -, orisd
the young gentleman, with undisguised &C.
stasy.
"FrankJ, my own. Here's papa"
"Pspam said the boy, rounding his eyes.
"Papa from India?"
"Yes, dear"
"Mr. Thirdly 2" said Mrs. O'Grady.
al Had you forgotten me, Elinor?" said that
gentleman.
Mamma, why hasn't papa been with you
before, when"-
- Hush, dear" said the mother.
Mr. Thirdly did not return to India, and
beth his and his wife's name are always set