Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-07-14

gan to gather; We went on deck to
watch it, we admired the sky and sea,
and rejoiced in the tempest. We were
at supper when it was at its worst that
night Later every man save Ben and
the sailors was in his berth.
l slept soundly was awakened by
some one shaking me by the shoulder
who's that?' l cried.
Il, Ben. The sHetty' is sinking,
Paul Can you swim 2
yes
$50 can every one on board. There's
a chance for us. God grant no harm
may come to you 1t would seem my
fault. I induced you to come
The merry fellow was as serious as a
deacon now. 1 grasped his hand and
went on deck strange, startled faces
that hardly recognized looked pale in
the Pickering lantern light. One, a
young fellow of twenty, stood close to
me.
Il don't fear death, hope,' he said
turning to me. I'm no more coward
than most men; but there's a girl at
New Haven who'll take it hard, Fm
afraid, if this is the last of me-and no
boat can live in such sea. I'd like to
see her once again. and his voice
choked to husky whisper, and he
turned away.
1t gave me no comfort to know that
Mira would not grieve for me.
We took to the boat in a binding,
bowling tempest Half an hour after
the yacht went down. remember moth
ing else.
Hes a comm to-
Lord be praised. I thought he was
gone!
| BE ye better, Mister p
| Iopened my eyes. I was lying upon
the sea-sand in the light of dawning
day. Some roughly clad, weather.
en- people were beside me. One held a
flask of liquor to my mouth. Iremem-
bered all in an instant, and feebly gasp
led, Where are the rest p
Your mates?' asked man.
'Yes-my friends
Don't tell him. whispered woman,
and knew the worst. An hour later
l saw the three who had been tossed on
Ishore with me lying decently cared for
in fsherman's shanty. Ben, with
his black eyes closed forever. The
youth who had spoken of his sweetheart
and a young Virginian who had seemed
the merriest of all. am not ashamed
to say wept as bent over them
Those about me. used as they were to
the perils of the sea, seemed to feel
grieved and horror stricken.
They're all SO young, you see,' sob
bed an old woman -'mother's boys, no
doubt, every one of them p
And now, as l grew stronger, I felt
it my duty to hasten back to Oakdell,
bearing the sad news. A train passed
through the village at noon, and l avail
ed myself of it, The moon was rising
when it stopped at the familiar station,
and I started on foot for my uncle's
home, wondering, if some survivors
had not already brought the news, how
I could break it to poor Ben's old mo-
ther.
The house was unusually dark as L
approached; no light in tie parlor,
none In the library. The gloom which
wrapped it told me that the news had
come. As 1 opened the gate softly I
heard Cato's voice
'Yes, Dinah. it's true 'nuff. De gem
plemen knows de oder boat went down
We sha' mt nebber see Massa Paul until
we goes to Glory
Then black Dinah sobbed.
'Missus takes it berry hard don't she?'
asked Cato.
Gone to bed-won't eat nor muffin,
said Dinah. sShe lobed Massa Paul
like her own son.. 0, dis is drefful
world, Cato
Cant hab no idols, Dinah, said Ca
to piously.
'Oh get out wild preachin'p said Di-
nah. ''Pears you can't hab muffin. z
wonders folks was born jes for trouble
stole past the kitchen window and
into the house. All dark and silent on
the lower floor. Only at the end of
the hall, in little room called mine,
|saw the glimmer of lamp. 1 went to-
ward it. I pushed the door further
ajar and looked in.
In the middle of the room upon the
floor, sat Mira. Nep stood beside her,
and her face was hidden in his shaggy
coat. Both arms were about bis neck,
and she was talking to him. I listened. |
oh, Nep!. she sobbed. 1T can't be
true, can it /? The blue eyes shut, and
the fair hair all wet and dank at the
bottom of the. sea ? The voice dumb,
and the great heart still ? It's dream,
Nep! He'll come back yet It's wick
ed lie, NepP
The dog gave sort of low moan. I
listened still. 'Oh, MOP l heard her
say. Its folly to hope. You are hap
pier than /, Nep. He loved you and
he cared nothing for me. He patted
you on the head when you parted. He
left me with sneer. He didn't know
/ loved him as well as you, Nep, though
not as humbly Oh, Paul Paul can
you be dead ? You, my life, my love,
my darlingp
She sprang to her feet, wringing her
hands. L pushed the door wider. The
creakiug of the hinges startled her she
turned and screamed,
oh paul Pau1p f145e-f II