Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-04-21
MOKELUMNE Hill, CALAVERAs COUNTY. CAL.

L followed her closely on board, i'm
PEELED by strange fascination could
not explain which struggled against,
but was unable to overcome. The sun
was shining brightly and the river
danced and sparkled in the afternoon
light. There was the busy hum of life
all around me. The splash of the pad
dies, the cries of the lightermen, the
whistle of the engine as the train cross.
ed over the new bridge at Hungerford
all the varied sights and noises of the
river on summers day were present,
to impress on me the reality of what
was going on around me. But as
stood on the deck of the steamer 1 felt
as one who has turned back the pages
of his life, and sees and hears on Sc more
sights and sounds he dimly remembers
to have seen and heard long ago. I felt
as when, child, l caught sight sud-
denly of my own reflection in the glass
and at that sight the memory of what
had been in times long past seemed just
about to return to me, till the very eff
fort of thinking shattered the image
which was being formed, ard left me
grasping the fragments of a memory.
l looked toward the shore. The old
man was standing with his eyes fixed on
his companion, and had an expression
almost of terror on his face.
"She's on board,' he whispered
hoarsely, to one of the crew, who was
standing by the paddle box, as he stoop-
ed :nd unhitched the rope from hook
on the landing stage.
The man did not answer, but looked
rapidly round the boat At last his eye
fell on my companion, and remained fix
cd on her with an earnest gaze, which
showed that she was the object of his
search.
Once more 1 think over what I then
saw, to try if shade of doubt turks in
my mind as to the reality of what took
place. No, l heard the words the old
man uttered as distinctly as l now hear
the scratching of my pen upon the pa
per. Nor did passively receive their
sense, I acted on them. stepped to-
ward the paddle box to question him,
but before [ had time to reach it the
boat forged ahead and we were off,
For few moments, as the fresh breeze
first cooled my temples, l seemed to
shake off the spell which bound me to
her who had confded to me that strange
story. 1 walked forward struggled
to get as far from her as I could. Bnt
then the thought of her delusion, of
what she might attempt we're there no
one there to prevent her, came upon me
with redoubled force. 1t was my duty
to protect her, to see that she did not
attempt to act in earnest the story she
had told me.
l found her seated on one of the cen
ire benches in her old position, looking
dreamily at the river; never moving,
never speaking. I stood near her
There were few passengers on board,
and Of them none seemed to notice the
beautiful girl who was quietly sitting
apart, apparently absorbed in thought
She walked to the side. I followed l
could not, must not leave her. She
leaned on the bulwarks, and watched
the water foaming from the paddle
wheel.
She looked up into my face and spoke
quickly, "Would you try to save me if
fell into the river 2"
~ can not swim," I said, evading
the question.
l felt more convinced than ever that
her mind was wandering must keep
close to her. 1 could, at all events,
prevent her jumping overheard; though
| if she once succeeded in that could be
of no use. As l leaned there by her
side looking down upon the water, it
suddenly occurred to me that some of
the crew of the steamer must know her
The words spoken by the old man at
the Temple pier evidently referred to
my companion, and the man to whom
he had spoken had asked no explana-
ton of them. I had now a chance of
leaving her without her incurring much
danger, for she was seated again in the
old place and in the old position, absorb
ed in thought. l walked to the stern
and spoke to the man who was steer
ing
"Do you know that lady in black ?"
l asked, pointing to the place where she
was sitting. He looked at me rather
strangely, thought, bnt said nothing
1 repeated my question.
"That lady in black, with the red
shawl ?" he said no, DON'T"
+" No: no; the lady in black next to
her, all in black
He looked again and then answered,
sharply, "There amt no lady in black
there at ALL Mustn't speak to me at all
sir, it's against the rules"
l had followed his eyes. He had
looked straight to the place where she
was sitting, but he had not seen her
Once again the veil seemed lifted from
the past, and I saw what happened long
ago. The vision flashed across my
brain and was gone but SO quickly that
l could not retain it, and even the men,
ory of what it was perished with it.
was turning to find another of the
crew, when / saw that the lady had left
the scat where she had been sitting, and
was again leaning over the bulwarks.-
1t would not be safe, felt, to leave her
there alone, so gave up my project for
the present and ioiped her.
We we're steaming close by the scaf-
folding Of the embankment, strong
tide was runninp ont. and the uellou