Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-04-21

| Walkeu quietiy VI, anu oeeMeu uOt II
hear him.
:" Pimlico," I said, putting twopenct
on the sill
"Would you tell that lady in blacl
to come back and take her ticket?,'
I promised l would do SO, and follow
ed the lady to the landing stage.
found her seated on the bench at the
foot of the steps, her eyes fixed on thu
river, and her hands claspsd. Her dress
black merino, fitted her slight and
singularly graceful figure to perfection
Her veil was up, and herr ice, which
was rather pale, wore an expression Of
melancholy, which, in my eyes at least
did not distract from its exquisite beau
ty- l went up to her.
~ was asked to remind you," I said
''that you have neglected to take &
ticket"
mYou are Mistaken" she said, some.
what coldly. have one."
"Then I must apologize for troub
ling you," 1 replied, bowling; shut il
is not my mistake, and you, I hope
will absolve me from all intention OF
rudeness 2"
She bowed stifly, and said, "Cer-
tainly, we will say no more about it,
Her eyes fell again on the river, as
it swirled and foamed past the piles Of
the new embankment. l followed them
They were fixed on piece of paper,
which danced and tumbled on the mud.
dy water. She stared after it till it was
whirled out of sight. I remained still
standing by her side; there was strange
fascination in her look and manner.
Do you know what time it is p
she asked, turning to me, l was sur
prised at her addressing ME of her own
accord, after the cold manner in which
she had repelled my previous attempt
at explanation. I told her it was five
and twenty minutes past three.
"Then l have five minutes to wait
The Chelsea boat will reach this pier al
half past fve."
"You seem to be accurately inform
cd" I said
"Nine years ago." she said, in a
weary voice, "the Chelsea boat passed
this pier at that time"
"That's long time to remember
said, laughing.
She turned and laid her soft, white
hand upon my arm, as if to impress hel
words on me. "This very day, nine
years ago I left this pier by the Chelsea
boat, which started at half past three. y
"Nine years. | said,,s you mus
have been child
She shook her head. "I was wo
man, with woman's thoughts, and
more than woman's troubles" Hel
cheeks were flushed, aud her hands
clenched tightly together. There was
something very strange about her.
Yes," she went on, excitedly, eve
were together, I and he. He was more
than husband to me-and less,' she
added in a low voice, glancing at hel
ungloved hand. There was no ring
She spoke more wildly now, and hel
voice was louder. "He had spoken
words to ME, such as l had never heard
before, such as l could not bear. And
I stood here under the bright heaven.
with the merry earth all about me, and
the golden river glistening in the after
noon sun, and one heart beating neal
me, which loved me more than all the
world besides" She caught hold Of
my arm and clutched it. l had shrunk
from her-the woman was mad. 81
stood here" she continued, in calmel
tone, 'and vowed a wicked vow that
[ would shut myself out from the bright
heaven and the merry earth, and would
break the one heart which loved me
more than all the world. I went and
leaned on the bulwarks, and looked over
into the river he came and spoke tc
me, but my heart was hard, and l would
not hear him. l shuddered as we pass
ed under Westminster Bridge, for il
felt very cold and dark there like the
grave. And, as we shot out into the
bright sunlight again, 1 jumped on tc
the bulwarks, and plunged into the riv
er. l heard his cry of agony as l fell
and he jumped in after me. soon
felt his strong arms around me, but
clung about his neck and dragged him
down. Twice he struggled to escape
but pressed him close and closer.
could not die alone. We sank the last
time. The tide washed us up and down.
but my arms were still about his neck
and my face was close to bis. They
found us days afterwards by the Firth
marshes, locked in each others arms. y
l shrank from her. Her fingers re-
laxed their hold, and she released my
arm.
| "Days." murmured. I" it could nol
be, you would have been drowned"
awe were drowned" she said, qui
etly The woman was mad or was
dreaming. / looked around at the riv-
er, at the boats; I heard the thud ol
the hammers as they drove in the pile.
of the embankment; bit my lips;
touched her dress to assure myself that
I was awake. l looked at her, she was
still sitting there; che had relapsed in
to her old position. The color had
faded from her face, her eyes were fixed
upon the river, and her hands were
clasped.
"Chslsea, and all the piers" shouted
tire old man, and I turned to the boat.
The lady in black was before me, and
as reached the deck of the steamer,
and the clock on the Westminster tow