Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-30


when he saw the great gulf that was
fixed, for he knew that the wreck could
not hold together another tide with the
wind that was then blowing. He was
in the act OF helping Margaret Staple
ton up the companion when he was
aware Of something moving near him.
The next moment there was a splash
and plunge, and then loud cry sew
eral times repeated. Moving swiftly to
the side of the ship, he looked over
aud saw an object like the head of a
man, who seemed to be struggling in
the water. With the rapidity of thought
he was over the side and swimming for
the object; battling with the broken
water, and with the rising tide that
tried to roll him IN again. he was close
enough 20 the object to see that 1t was
the head OF his father, and was about
TO clutch If, when, without a cry, with
out one effort for life, the head disap-
pearesl, as though the body had sud
duly been drawn under by some power
acting from beneath. Stephen Wool
e0mbe was never seen again.
With great difficulty. Henry reached
the wreck. tt would have been easy
for him to get ashore. for the set oil the
tide wauid have drifted him thitheri
bat Alsrgeret Stapleton was on board
the wreck, and he could not choose but
fetch her of or die with her there. So
fatigued was he when he got alongside
that lac had scarcely strength enough to
pull himself on board.
ssis have done my duty, but could
not save hin. 4" he exclaimed, rather
addressing himself than Margaret, as he
sank down exhausted on pile 81 brok-
EN- spars and pieces OF wreck. tie Is
gone; may Heaven forgive him.
Henry Woolcombe was aroused from
his apathy by the voice of Margaret,
who sat beside him, and who begged
in the presence, as she believed, Of Ger
tain death, forgiveness for all the evil
she had brought upon her lover. de
strained his eyes to see the face which
was close To his, and he opened his ears
to drink in the words which flowed fast,
and loving, aud penitent from Marger'
Ell lips he. heard the passionate. IN.
provoked utterances Of love, the bitter
self reprOaches for injury committed,
and the hopeless prayer for time, IN
which to show by daily deeds of atieo.
ton bow thorough was the conversion.
He folded the maiden in his arms, and
gently kissed her.
'rhe spell is broken" he SAID; edo
not speak of my forgiveness. 1 love
YOU, Margaret. The faallt was not
yours. Come, let rs try to get on
| shore.
The waves surged round ard under
the ship. moving her at every stroke,
aud as she moved some fresh timbeFs
parted, and subtracted sensibiy from
the strength of the ship, There seemed
| to be rivalry amongthe breakers which
should have the largest share, and as
| the quantity of spoil became less, their
| greed grew greater. The ship was
| break ing mp, the whole OF the interior
was flooded, and her sides we're dimin-
ishing as a lumpo of sugar meltsin a cup
Of boiling water. Henry Woolcombe
east about for the most likely means of
reaching the land IN safety; he felt he
was too weak to swim, especially with
the burden of Margaret TO. support,
and he thought to make a rough raft
on which they both might get to land
bnt before he was quite convinced of
the hopelessness'of the attempt, the
deck parted from under them, the
beams split up, the sides opened and
fell outwards, and Henry and Margaret
were struggling IN the sea.
How they came on shore they knew
not. Some of the Morwenstow folks
coming down to see how it Jared with
the wreck, found them half dead on
the beach, locked in each others arms.
Sickness followed, and the neighbors
thought Margaret could not get over
il. The wisest among them aveIred
they had seen the ghost of Stephen
WoolcOmbe standing by her bedside,
and calling her away; while Others aid
not hesitate 30 say that his death was
the lust reward of conduct such as hers
had been towards Henry Woolcombe.
Ii was some time after the events
narrated above that Henry Woolcombe
and Margaret Stapleton became man
and wife. la the house which Henry
had built in the MorT enstow village
they lived happily and cheerfully to-
gether, growing daily IN each others
love aud affection, aud in the esteem
of the whole country side. OF Stephen
Woole0mbe and the dark days with
which has name was associated, they
rarely spoke.
ct was powerless as soon as you re-
ally loved me, Madge, said Henry
Woolcombe 10 his wife one day, when
a series of untoward events having
come upon them, she tried to account
for them by reference TO the past; ''It
has no power while love is present. II
He spoke OF the curse his father had
laid upon him, and fully believing in
the doctrine he had enunciated, that
love must ever triumph, even over
fendish hatred, he looked ia has wife's
face, and saw beyond doubt how i'm
possible it was, If his theory were true,
that he should ever have need to fear
against the hatred or the malice of his
enemies.