Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-26
went on-'so do and isn't 1t funny, he

hN Soe His pIOtnOllOu, Wntu nc mlgnL
leave the army and merry her.
Next day the party broke up. Some to
go TO their own homes to receive guests,
some to Join other parties. Mark went
to India in February; and during the
year, although had heard constantly of
or from Ina, did not meet her. So that
when Christmas came again, and saw
her at the Hall, was struck with an
alteration-what | could hardly tell.
She had grown handsomer. Every one
saw and said that, and yet no one limited
at the other change. Yet from the mo.
ment she came up TO me my heart chill
ed, and q fear | could not define came
over me.
Nor was my anxiety lessened when, as
We were talking of Mark, Ina began to
cry passionatelg, and rushed out of the
room. Missing her that evening from
the drawing.room, went to look for
her. Opening the morning room door J
saw Ina, She was sitting At the win
dow, but not alone; man was beside
her, band';.S fondlV over her. There
was no light save that of the moon, so
did not recognize him. was Indignant
with her; and, closing the door, l march.
ed off to the drawing room, People
were seated here, there, and everywhere,
so l could not make out who it was that
was with Ina. We were all busy that
! day, Ina as hard at work as any of us;
but when midnight came, with its bell
ringing and carol.singing, | missed her,
and, with q feeling could neither with
stand nor explain, | went to the little
| room. This time the window was open,
and the man, for he was there, was
standing by her, his arm round her.
| heard her murmur something In SOD.
| bling voice, and saw her lift her hands
above her head and wiring them. Then
/ hurried away, aud when got to my
bedroom little later | sat down and
cried. AS sat there before the dying
fire l became conscious Of sound
resembling waves breaking; l lis
tened; the waves beat grew louder
l could hear them distinctly, and so too
could hear the wind and storm howl,
ing; 1t broke against the windows Of
my Toom-nay, in the very room itself
/ felt the cold spray dashing In my face
and grasped the chair as tried to shrek
but in vain. had no choice but to look
upon the stormy SEA where ship lay
tossing hopeessly. l saw the spars
washed overheard. l saw men strug-
CLING in the pitiIess waves the faces
and streaming hair Of women, and once
the white face of little child. Sud-
denly the winds and waters ceased their
war, and there came calm so deep that
heard every throb Of my heart; and
as | at wondering what was coming, 4
gentle wind rustled past me, hand
touched my face, and Mark Amberly's
voice cried, Comfort Ina"
After that seemed to faint; for when
| ] recovered consciousness the fire and
candles were out, and the dull, gray
morning was shining into the room.
Gradually began to collect my thoughts
and, as | undressed and crept into bed,
Il feeling OF horror settled upon me.
had never been believer Ia the super
natural. | was determined to treat II
all as . dream, and persstently kept
down my fears, leaving next day, with
out saying word to Ina. Our parting
was cold one, and knew that the
slightest demonstration on my part
would overturn my self-control, and
give my sensible resolutions to the
winds, &c. With cold kiss and nut.
tered, You'll write, OF course - We
parted.
A fortnight after | saw Marks pro.
motion In the Gazette, and the following
post brought me 8 letter from Ina.
Marx, she said had left India, coming
home round the Cape to shake of the
effects of slight attack of fever
lan.r 'nI from NV hand | ca U
it ali now and the cold drops stood
upon my forehead, as | seemed again TO
hear the sad voice crying, Comfort Iua.
Mark was drowned. By some mystic
rious power | had seen the wreck; and
love, stronger than death, had brought
the dying man with his message of love
His last thought had been OF Ina; and
Ina, what OF her
could not write. Weeks passed
grew i'll with anxiety, and at last went
TO London, TO consult the shipping
agents, hoping against hope. They told
me the ship was Que the End of the
month but that there having been rough
weather she might be delayed. SO leav'
ing orders to telegraph the first lntelli'
gence | went back tip the village where
had pitched my tent.
"A month overdue NOW, and people al
the office getting anxious SO wrote my
sister.
TAO months overdue, and hope dying
Ina is in 8 strange way, and keeps talk.
iBg of you. May she come?
She wrote my brother, Ina's father
,, and before could answer yes or no, lns
came. She rushed into my room one AT
ternoon just at sunset, and stood befort
', me, crying
What has happened, Aunty Why
) will you not tell me, he has came two
and bid me go to you for comfort Was
isit?"
, Poor child l said, how can
J knowP
a Then why did he tell me TO com,
Why look a. me as you did at the Hal
nearly driving me mad q
q told her, and was frightened for sh
. spraug mp from her knees with q CT
ike mad woman, and then fell sighini