Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-01-30

deck; strange. startled faccS That L hardly
recognized looked pale in the Pickering
lantern light. One, young fellow Of
twenty, stood close to me.
81 don't fear death, | hope" he said
turning to me. "I'm no more q coward
than most men; but there's girl at New
Haven who'll take it hard, I'm afraid, Il
this is the last of me-and no boat can
live in sach sea. I'd like to see her once
again." aud his voice choked into husky
whisper and he turned away.
1t gave me no comfort to know that Mi
"a would not grieye for me.
We took 10 the boat in binding, howl
ing tempest. Half an hour after the yacht
went down. remember nothing else.
"Hc's comm to"
lord be praised. I thought he was
gone"
''Be ye better, Mister"
j opened my eyes. | was living upon
the sea sand in the light of dawning day
Some rougly- clad. weather-beaien people
were beside me. One held flask of H.
quOrto my mouth. Remembered all in an
instant, and feebly gasped, "Where are the
rcst?''
'Your mates:' asked a man.
"Yes-my friends.
Don't tell him. whispered a woman.
and knew the worst. An hour later
saw the three who had been tossed on
shore with me lying decenlly cared for in
fiShermans shanty. Ben, with his black
eye. closed forever. The youth who had
spoken of his sweetheart, and a young
Nirginian who had seemed the merriest of
all. am not ashamed to say | wept as
bent over him. Those about me, used as
they were to the perlls Of the sea, seemed
TO feel grieved and horrsr-stricken.
They re all so young, you see," sobbed
an Old woman-"mother's boys, no doubt,
every one of ihem."
And now, as / grew stronger, / felt il
my duty 10 hasten back To Oakdell. bear
ing the sad news. \ train passed through
the village at noon, and avsiled myself of
II. The moon was rising when il stopped
at the familiar station, and / started on
foot for my uncle's home, wondering, If
some survivors had not already brought
the news, how could break it to Ben's
old mother.
The house was unusually dark as | APP
preached: no light in the parlor. none in
the library. The gloom which wrapped il
told me that the news had come. AS
opened the gate softly heard Cato's voice
"Yes, Dinah, its true huff De gemple-
men knows de oder boat went down. We
shan't nebber see Massa Paul until we
goes 10 Glory"
Then black Dinah sobbed.
'NIissus takes it berry hard, don't she?"
asked Cato.
.'Gone to bed--won't eat nor muffin"
said Dinah. "She lobbed Massa Paul ike
her own son. Oh, dis is y dreful world,
Cate."
Cant hab no idols, Dinah," said Cato,
piously.
''Oh q, out wild preachinl" said Dinah
Pears you can't hab muffin. wonders
folks was born jos 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. went toward it, |
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 i'm his shagg coat.
Both arms were about his neck, aud she
was talking 10 him. | listened.
"Oh, Nep," she s66Bed 1T can't be
true, can it? The blue eyes shut, and the
fair hair all we: 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! II is wicked lie, Nep."
The dog gave sort OF a low moan. /
listened still "Oh no." heard her say.
'.It's folly TO hope. You are happier than
|. Nep. He loved You and he cared moth
ing for me. He patted you on the head
when you parted. He left me with a
sneer. He u'dn't know / loved him as
well as you, Nep, though not as humbly.
Oh, Paul, can you be dead? You, my life,
my love, my darling."
She sprang to her feet. wripgins her
hands. pushed the door wider The
creaking of the hinges startled her; she
turned and screamed,
"Oh, Paul. Paul."
and her voice rang out,
You? thought il a ghost So you
are not drowned, Reserved for another
fate which shall be nameless. Hope you
are content, now you're nearly frightened
mamma to death. Go and report yourself
at once, Sir"
Go? Nay, no place for me but at her
feet. knelt there humbly. l caught her
haLd, kissed il. Her dark face grew
proud and cold.
'.You shall not pretend to hate me any
longer" said. at is useless, Mira; I've
been beside the door too long"
"And heard a little play acled for your
benefit she answered. Il heard you
coming, and--Yes, Sir !, did-dont insult
| me by doubling that"
She broke down and burst into tears
She struggled passionately, but / held hel
tight. Humbled by her humiliation, l TOLD
her all My love, my longing, my pain a
her GOODNESS. The anguish the belief that
she cared nothing for me had given me 81
long. And at last the struggle ceased, the
head dropped low upon my shoulder, ant
held Mira to my heart, aud kissed he
fondly, for she was mine, and hers unit
death parted us.
Then she LEFT me to break the news o
my safe return to the old people.
Those whohad been saved had told Of thu
fate of the other boat, and there was M
need ofmy telling the truth to Benz meth
er. had only to tell her where his body
nay. Those were sad days for me despit,
my own happiness. But they passed, ant
we're half forgotten, as other woes may b,
so quickly, before, her bride.naid duties
L. - - -