The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-01-03

was sitting at the window, but not alone
man was beside her, bending fondly
over her. There was no light save that
OF the moon, so did not recognize him
nor did | larry to make the attempt: to
tell the truth, I was indignant with her
and closing the door with bang, I
marched Off to the drawing-room.--
People were seated here, there, and eve
rywherc, so | could not make out who
it was that was with Ina, though tried
hard that night and the next day to dis
cover who had made my pet SO misera-
bic. We were all busy that day, Ina as
hard at work as any of us but when
midnight came, with its bcll-ringing
and caroll-singing, l missed her, and
with a feeling could neither withstand
nor explain, l went to the little room.
There she was. This time the window
was open, and the man, for he was there
too, was standing by her, his arm round
her. i heard her murmur something in
sobbing voice, and saw her lift her
hands above her head and wiring them.
Then, traitor Us she was, l could play
the eavesdropper no longer, but hurried
away, and when l got to my bedroom a
little later sat down and cried of course
it was foolish; what had l, an old mai
den aunt, to do with the perjurcd faith
of heartless girl, or the broken heart
of too easily duped lover? AS l sat
there before the dying fire, with the
tears still wet upon my face, became
conscious of sound resembling waves
breaking; listened; the waves beat
grew louder, could hear them distinct
", and so too could hear the wind and
storm bowling louder and louder; it
broke against the windows of my room,
nay, in the very room itself shud-
dered as the blast passed over me l
felt the cold spray dashing in my face,
and grasped the chair as l tried to
shrek, TO cover my ears, and hide my
eyes in the pillow, but in vain. l had
no choice but to look upon the stormy
sea where ship lay tossing hclplcssly.
1 saw the spars washed overheard. |
saw men struggling in the pitiless
waves the faces and streaming hair of
women, and once the white face of q
little child. Then the darkness became
so intense that only when the lightning
flashed could | distinguish the wreck,
although the thunder of the tempest
was curdling my blood. Suddenly the
winds and waters ceased their war, and
there came q calm so deep that | heard
every throb of my heart: and as | sat
wondering what was coming, gentle
wind rustled past me, hand touched
my face. and Mark Amberly's voice
cried "Comfort, Ina"
After that seemed to faint; for when
I recovered consciousness the fire and
inn pllnc npf an1 ho dill
morning was shining into the ROOM
Gradually l collected my thought, and
as l undrcssed and crept into bed, a
feeling of horror settled down upon me.
| had never been believer in the SUI
pernatural, and now tried hard to con-
vince myself that had been dreaming.
| was determined to treat it as dream,
and, laughing at my folly, persistcntly
kept down my fears, leaving next day,
without saying word to Ina. Our
parting was cold one, for my heart
was full, and knew that the slightest
demonstration on my part would over.
turn my self-control, and give my sen.
sible resolutions to the winds, &c.
With cold kiss and unuttcrcd "You'll
write. of course."-we parted.
A fortnight after | saw Marks pro-
motion in the Gazette, and the follow
ing post brought me letter from Ina.
mark" she said, chad left India, COM
ing home round the Cape to shake of
the effects of a slight attack of fever"
The letter fell from my hand. / saw it
all now and the cold drops stood upon
my forehead, as | seemed to hear the
sad voice crying "Comfort Ina" Mark
was drowned. BY some mysterious
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? What would she
feel when she knew at the very time
she was false to him, Mark was in the
jaws of death-and such death!
was wretched. l could not write.
! dare not see her. l went away by my
self where none of my people could get
at me, and compel me to tell Gas felt |
musD my terrible secret. 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 due at the end of the
month, but that there having been rough
weather, she might be delayed. So
leaving orders to telegraph the first in.
telligence, l went back to the village
where had pitched my tent.
"A month overdue now, and people
at the Office getting anxious" so wrOt,
my sister, and put her letter away ant
still waited.
"Two months overdue and hope dy
ing Ina is in II strange way, and keep
talking of you. May she Gomez" $,
wrote my brother, Ina's father, and be
: fore l could answer yes or no, Ina came
She rushed into my room one Afternoon
at sunset, and stood before me, crying
"What has happened, Aunty. VIII
will you not tell me he has come twic
and bid me go to you for comfort
What is it :"
"Poor child" l said, show can
know"
"Then why did he tell me to come
Why look at me as you did at the hal
nearly driving me mad 7"
/ told her, and was frightened, for sh
sprang up from her knees with CT
like mad woman, and then fell, sigh
ing and shiyering, upon the ground.
, at was Mark, Aunty. l felt hir
/. near me, and you only saw him. wa
. sure something had happened, though
never dare say SO; and he always tol
y me to come to you for comfort"
yin0 I'm NV armS Inn lictopod IN ~,