The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-28

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t He felt it in the air; heard it in
G sounds and the lpaden foam!ng of Il
distant waves, the black meeting of s.
and sky, made it manifest to any one.
. A ship had been wrecked the day b
fore, and her wreck was lying beyor
the harbor-bar. Jack fell to thinkil
of her.
"She'll 60 to pieces, tonight"
r said "The storm will make an end
; her." and he thought of the ship as of
sensatc human being whose trouble
We're nearly ended. with a kind of env,
loo. II he should live until Bell hate
him bow could he bear it? His earthl
hopes had gone. The ideal ship to b
named the Bell Marble would never b
his, and he must limp painfully tl.rsug
the world tc his life's end now. But h
could bear that if he could only kee
Bells heart. Could he without money
He put his curly head down on hi
bronzed hands, and prayed strange
innocent, simple prayer.
"Please to z i've me money enough t
keep my wife's love, and forgive me i
I'm wrong, for I'm only poor sailo
adrift without a compass, and net .
chaplain, and don't know"
Perhaps the theology was at fault
but he bad heard that he must pray fol
what he needed, and he tried the advice
practically.
After that he stood up, and looking
along the beach saw further on an ex.
cited group, and went to join them.
Sailors, boatmen, spruce captain in
his ashore clothes, an idle woman OF
two, some children and gentleman who
had nothing sea-faring in his appear
ance. and wore his arm in sling This
gen: leman was talking.
"a thousand dollars for the man who
brings them. Is no man anxious to
make money s, easily. Two hours
work. Id do it myself it ! had not
sprained my arm. [ saw the wreck
from the lighthouse. There will be no
difficulty, and she will go to pieces be-
fore morning. A thousand dollars.
There's an offer for these men, Captain
Haylor."
Only men are fond of their lives" :"
sam the captain. look at the sea and
th' 4. l skpuld like to help you to
your hsket, but | can't advise these
men to you'd be murder"
"PshaN e felIows at our college
would hag ie it for fun"
"A sailor kpld not" said the cap
tain: eff thebip lives through the
night there's chance"
But can she ?' cried the stranger.
I think not" said the captain.
GOOD heavens, think OF ii" cried the
man, 1.-THE fruits Of fiv years labor in
Europe are in that cask I've toiled
is lost.
There are men who wod do it for
a trile. Your hear NY offer, of you.
Bring me that casket before sun bet, and
LII give you more"
Then brown hano touched Ia arm
and voice husky with emotion sid:
" I'm your man, on one conditio
The gentleman turned.
One who is not a coward" he SAM
There AIT a coward here" saiaa
u know the danger as we'll as
put promise me one thing. Promise
these people, SO thai you must
ION The 'ney you will give
ne if ashore again O.
"ThsV Rney have promised will be
'aid at ON said the gentleman.
Here nj out, please," said Jack.
That money! l die out there, you'll
eady:"
lilac. *5ssk;" : cried thse'pt"'D' sit is sheer
Jack smiled; a str be, heart-broksn
ion." u g..
The gentleman had torn =! from
is pocket-book, and wrote upon 45ass-
ily.
This secures thousand dollars to
our wife," he said. "Your name 2"
Jack Marble" said the sailor.
"To Jack Marbles wife," said the
ian. "No danger, though, as I said
efore, our college boys would have
'ade sport of it. Hurry, my man, hur-
r." Il
Jack glanced over the papers.
Keep it for me, Captail Taylor"
2 said. "l'm ready now, SIR" I
Then he went to unmoor his boat and &
AXE her ready g
Afterwards, as he dropped the oars in
70 water, and put from shore, he lookedft
'ck, and said in whisper, blown from t
$ lips as it passed them by the furious t
lie: s ~ (
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