St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-02-05

: against the breakwater, discernible onl
IN the fast-darkening night by line q
white, tumultuous foam and spray, whic
t leaped and hissed against and over it.
"A dirty night coming on" said
subaltern officer of the port whom | ha
previously spoken with ''ihe CoIumbi
will, l think, he pretty sure TO run i
with the tide
''When do you say is the very earlics
time she may he expected -
"Well, in my opinion, judging from
where she was when | was on the look
out quarter of an hour agone, not un
der three hours. Let me see It's now
Just upon the stroke Of five: about eigh
O'Clock, l should say, she will be here
certainly not before, perhaps much later
and if the captain is very obstinate, and
prefers mourning a rather serious risk tc
returning, 1t may be, of course, not at
all"
thanked him, and as remaining ON
the bleak quay till eight o'clock or there
about was rs useless aS unpleasant, | -e-
traced my steps toward the Royal George
Tavern, calling, in my way, on the Ply
mouth officers, and arranging that one OF
them should relieve me at ten O'clock
II having been previously agreed that We
should keep an alternate watch during
the night of two hours each. | after
ward remembered that this arrangement
was repeated, i'll Il tone of voice incau-
tiously loud, ut the bar of public-huusc
where they insisted on my taking glass
Of porter There were. ! should say,
more than dozen persons present at the
time.
The fire was blazing brightly in the
parlor of the Royal George when | en-
tered. and | had not been seated near it
many minutes before | became exceed
ingly drowsy and no wonder, for had
not been in bed tie previous night. and
the blowing OF the wind in my eyes for q
couple of hours had, of course, added
greatly to their heavy wearlncsS. Habit
had long enabled me to awake at any
momen, | had previously determined Oh.
:" that | felt no anxiety Il, TO o,er-slecp-
lng myself; and having pulled out INV
watch, noticed that it was barely half
past five, wound it up, and placed it he
fore me on the table. settled mv,rlt
in an armchair, and Wa
soon sound asleep. awokc with a con-
fused impression. not only that | had
quite slept the time had allotted IN, ~clt.
but that strangers were in the room. and
about me, | was mistaken in
ooih particulars There WAS no one I'm
he Parlor but myself, and on glancin. u,
he watch, | saw that it. WAS bat Il quar-
rr past slN. i rose from the chair. sir
'cd the fire, took two or three, turns
about tho room, listened tive or thren
minutes TO the howing wind and driyln"
AIN which shook and beat AGAINST tine
';i-' ment. sat down ;"aiu. and took up a
newspaper which was lyln. on the table
had read Tor some time when the
'arlor door opened. and who should walk
II but tie young wife and elderly gcutlc-
nan whom | had seen in the street. |
II once concluded that they had sought
ne with reference to the iugitivc on
board the Columbia and the Venerable
'ld mans rather elaborate apologies for
Intrusion over. and both of them seated
NJ the side OF the fireplace opposite to
ne, | waited with grave curiosity to- hear
what they might have to say
An awkward silence cn>urd. The
'oung womans eyes, swollen with weep
NJ, were bent upon the floor, and her
mlire aspect ard dcmranor exhibited cx-
rene sorrow and detection. Inticd
Ter, - sad and gentle did she look. from
ny very soul. The old man appeared
nNiou3 and care" urn. and tor some time
emaincd ab>tractcdlv gazing at TIA. fire
Without speaking. had mind 10 avoid
painful, and. | was satisfied, prottlcs-
Interview. 10y abruptly retiring. and wa,
l>t rising for the purpose, when Il fi,rccr
cmpe>t-blast than before, accompanied
" the pattcling of heavy rain-drops
gain-t the window-pancs, caused me to
csitate at exposing myself unnecessarily
o the rl@or OF such Il night and, at the
anne moment, the gray-haired man sud
enly raised his eyes. and regarded me
With fixed and grave scrutiny.
"Ihis war of the clements" he at last
aid, "this wild uproar of physical ma
ure, Is but u type, Mr.. Waters. and a
amt one, of the convul,ions, the autago-
i>ms, the hurtlul conflicts ever raging in
he moral world"
bowed dubious assent TO :. PROPOSE
ion not apparently very pertinent to the
D the subject, which | supposed chiefly
coupled his mind, and he proceeded.
''lt is difficult for dim-cyed beings such
: we are always to trace the euidn.
and OF the cver-watchtul Power which
onducts the complex events of this
hanging, many-colored life to wise and
nrc>cen issues. The conflicts of faith
With actual experience are hard for poor
humanity TO bear, and still keep unim-
aired the Jewel beyond price OF unwav-
ring trust in Him TO whom the secret,
+ ali hearts are known All, Sir, guilt,
It's vanlties in high places-in-
occnce in danger of tctters-are pcrplcx-
ng subjects to dwell upon ~
was somewhat puzzled by this strange
ak, but, hopeful that meaning would
PRESENTLY appear, ! again silently init
mated partial concurrence in his general
Jews
'There is no longer much doubt, Mr..
Waters, | believe" he after few mo-
nents added in a much more business
Ike and sensible tone, ''that the Column
ia will be forced back again, and that
lie husband of this unhappy girl viii
onsecuentlI fall Into the hands Of the
lind, unreasonable law. You
ppear surprised. My name. ]
houid have mentioned, is Thompson