Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1869-10-23
ring. being dearei far than any sister

IennR, Deing uearef Tar tnan auy sister
could be.
In short he loved Claudia Hardinge. and
was beloved, and he had moreover the
happiness of having his love sanctioned
by his mother, who expressed her gratif
cation at the knowledge that Claudia
would now have an assured protector, at
whom the world could not cavil.
So sorrowing not as those without hope,
the youth and maiden plighted their troth,
and waited only for the return Of Captain
Cameron. ard the lapse OF time that was
proper in respect to the memory Of the
dead mother, before their VOWS should be
consummated.
But Captain Cameron never returned,
Sailing homeward from long voyage to
the East Indian Archipelago, his ship was
lost at sea, and every soul on board, and
all the rich cargo was swallowed up by the
remorseless waves.
Egbert soon heard these sad tidings,
and they were Immediately followed by
losses that reduced him almost to poverty.
All the soundest investments in which the
good captain had placed bis property SEEM
ed at once to yield to sudden CONNER
cial pressure, and though there was talk
Of future dividends, Egbcrt found himself
for the present almost penniess.
For himself he would have cared little,
but Claudia had been reared in luxury, and
he could not bear to see her submitting to
privations. He gathered up the fragments
Of his fortune, and invested it for Clauda's
use. reserving for himself barely enough
to convey him to California, where the
discovery Of gold had just been made, and
where he found. from the examination of
his fathers papers. that he was owner Of
q large tract Of land that had been regar
ded as almost valueless, but might now
prove fortune to him.
He was then bnt nineteen years of age,
but manly far beyand his years, and when,
on the morning that he sailed. he and
Claudia were married, his young bride
leaned as confdingly upon his arm, as if it
had been that OF one who had seen twice
his lustrums. An hour after the solemn
words were spoken that united them for
ever, he was on board ship sailing down
the bay.
Six months wera occupied in reaching
bis destination, and yet another six months
ere ha could arrange the business that had
called him thither. Then having decided
to make California his home. and to cul.
tivate for himself the vast extent OF fertile
territory now his own, II Claudia were will
ling TO share, with him the hardships oi
such lot, be prepared to return to her.
But before sailing he vas persuaded by
some friends to undertake an expedition
TO the mining regions. 1t was from among
the mountains that be wrote to Claudia,
fixing the time for his return. But by
the separation OF the party, be was delay
ed. and ere he could reach San Francisco
the vessel had sailed on board which he
had intended to take passage. And un-
fortunately the very ship that carried his
letter carried also the account of the find
ing Of body among the mountains, sup
posed from the fact that his name was
found upon some articles Of clothing and
papers belonging to it, to be that Of Eg-
bert Cameron.
Egbert never saw, and was ignorant Of
the existence OF this paragraph but he
had been deeply saddsned by the loss Of
his companion, who had strayed from the
party, and had doubtless pershed from
cold and starvation. The name upon the
clothing and papers was accidental. the
properly of the friends having been held
quite in common during this tour.
On the next vessel that sailed from the
port Of San Francisco, Egbert Cameron
was q passenger. He landed in New
York, after tedious voyage, on his TWEEN
ty first birth day and FASTENED with oil
speed, to the village Of his birth, where
he had left his bride.
He returned but to learn that she was
no longer there and though at the time
met him he had been nearly two years
at home, he had not found her.
She had been like one distracted on
learning the tidincs OF his supposed death.
and had talked much of going out to Cal
iiornia, in the vague hope OF finding him
yet alive, or Of bsholding his grave. Some
days afterward she had suddenly disap-
peared from her home, and had gone no
ons whittier.
Egbert traced the poor fugitive to New
York. and found that she had taken pas
sage on one Of those illfated ships, the
horrible story Of whose wreck. have, with
10 lev years. thrilled the entire naticn
with dread and pity. He had visited ev
cry port into which rescued passengers
had been conveyed, but without learning
aught Of Claudia. He had advertised for
her in oil ports Of the Union and Of the
West Indies aud then, as there seemed
nothing more 10 be done, he had remain
ed in the painful disquietude in which l
6rst saw him. Hope constantly whispered
that Clandia was still alive-that she
would yet be restored 10 him. But des
pair told different tale and harrassed
by doubts and sorrows. he was apparently
fast sinking into the grave.
Atlength he suddenly disappeared from
the boarding house. A note left for me
informed me that he hoped he had at last
discovered some traces Of Claudia, and
that he wss going to Southern city and
from that day he seemed quite blotted out
from my little world Of care and toll.
Fortune soon favored me with one Of
her benignant smiles. and |, too. left the
boarding house for home more coneenial
TO my tastes, aud far better for my child
rem. had employment sufficiently re-
munefatiye to supply all our wants, but
verv ahsorhinp. and though / did not for