The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-11
For q moment the lad was stnnned with the dread.

For moment the lad was stunned with the dread
''The boat has hoated Off the beachP he ex-
claimed. 81 might have fOreseen It, The tide has
risen, and the wind with It, The wind is driving her
seaWard; but will soon oyertake her. Lily darling,
I'm cOmingl"
He sprang into the remaining boat pushed Off set
the SAIL and hurried OIL in pursuit of the girl strain
ing his eyes through the darkness to discover
But when he reached the spot where the boat had
vanished, and, straining his eyes in every direction
saw no sign of the missing boat and girl, he was
shaken by a sharp and dreadful apprehension.
''Oh, Lily! my poor little Lly!' he groaned, with
anguish too great for expression but without paus
ing III the earnest pursuit.. what does this mean?
Where can the boat be? Why does it drift swiftly?
Oh, Lilyw
Keeping his eye fixed in the supposed direction of
the Water Lily he strained every nerve, spread
every stch of sail in his Wild frenzy and yet he per-
'1Ielp! helpl" nc shouted at las' n despair, as
his course led him past group OF 1shing boats re-
turning homeward from Sag Harbor. "Stop that
boat! 1t got loose from Shelter lsandl Help"
His excited voice Immediately commanded atten-
ton Naturally enough, perhaps, the fishermen, in-
stead OF seeking the missing boat, drew near to
question the pursuer.
In broken words, tremulous with excitement and
revyng hope Richard told his story as briefly as pos
sble
Before many minutes had passed. the Water Lily
was oveTtaken and stopped
Richards boat fairly skinned over the sound, his
veins throbbng with his eXultant Joy his heart
brimmDg over with mighty Thanksgiving.
ais she asleep YETI" he asked. "She was very
tired. ! will not wake her up"
one of them silently took lantern and flashed it
over the Water Lily.
The boat was empty!
There was dent in the cushion where Lilys
golden head had rested
But Lily herself was gOne
"Where-where is Lily?n Dick gasped
One of the fishermen answered -
'She must have walked up dazed-ike. Most likely
she didn't know where she was. Praps she Thought
she was getting out o. bed Poor little Lily Law
renee! We all mow'd her pretty, sweet face ana
all loved her! | never passed her pas place
without her wishin' me luck and twas so with the
rest she was an angel, and she's gone home to live,
Master Dick, with the rest of the angels !"
Dead! droWned' cried the boy, wildly. "Yes,
she is dead"
He stood there, white, fearless, and despairng,
"er folke ought to be tod said one of the fisher
men, in q low tone.
Slowly and reluctantly he trimmed his SAIL and set
out upon his crrand.
The remaining fishers then strove in their rude,
kindly way, to comfort the stricken lad But the
sound of their voices Jared his tortured SPIRIT
and he cried:-
the fishers drew Off silently and sadly deemng it
best TO leave the lad alone with his grief and soon
Richard was solitary amid the shadows upon the
water.
said aloud, peering over into the dark waters. "Oh
if might only join her l cannot live without
her!"
At length he sat up, and looked with haggard face
Lights were cleaning from the windows of the
dwelling, and lanterns were flashing along the
beach, and over the lawn.
'"They are looking for Lily and me-" he murmured
| family. "FatheT and mother have come home. Oh
can never, never face them again! They took care
| of me all my life; they have shOWered continual
| blessings upon me-and what a return have made !
They LIT Lily i'll my charge, ana return to find her
drowned! They will loathe the sight of me. 1t was
through my carelessness Lily was droWned-Iily for
| whom would gladly have laid down my own life I
| cannot go back-oh, never, never!'
With sudden eagernesS for flight he adjusted his
sail and directed his course towards Sag HarbOr his
| only idea being to hide himself somewhere where
the reproachful glances OF lys parents might
reach him.
The great lantern of the whaling vessel drew
nearer and nearer, did the lights of Sag Harbor.
AS he approached the vessel in the darkness, and
marked its signs Of immediate departure desperate
thought entered his mind.
She is only waiting for of the stragglers of
her crew." he thought. "The wind is right. She'll
soon be of. Where can lose myself to father and
mother so completely as on whaler?'
He approached the vessel as quietly as possible
She was lying to, just without Sag Harbor heading
towards Cedar Island The night was dark, and
only few were visible on her deck. The lurid
light OF the lantern enabled Richard to note all these
circumstances sufficiently for his purpose.
He Crept under the bow softly, seized the martin
gale by desperate leap and began to climb to the
creeping down to the deck. He paused when he had
| gained secure footing, and renewed his shoes,
looking around and seeing that his arrival was un-
noticed He then moved softly along the deck to the
cUmpanOn-way, slipped down, and found himself in
| a dmly-lighted, disagreeably y-smelling cabin.
| The stewards pantry was of this, and Richard
beheld couple of individuals within it, engaged in
imbbing hot liquors Their backs were towards
| him. and the boy crept along in the shadow gained
an empty sate-rOOm, slipped in, and concealed him.
! self beneath the bunk