Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1869-10-23

counter any one Of our former associates
OF whom | might enquire for him. and
even on the rare occasions when did en-.
counter them, heard no cheering news.
Two or three years elapsed, and months
had passed since last heard the name Of
Egbert Cameron. when suddenly, one day,
l met him face 60 face upon the crowded
pare. Himself it was. or trans6gured
man. like in features and smile. but how
unlike 10 all the attributes Of expression
His whole face radiant with happiness
his entire figure elate with joy, and health
and vigor dwelt in his stalwart frame and
ruddy cheeks.
On his arm leaned young lady, pass
ing fair, yet with something Of languof
that told, at least, Of the lingering memor,
Of past suferings. / had seen her minia
ture often, and had no difficulty in iden
tifying Claudia. One Of the happies
moments Of my life was that 10 which
offered my congratulations to this deaI
friend and his recovered bride.
Afterwards listened to their story
which was briefly this Claudia, in stat,
of distraction, had taken passage for Cal
ifornia. She remembered little Of the
early voyage, and the incidents OF the ship
wreck were like those OF a troubled dream
She remembered being placed in an oper
boat that driited away from the sinking
ship. of days beneath burning sun. and
long. chill nights when all was despair and
suffering around her. Then she woke, ly
ing, bruised and weak. upon q shingls
bench, and remembered beng raised il
kindly arm. aud carried away.
Her next waking was in an insane asy
lum in one Of the Southern cities. She
never knew how she had reached the city
where she afterwards learned she had been
found 10 the street. in the delirium Of brain
fever. A hospital had first received her,
and then as her mental malsdy outlas.ed
her physical one, she had been placed in
an asylum.
Here, by the merest accidents, as Il
seemed, Egbert discovered her. She had
never mentioned her name, nor in any ol
her rawlings given clue to her station OF
residence.
And although her husbands advertise
ment had been published there, she was
SO altered by sickness and suffering, anc
was so far from the scene Of the wreck
that no one had identified her with ths
lost bride.
In some Of his travels, however Egbert
had visited that city, and BY one Of thost
apparent accidents which sometimes seen
direct interpretations OF Providence, wal
induced to pay its celebrated asylum I
visit. Hc saw Claudia pale. silent, entire
ly needless Of all that passed around her
seated in her cell like room--a living cor
pse. He knew her for no change could
mar her image in his mind, or bar the
subtitle, spiritual instincts that formed him
of her presence. How he bore this sud.
den joy be could never tell, but be found
himself at Claudias feet, bathing her poer
thin hands with his tears. showerinp kiss
es upon her wan cheek. and addressed heI
in every endearine phrase Of former year
His voice his touch, woke her to mem
ory and reason. Dimly at frat burned the
spark so long quenched, bat by degrees
and from that day. she returned to health
Two years had passed when met them
and happiness had perfected her cure, and
transformed my friend Egbert into thu
strong, vigorous, and proudly happy man
saw before me.