Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-13

COptC ldIh duOub OtO4Hoi pu'IioH-
ment and torture by fire; but what
punishment, or torture can equal the
ceaseless pangs of remorse? Poor
Prometheus l can imagine what
were his sufferings, with the cruel pit
iless vulture eating away his heart.
Through all those long days, and
longer nights, vulture more insati-
ate tormented me. NeVer for one
hour, one moment even, could | for
get. And what might have been !!
All, mel what bliss, and peace and
comfort might have been mine, if had
only yielded to the promptings Of my
better nature, if l had been merciful
and tender and forgivilgl Friends,
ye who tread the burning burrows of
sore trial and affliction, testify with
me to-day that there is no sweet in
revenge-no reward for those who
take in their hand the twosdged blade
of inexorable justice. If hy brother
offend thee, forgive him, even though
his offence be repeated again and
again; if he err, and shame thee by
his transgressionS, be gentle and mer-
ciful unto him, even as thou youldst
have him be merciful unto thee.
The five years rolled away at last,
leaving many changes behind them
Ny babe had grown into a romping,
laughing child, while my own brow
was being deeply furrowed with the
lines of care. Ny old father had
gone to his long home, and | was Ut
terly friendless in the wide world and
homeless, too; for the little cottage
where Tom and | lived in the happy
days Of our early marriage, had pass
ed into stranger hands. We were
poor, little Nellie and /; we had no
strong hands to work Tor US. But |
worked myself, early and late, and
this perhaps was the secret cure that
healed my wounded heart; for after
all, incessant labor is the one panacea,
the universal healer of human ills and
woes.
One late October found US down
to Seaside Home, my little one and
/; for wherever | went, she accompa-
MED me. We were never divided for
a moment, sleeping or waking. The
mistress Of Seaside Home was making
tour on the Continent, and | was
employed to take charge of the man
sion. And fine old one it was, ri8-
ing up like a rugged fortress above
the sea, with its spaciou; rooms forev-
er echoing to the distan. beat of the
surf. We enjoyed it to the very core
of our hearts, little Nell and |, but in
a widely different way. She chased
the butterflies, and ran up and down
the garden walk, heaping her arms
with the late summer roses; while
sat by the window, looking out upon
the sea.
Somewhere upon its bosom the
"Flying Cloud was sailing, or may
hap she had gone down, a shapeless
wreck beneath its treacherous waves.
And where was Tom? Over and over
again | asked the question, but the
great sea and the silent stars gave
back no answer. He was gone-he
would never come back to ME again
That day dawned with a peculiar
and prophetic aspect. The sun came
up with lurii, garish light, and the
atmosphere was heavy and charged
with sulphur. Towards noon the sky
became overcast with a heavy, misty
shroud, and broad strip Of greenish
yellow gathered in the west, betting
the entire horizon.
at means a storm, missile" said
Kelsie, the old house-womau, "and a
bad one, too. Use lived In these parts
over fifty years, and l never seen
signs like these but once afore, an
that was the time O the great gale
when SO many ships went down
We're going to have bad time fore
night, you may take my word for it
T missile"
And we did. As the afternoon
waned, the misty shroud that envelop
ed the sky became pitch black, and
the yellow streak that belted the ho
rizon shone like fire. The thunder
Of the sea was loud and ince8sant. and
now and then lurid glare of light.
ming displayed the great, white cap
ped waves frothing and rolling up il
turmoil of angry agitation.
! Little Nell fell asleep-she always
did in the time Of a storm-and sal
; at the great hall window that over
looked the sea so near that | coulC
feel the salt spray dashing 10 my face
and almost touch the focks Of sea
birds that futtered and screamed witt
alright.
Fer an hour or more there seemed
no change, only steady increase il
the darkness and the boom of th,
r surf: then all of sudden there cam,
an instantaneous silence, as if all Ma
ture held its breath. The beat of tn,
: surf ceased, the winds dropped int
= silence; we could hear the very beat
ing of our hearts in the momentar,
:, lull then there came sudden roar
crash as if the very heavens wer
T falling, and the storm was upon us
! Hour after hour went by, and still
had not abated. Sitting at the win
! dow, and looking out upon the mad
swirling sea, | could feel the YER
foundations of the old sea-house shak
! ing beneath me. and in every lull 0
: the gale, distinct and solemn abov
. the noise of the storm, came the soun,
of signal gun. Somewhere on
amid those cruel breakers there wa
a vessel in distress. Every boom Q
. the entreating guns seemed to strik
: my very heart; but | could do moth
= ing, but sit there with folded hand
!; while the mad storm was doing it
work. 1t was terrible feeling.
;, think if it had not been for my chile
: | should have rushed out into th
; storm and darkness. On such a nigh