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

1HeIe lHlSut Oe SOUle poor Soul III
need Of woman's help.
A sickening spectacle greeted my
eyes. The strand was strewn with
fragments of the wreck, and amid
broken spars and other rubbish, look
ing up white and CHASTITY in the lurid
torch-light, were some halfa dozen
dead faces. | wandered from one to
another in kind of helpless terror.
Strong, stalwart men they were,
every one with wives and babes to
mourn their loss, no doubt. One es-
pecially attracted my attenton--a
man in sailors garb, bound to brok-
en- spar. His face was even winter
and more deathlike than those around
him, but somehow the worn features
seemed to have look like life. The
wreckers were at work removing the
bodies, and giving them the attention
they needed, and when they came to
him, bade them to take him up to
the mansion. n have a fancy that |
can bring back his life," | said.
One Of the fisherman laughed, and
expressed the opinion that | would
find it hard task, but they bore him
on before me, and we laid him on the
sofa in the great hall. Such sad
and weary face | never before looked
upon; the mark of some great and
never-forgotten sorrow was impressed
on every feature. We laid him there,
in the uncertain light of the dawning
day, and old Kelsie and | went to
work. Having lived on the coast all
her life, she understood her task well
and her spiced wines and vigorous
applications soon began to produce
the desired effect. A faint crimson
came to the mans white cheeks, and
his closed eyelids auttered nervously.
"He lives" | cried; thank God,
kelsie, he lives p
l tore open his blue sailors shirt,
and searched eagerly for his heart
In doing so, my hand came iu contact
with small case, suspended from a
chain which he wore round his neck.
l am sure it was not merely a wo-
mans irrepressible curiosity, but the
promptings Of my Infinite pity, that
made me draw it out from its resting
place against his poor, feebly throb-
bing heart A small, golden case, a
coil of sunny hair on one side, on the
reverse a woman's face, his wife's. no
doubt. For moment my eyes were
blinded with a rush of tears. and then
l looked. A young face-graclous
Heavens my own-my own face in
the first flush OF its girlhood! For an
instant the swift thought that shot
like lightning through my brain, made
me sick and dizzy. and then I grew
as calm and cold as death. | could
determine in an instant. | turned up
the flannel sleeve, revealing the mus
cular arm now limp and powerless.
There it was, the peculiar little birth
mark that / had seen a thousand
times 1t was Tom, my own husband,
lying there before me, with Ely pic
tured face upon his heart
For hours old Kelsie and | applied
our remedies, and at last We had our
reward. The hattering eyelids open
ed; his breath came in quick gasps.
"We're going" he murmured: "we
can't stand this gale an hour longer,
and our native shore in view! Ah,
Louise, Louise, shall never look
upon your face again =
l could not restrain my feelings, not
even to save his life.
"Oh, Tom | cried, clasping him
III my arms, don't you know me
You are saved, and | am Louise, your
wife-forgive me, Tom, forgive me r
He looked up vacantly, but as his
eyes rested on my face, they lighted
with consciousness and recognition.
ut is-it is" he murmured, raising
his hand and passing it over my hair,
at is Louise Are we in Heaven,
dear ?"
No, Tom; you were saved from
the wreck last night, and God gave
you into my hands. If you knew how
l waited and prayed for your return
you would forgive and love me again.
He drew my face down close to bis
own, and l felt the hot tears coursing
down his cheeks.
at is l who must ask forgiveness
Louise" he said; "but O, my darling
you cannot know how | have longed
to see your face again. I was coming
home to fud you, when the storm
struck Us. Louise, is it true-have
you remembered me all this Ions
> time ?"
"My life has been one prayer fol
your return, Tom"
He lay back upon his pillow, hi!
! worn face full of unspeakable content
, | disengaged myself from his embrace
and stole from the room. Little Mel
: had just awakened, and I brought he
in, the flush of sleep upon her cheel
and her golden curls all in a tumble
Here is something else," l said
seating her on his pillow.
He looked up in amazement.
i, Your baby, Tom, little Nell!-
darling, this is papar'
:. The little thing crept down, ant
: nestled her soft cheek close to his
! and stealing out on tiptoe, I left ther
> alone. Fifteen minutes after | founC
them both asleep.
f Years have gone by since tha
e blissful day. We are old people now
/ Tom and |, with rosy grand-childre
+ playing round our feet, and the re
5 membrance of the past only make
f our present brighter and happier. W
q have both had our life-lessons, an
!. We have profted thereby.
IS The most remarkable instance {
| election frauds that the census ha
disclosed in Neu York Ia tha+ IN III