Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-10
YMp WASHINGTON TERRITORY SATURDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER TO- so

! knowh when any thing was coming to hs
! sufficiently long before it came to become
accustomed to it; nothing that happened
has ever surprised me-"
II thought so." And she drew my
arm within her own, and we walked out
into the silver pathway the moon was
making. Then, after little silence
Don't you think, Olive, that God is
nearer to US sometimes than at others p
that yos, can speak to Him freely, aud He
answers at oncey You know about my
father, Olive ?" 81
"Miss Lester told me that your father
was captain-that his vessel was ship
wicked, and the crew lost"
"Yes, that was the story-every body
! believes 1t. but do not. l know that my
father will come back again. And there
was another with him-Philip Atkinson
to whom was to have been married.
It is three years since the ship sailed; but
know they will come. try sometimes
to think Siherwise. but Philips face al
ways looks at me so reproachfully, seeming
to reprove me for my uufaithfulness. This
is why am termed SO cold and hollow.
hearted, Olive; but I can't help i'll
know they will both come" And her eye
led me up the dark, hollow sky, where
shone but handful of stars, and one great
planet blazed down the purple depths,
ploughing up wake of light behind it.
Poor Miss Jervis aud she was cherish.
ing this deep love for the absent all the
time that / had thought her cold and heart.
less. My tears fell on the soft hand that
clasped mine.
care you crying, Olive? Do you think
this impossible 7" said she.
Possible, certainly; but I was think.
ing whether it was probable in this case"
YES they will both come" And she
went on to tell me Of the many incidents
in her childhood, al Of which had been
mirrored out to her SO that she was pre-.
pared to meet them.
The moon had gone beyond cloud !;
the pathway Of silver was gone. We
turned and entered the house.
The rooms we're brilliantly lighted.
Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Holmes reading the
evening papers-Miss Lester and Lily hav.
ing game of chess, while the gentlemen
were scattered about discussing the all
absorbing question Of politics, aud the
probabilities Of the coming election. The
moonlight lay white on the water again,
and the foliage of the trees looked mottled
with silver, while their shadows lay under.
meath in great black fakes. From long
range of clouds just visible above the west
eru horizon, flashes Of lightning kept leap.
ing out. The reading gradually passed
into talking, and the political bias soou
merged into the small talk most acceptable
in the drawing room.
Again the livid fash, only to be followed
by the startling, crashing thunder, fash
after fash, and the whole artillery Of
heaven seemed to be collected into one
place, while the long, deep, gutteral thun.
der reverberated along the shore, and the
lurid flashes brought into bold relief each
cord, and spar, aud mast rising out Of the
black hulls on the water.
There was nameless fascination in the
storm, and one by one the rooms we're de-
serted, the lights were partially extiuguish-
ed. and all, with faces more or less white
with fear, collected on the sheltered side of
the veranda, looking out upon the bay SO
lately sleeping under the silver moonbeams.
Now the waters were leaping up like some
gladdened monster, intent on his prey. In
moment it came again, the terrific light
ming and deep cultural thunder, and again
a minnie gun ut sea. Eagerly they looked.
straining their eyes out into the darkness,
for the flashes of light blinded them; but
nothing except grey mist was to be seen
The wind struck the long low stone house,
planted out there on the reef, eddied.
mounted, and rushed on. The rain rushed
with it, and all the sounds of the tempest.
The very light from the light house tower
that stood far out seemed to be stripped off
and off in broad fakes and patches, like
split fragments Of chrysolite and beryl.
Dimly could they descry great towering
giants of pillows leaping this way and that.
fliuying forth and falling in shooting storms
Of spray; white acres Of foam rose over
the darkness and dispelled themselves in
powdered blast; huge columns were flash.
ing up and wioking; the backs Of long
breakers gored and torn, plunged their
angry masses Of foam aecked pillows, with
deafening rear. ..
Suddenly all was wrapped in the black
ness of death; night and annihilation shut
down over the world; no ray. no glimmer,
the indiscribable din and echoes Of the
night. broke all about; the great sea seem.
ed to be rolling overhead with weight Of
darkness and tumult; the light had gone
out aud still more terrible through the
murk the minute guns doomed on.
Once more there was a vivid fash, and
then a terrific peal-a huge ship with
masts and cordage brought out distinctly.
Would she ever anchor ?-could she live
through such gale? Closer and closer
drew that little group. while Miss Jervls
held my hand with the grip Of the dying.
Again the whole sea was lit up. Oh!
the ship was still there, aud two men we're
seen coming over the side, and swinging