National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-01-26


enhanced yet more the regal splendOr o
her b auty, when, during momcntsry lulI
in the storm without, the report ol gun
caused Maud To stop abruptly IN the mid
die Of sentence, and look inqulringly al
her companion. lie got up and walked II
the window, which, facing the valley, ordi-
narily commanded view of the sea be-
yond; bat nothing WAS visible except
the drenched landscape, and, barely dis
tinguishable through the rain, the murky
angry waves, He gave all upturned glance
at the clouds and then turned quickly "a
his cousin
Maud, | am just going down TO the
beach don't let uncle wait dinner for me
That gun sounded like a ship in distress
and if SO, there may be work to do that
may detain me-
Wait minute, then, Edward, while
pat on my things and will 60 Win
! ,vu."
"Go with me Nonsense, Maud il isn't
fiji weather Tor you to 60 out, and you
couldn't do an. good"
Nonsense, Maud, indeed Think il
is nonsense edward Come, now,' she
vent on coaxingly, " do let me 90 with
YOU, there's dear boy. can put on my
waterproof, and you know am privileged
to do as please. Besides she added, in
a more serious tone, If there really is a
to help the people,
Edward .OokeG in her face for moment.
For him. at anv rats, it was impossible to
resist the persuasion Of its pleading
VERY well, cousin mne have it your
way, only don't be long y and, holding the
door open for her to pass out, he followed
her for the purpose OF donning peal jacket
and a pair OF good stout shootlng-b boots
II is necessary that we should inform
the reader that Maud was motherless
Her behavior almost tells the tale of her
carly loss. Mrs. Tremayne had died when
her daughter was born, and the widower
| thcroupon shut himself up with his books
in o solitude upon which Maud herself,
upon whom he dotted, AMI few male
friends, were alone privileged to intrude.
Destitute, therefore, Of a parents loving
guidance, and restricted fer the society of
her own sex to the ompany OF Mrs. Nor
ton, and to weeks spent at rare intervals
at the houses of friends, Maud had re-
manned IN iguoraD ce OF many, and acquired
contempt tor some, of the usages OF
society, which, queen of her little realm,
She TO some extent disregarded at will
The cousins reached the beach Just be-
fore the vessel struck, and Edward gazed
with astonishment upon the horror
stricken groups, who were watching her
drift helplessly across the mouth of the
bay. when he heard that no efforts were
hag 10 b.a
more than half sailor, and could appreci-
ate the peril but there was ring of disap.
pointment in bis voice as, after obtaining
the information he had asked for he turned
to the little crowd.
=" DO You mean to say, then, YOU are 60
ing to let those fellows drown without
making an eti1rt to save them thought
better things of you men, One would
imagine y1I had never seen gale Of wind
before"
." It's no good, Master Edward,n said
one of the older men, who had known
Master Edward from the time of the |
capture OF the latter's first mackeral /
" some men have gone down to the Point |
but no boat could get out to the Cat to- |
night. Look at them biz rollers in the
bay, and you can guess what chance a
boat would have outside
A general murmur of assent followed /
this speech, aud Edward TUNED sharply .
to the speaker.
"Oh, that's your opinion, Mr.. Bill
Wright, is it! Where's your boat she's
about the stiflest in the place. Here, this
is the one, isn't tt. with all her oars ready
in her ? That's all right, Now, then,
want crew; which of you men will come
of TO the wreck with me ~
There was momentary pause, and each
man looked at his neiehbor Then one
came forward, and then, under the iu-
flueuce of example, and ashamed to be left
behind where one was willing to lead
Others volunteered also In couple of
minutes the crew was made up; and then
whilst the p'Nn were fitting the oars to
the tholc-pins and preparing for their
perllous trip Edward returned to Maud's
side. She had sought shelter from the
wind and drifting spray tthc ram had
ceased for time behind a boat few
PAGES oft, but was yet near enough to hear
all that had been said, and now she was
white and trembling with a great fear.
Even whilst she spoke the pallor of her
l. 4
" to her Cousins arm for support,
Edward, surely you are not going
It is too dangerous; let the men go with
,ut you; they are used to it," she pleaded
liteously in the selfishness of her terror
He spoke almost oternly as he answered
ler.
= Hush, Maud | am as strong as any
# them. Besides led them into going.
md | can't abandon them now. Good-by
lear he went on aitcra moments pause
lis voice had sunk now TO whisper. and,
'end,ng over her, he pressed his lips light
Y to her cheek.
Ii was wrong, doubtless, thus to trench q
N anothe: mans prerogatiye, thus to tres
Ass on another mans preserves; but the
revocation was undeniablN great, and all a
thcr considerations went down before the I
espalring dread OF never gazing upon her l
,ce again. a
In an infant Maud's arms were clasped t
bout his neck. a
Edward, my love, NV darling. don't I
o for my sake don't 90 ~ and then, over c
-helmed with shame and confusion, she /
id her burning and crimson face upon his e
houlder. J.
GenLy, very gently. he extricated him il
elf from her embrace. Il
Maud, You mustn't, indeed you must u
OF he said in a voice of exquisite ten 5
erneSs and then his self command gave {
-av, and, forgetting all else in the happl- v
css OF the moment, he strained her to his il
reast, and covered her lips and brow with s.
lsses. But the boat was ready. and time 2
as of importance; so with whispered p
Goodbye, my own, my darling y he i'm a
tinted one last caress upon her unresist- lC
% form and calling tn ono Of fnn rrnrn on, n