Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-14

their lives, ifthey would make the attempt.
He could not row himself, and so, half
crazed. knowing now how well he loved
his child, he had to endure as best he
might the horrors of that time, which his
heart told him would end in certain death.
One such hour teaches us more of our
selves than common lifetime. Oh, il
he had his treasure for one poor half hour
now, how he would take her to his heart.
They had distrusted each other for many
DAYS. but there was love, boundlcss stores
of it. in the depths of their hearts for each
other. he knew, and as he wrung his hands
in an agony of despair and cried out for
his child the rough men felt their hearts
breaking, though they could not help him.
At last, as the morning began to dawn
a life boat was thrown upon the shore,
scattering its freight OF half liielcsS bodies,
some into the sea, and some upon land.
but it was not Katharine's boat, and Meth
er she nor the Captain was among the
number.
There was work enough TO do now, and
it wae done with a right good will. The
first one that could speak said that all the
crew had left the ship: that the captain
had gone last, where or how none of them
knew, though one of them said after
while that he had kind of half recollec-
ton of hearing the Captain cry out: My
God Katharine" as he swung over the
ships side, but he could not tell anything
certainly, there had been confusion when
the ship began to 60 to pieces.
In the middle of the forenoon the storm
abated, and another boat made into the
bay, with Captain Alcott ON board, but
though he had thought he saw Katharine
the night before he believed it to be only
his imagination, and knew nothing of her
now only what they told him, that she had
gone out to save him from death if she
could.
In an hour after he had landed, he, with
Mr.. Forsyth, had taken steam tug and
were off after the woman who was proba-
bly, lying at that moment fathoms deep be-
meath the cruel waves
Captain Alcott kept his own look ont, and
he had both heaven aud hell in his head
during that awful search. for il he did not
find her and his reason told him that it
was the merest folly to hope for such a
thing, he would never forgive the man who
kept close beside him at Z, c.y turn, and
whose worn, haggard fate wa enough to
move stone to pity. Ii he did find her, if
God would but hear and answer this, the
most terribly-in-earnest PRAYER that he had
ever uttered in his life, it would make him
changed man for all time.
We make such VOWS in these dire straits
which oyertake us now and then: the
worse for us if we do not keep them.
The sun began to get low in the West
ern horizon, and yet nothing. Would ii
be in vainP Could he give her up now.
just as he was certain of her love, and
upon the very threshold of what might be
bliss? His cyes.were straining far around
in every direction, the hope and despair
alternating in them, making them dread
full TO see. He was strong man, but
strong men love with fearful intensity
sometimes, and love over possible and
probable grave is always more or less ter
rble.
At last, after another hour, he gave such
start that Mr.. Forsyth caught him, think
ing he was about to plunge overheard
do you see that ?'' he said, his face
white as ashes, pointing off toward what
seemed to be mere speck upon the water
Then came the commando
"More steam on! Straight ahead ~
As for Katharine, God took care of her
as he does for all when everything human
fails.
She had somehow outlived the stormy
night, and though she was drifting help
lessly out to sea,-her oars had been lost
long before-she was alive, and kept up
faint courage until she knew that help was
coming. When they lifted her on board,
she lay like one dead, and for hours after
ward she only repeated delirously in an
swer to either her father or her lover:
You will let him drown You will let
him drown!''
BY the time Mr.. Forsyth saw his daugh-
ter really saved, he was quite ready that
she should become Mrs Captain Alcott,
and as ''All is we'll that ends WE'LL" the
lesson was a good one for him and GER
tainlY not likely to be soon FORGOTTEN.