New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-10

| ucT OOW0, HUI St0AOlly, O0uc8L0 LQe
water, battling the while for my own life
and breath. When at last the sea grew
calm again, and We were tossed no longer
at its wild, strong will, had still my hands
upon her shoulders, and under the waters
could see white dead face. And my
strength had not failed me even yet, for
was holding her so when they found us and
lifting us together, whispering eagerly that
one was living but that the other had been
tor long time dead.
did not see Horace for q long time, 90
that when at last they let me see him the
first bitterness of his grief was past. He
asked me many things about that day, and
told him all-save the terrible truth that l
had killed her. / told him how Elsie had
chung to me in her fear when that awful
wind swept so suddenly across the sea; but
how she had grown 60 weak at last and de-
pairing, that she fell with the second wave,
and never rose again. He sat beside me
while told him this, and then it seemed to
grow natural to him to sit beside me; and
at last I-watching his face-saw it's sor-
row fade, and the old look of content re-
turn to it. At first it was in silence that he
sat beside me, and this silence could un-
derstand and share; but gradually he would
win me on to talk to him. and he eyes
| would brighten as he listened. So we grew
dear friends again, dearer than we had ever
been; and forgot that white drowned face
which lay now side by side with my mother,
under the old cedar in our churchyard on
the hill.
One night we had strolled there together
| to lay some autumn blossoms on the grave;
and 60 long he fingered there in perfect 81
lence, that all my fears and my despair
came back to me in overwhelming force.
He had forgotten me; Before his grave
eyes was the bright childish face of her who
had won his first love. He was wishing she
had been saved, and l lost. Why had he
brought me here where l could see the
| white drowned face, just as l saw it look
| when l held it still below the water the an
cry death had passed. Should be obliged
to see it thus before me ell my lifel
Silently, as We had stood there, we turned
from the grave side by side; then sud euly
Horace clasped me in his arms and kissed
me. So tenderly, and yet go passionately,
he kissed me, under the quiet stars, that at
that moment knew had won what had
SO long craved for vainly. He had learned
to give me stronger and more fervent love
! than he had ever given to Elsie.
| Horace and ! had been married nearly a
| year, and this was Christmas eve. NV
| husband had been away for two or three
| days, but l knew he would return tor
Christmas day, and SO 1 sat waiting for
| him. Always lOnged for his return when
| he had left me, but hardly ever so intensely
as longed for it this night. The wind was
blowing itfully; now rising in sudden gusts
which brought back to me that horrible
morning in the sea; and now lying lulled
and calm, as it had been upon that autumn
night when Horace and had stood beside
Elsie's grave in that strange silence which
he broke at last to tell me with what
strength and tenderness he loved me.
So strangely nervous and SO timid had
grown, that when l heard my husbands
step at last. ran to meet him just as if
he came as q deliverer.
Enlightened. my darling ~ he questioned
tenderly, as he led me back into the lighted
room. "Tempestuous, is it not but SO
beautiful out of doors. The moon is full,
and the sky exquisite. Have you been out
at all to-day"
mo, Horace"
"Then, when dinner is over, will take
you. 1t will do you good, if you will put
on plenty of furs; and it will do me good,
too, to have you walking by my side again.
You are not afraid Of this wind. my dar-
lingw
''And l love it. All, how good it is to be
home with you again, my wifer
do you miss me when we are apart, then,
l asked it eagerly, yet knew well that
dream-he lavished on me now far more
intensity of affection than he had ever
given to his first love.
"Miss your he echoed, folding me within |
his arms and laying his lips most tenderly |
on mine. There is no minute in any hour |
of my absence in which do not miss you.
darling; and if tried to say how much l |
should but fall"
Because you love me so, Horaceg"
Because l love you SO, my cherished
wife"
you never loved any one before as you
love met"
II never have-I never can-love any one
as love you, my own beloved"
i knew it go we'll; but still loved to hear
him say it.
The moon was riding gloriously through
the frosty sky when we started out to to-
gether. Horace had himself fastened the !
soft furs about my neck, kissing me as he
did so, and my heart beat jOyously and
proudly rs leaned on his strong arm, and
felt that was very precious to him.
So earnestly and happily were we talk
ing, 80 perfect was the beauty of the night,
that had not noticed where we were 60
ing, until we stopped before gate knew,
and Horace bent to open it.
1--WE have wandered here almost uncon- |
my darling" he said; "but we
will 60 in and stand a moment in the quiet |
ness beside Elsies grave. In our own in
tense happiness. we would not forget her
upon this beautiful Christmas night; and
t is her birthday too, you remember, Mar
garrett"
l shrank aside and whispered, mot to-
,ight-not on Christmas night-not on her
birthday" but Horace gently led me on, !
Until we stood once more together beside
hat great square stone beneath the cedar,
t was very chill and very gloomy there,
md crept closer to my husbands side {
7ery chill and very gloomy, even with his !
trong protecting arm around me. Why
lad he brought me here, when we had both Z
earned to forget and had grown SO happy? G
he would but speak-if he would but q
ak to me, and chase away these haunting 1
which had not visited ME since. g
4 this very spot, he had told me how he :. Il
'ved me! If he would only tell me SO c
that the words might drown
his moaning in my ears, this rushing of the v
ga about my head, this cry of faint and k
anne at all tonight, and raised this awful v
,emOry! q
80 Horace, Horace, see the white dead u
lce. s.
My cry had not broken his long silence. IL
, knew it was uttered only in my heart. "
looked up eagerly, that the glance Of his
ind eyes might give me courage; but that h
rowned face had come between us. b
80 Horace l cried, cropping with my tt
ands; take it away: take it away! She "
ould have you save her, and let me gor' o'
Margaret. my darling, are you ill?'
heard the question In my husbands soft, OF
nd tones, but there was something else / nj
lard far more distinctly al
"Listen!" cried, turning to face the blast L
WIND which came sweeping over the tn
llley below; ''listen! listenh'
/ W for ifS L |
retched, and when the storm had passed. le
i'd left me standing so, fancied death had In