The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-14

"What do you meanP What have you
heard P''
Where is Sears 2''
"That is it he is ILL.,"
II believe it," returned Duval
"But DO not know where he is ~
"America--he sailed not long since"
81 must go tool will leave to-mor-
row."
"You are right came for that--fare-
we'll p
He left the room. Catharine hardly per-
ceived his absence, she only knew that the
time had come. Stronger than ever came
back that strange thrill She knew what it
portended-it was warning-Sears had
need of her
Catharine trusted so implicitly to that
presentiment and to Duval's words, that
on the morrow she sailed, following in the
track of him for whom she had lived and
suffered SO long
In chamber of the hotel at which he
had descended on landing, William lay
feeble and wasted from a long protraoted
illness.
The past year had changed him so much
that he was scarcely to be recognized. He
lay back upon his pillows, with his hair
falling in damp masses over his forehead
the temples hollow, and the eyes beneath
burning with an unnatural brilliancy,
which gave sure evidence of the disease
that preyed upon his frame.
He had landed only the day before, and
was not yet able to quit his chamber, or
even the bed upon which he had thrown
himself for little rest.
AS he looked back upon the past year,
he believed that he had been wholly mad
the tabled wanderer of all time had not
held more restless course than he.
But there was no refuge-no change
earth had no cure, and no voice came from
the beyond to bid him hope.
There he lay, not sleeping, but unable to
arise, though he was not conscious OF
physical pain, and he had SO long counted
the pulsations of his heart that their added
beating was unheeded.
The door opened, but he did not move /;
woman stole across the room and knelt
by the bed. He opened his eyes and looked
at her. M
81 am mad then," he said, aloud, "ut-
terly mad l see Catharine's face close to
my own-I can almost feel her breath upon
my cheek" .aH f
1t is Catharine,'' she whispered; "it
is no dream William, no frenzy--it is /,
Catharine ~ ..
He raised himself, evincing no surprise,
but looked incredulous still.
Catharine, Catharine | Then it is not
a dream-I am not crazed ! Oh this will
be too terrible if it prove unreal Speak
again-that voice-I cannot believe it,"
"It is I, William, it is ! You called me
and / came I" ,..
cay, every night while on those stormy
waters called upon your name-I bade
my spirit seek yours and summon it--once
there was spell upon my soul, which
made me believe that you had heard"
"I did, William, it was no delusion, 1
heard and obeyed."
"Let me sleep, Catharine, I have not
closed my eyes for many nights-I am i'll,
think Let me lean my head upon your
shoulder-I can sleep so.'
She lifted his head, wrapped his dress
ing-gown more closely about his form and
sat supporting him, while he dropped
gradually away into a tranquil slumber.
'"I shall find you when wake Catha-
rine ?"
"Here while you need my care, be-
loved'
" Perhaps may die here, +" he said, after
a pause "that would be too great bless
ing-but let us hope it,"
His eyes closed, his breath came even
and undisturbed, and still Catharine sat
clasping him in her arms, breathing only a
prayer of thanksgiving that the appointed
moment had come, and that she had once
more found the only companion which her
soul had met upon it's whole pilgrimage.
| l naEM
Nellie and her guardian made that hur-
ried ride almost in silence. She asked no
other questions, for the railway carriage
was filled with people, and in her excite
ment it seemed that every eye was fixed
upon her. Mr.. James volunteered no re-
mark, sitting upright and stern, still pale
from the Icy gust of passion which had
swept over his features ON FIRST encounter
ing the girl. There was sort of steely
glitter in his hard eyes, and peculiar
contraction of the thin lips, which to one