The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-04-23

precious-and I held her closely, very
closely. She LOOKED up from my arm s.
her eyes eagerly seeking comfort in mine,
her lips parted for the question to come
pantiug forth
"Shall we be lost ?"
Then, as if she had read hopeless an
swer in my face, piercing cry went up
among the clouds :;
20, Horace! Horace p'
More closely still I held her now, but
held her where the waters must pass over
her in their rash. My lips were tight
and firm my eyes upon that second
mighay wave that came so fercely to en-
gulf us.
Il am holding you, Elsie! Close your
eyes, for 1t is coming p
Bent and frail she stood in my embrace,
with her eyes elDsed, while the huge
wave, which | could calmly stand and
WATCH, came rolling on behind her. Then
held her down, firmly and steadily,
beneath the water, battling for my
own Life and breath. When at last the
sea grew calm again., and we were tossed
no longer at its will, strorg will, I had
still my hands upon her shoulders, and
under the waters i could see white
dead face. And my strength had not
failed nae evon yet, for was holding her
go wnen they found US, and lifted US to-
gether.. whispering eagerly that one was
living but that the other had been for
long tlme mead.
l did not see Horace for long time,
so that when at last they let me Soc him
the first bitter ness of the grief was past.
He asked me many things ABOUT that day,
and | told him all-save the terrible truth
that / had killed her. I told him how
Elsie had clung to nae in her fear. when
that awful wave swept so suddenly across
the sea but bow she had grown so weak
at last and despairing. that she fell with
the second wave, and never rose again.
de sat beside me while I told him this,
and then it seemed to grow natural to
him to SIT beside nae and at last T..
watching his fsce-saw its sorrow fade
and the old look of content return to it,
At first it was in sileL ce that he sat be
side me, and this silence could under
stand and share but gradually he would
win me on to talk to him, and his ewes
would brighten as he listened. So we
grew Dear friends again, dearer than we
bad ever been and I forgot that white
drownea 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 to-
gether to lay some autumn blossoms on
the grave; and so long be fingered there
in perfect silence, that all my fears anl
my despair came back to me in over
whelming force. He had forgotten ms I
Before his grave eyes was the bright
childish face of her who had won his
first love. He was wishing she had be n
saved, aud lost. Why had he brought
me here whereI could see the white
drowned face, just as I saw it look when
held it still below the water the angry
death had passed Should I be obliged
to see it thus befure me all my life?
Silently, as we had stood there, we
turned from the grave side by side then
suddenly Horace clasped me in his arms
and kissed me. So tenderly, and yet so
passionately, he kissed me, under the
quiet Stars. thatsat that moment Ilknew
had won what had so long craved for
vainly. He had learned to give me q
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 knew he would return for
Christmas day. and so I sat waiting for
him. Always longed for his return
when he had left me, but hardly ever 80
intensely as longed for it this night,
The wind was blowing fitfully; 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 aud I had stood beside