South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-03-27

Nearly two years had passed since tha,
dreadful wreck. a long LEO of gre, n
mounds 10 the chucchya yard some with no
names upon the white head-bosrds-bad
messed over, while white faces, in many a
darkencd home, stood as tonb-stones over
the graves deep in the heart
Que day, CLYDE returned home 10 ind
his mother very sick. She had fallen in
to one of those faiO,iug spells-so common
to her since that highland KATIE ecu d
NOT leave her to 60 for help. She had
worked bSrd--brav little maideu-and had
brought her to, as she whispered TO C1ypr
in the kitchen, bat fUnnd she was upail a..
to speak or move when she got her to bed
When lie entered the room, she stretch
ed out her arms 70 him, dropped them n
bout his neck, aud booked upward with a
smile. The wind aud sea were out AGAIN
angry and loud. At each sound she shud
dered, but the smile did not leave her face
Her eyes held an nnearlhly light She be-
gan To grow cold aud near morning. in
one OF those low, long sobs Of the sea, when
the tide goes OUT, her life went out gently
with it,
Two days later another grave was added
belonged, coming only little later.
hA1IE began TO feel now what it was TO
be left alone, as the head OF the house.
CLYDE-great, strong heart-took the
trembling girl into his arms, as if she were
child, on that first, sad night in their
desoIate home, and soothed her into quiet
ness.
do you think, KATIE he said, at last
very low-for bis own voice choked-'do
you think you Can keep house for CLYDE,
even if ma IS gone |?
Il will try was all she could say, as
she Ind her brown eyes, so fall of tears. on
hor brothers bosom.
Bless you Bless you, my brave little
gnl,' he answered.
KATIE felt stronger for those words
she thought over all that her mother used
to say when she should be gone and sho
knew their meaning now. Sac made up
her mind to be all tha. she had hoped for
her.
W,l, at FIRST it was too, too sad Often.
when she had made ready the meal, the
empty place would look so heart breaking.
that they could only sit and weep
By'and-by, they grew more used to the
change, and the house became more cheer.
tdl. KATIE did all she could TO make it
look bright to CLYDE, and welcomed him
warmly when be came home from his work
After supper she would draw out her little
workable, and sit reading or talking to
him all the long evenings, till he blessed
her IN his soul, for her little woman's heart.
Often, when she knew the night would
he wild, she would plan something in the
day, TO make the time pass more swiftly.
ihit he might not be reminded Of their
grief
IL was on one such evening that they sat
5u,iIy engaged in new story which KA.
TIE had borrowed that day. There was n
knock at he door, and CLYDE rose TO omen
1t. KATIE, thinking it was one Of the neigh.
bors, read % without raising her eyes, in
tending to stop at the end of the verse she
was reading.
The door stood open, but no word was
spoken. What could il mean p and tt,
TIE looked up.
Al did her eyes chest her? Was she
dreaming! Surely she must have gone 10
sleep over the story, and this was what it
turned to
Sac saw CLYDE stand there, with his
arms dropped by his side in won Ter. look.
ing at some one in the doorway. II ,cas
1dam RdBlsey! She turned icy cold -
Their lips moved, but she heard no .und :
The lamp reeled rel before her eyes. her
arms reached out toward her father and
she knew no more
When KATIE came to herself sgain. she
was in those dear, strong arms, too weak
aud happy % say anything.
sac heard tie strange story Of those two
years, 10 which they bad moufned BIN as
dead.
lie had been Ao,tiog Tor aours and
at1rs out at soa, - men a strange vessel
picked um NJ, e,rryiag him across tho q.
ccan. a fearful fever set in, which pltccd
h'm f'r mouths ia a hospital. After tbat.
bus labor vas 50 poorly paid for (be was so
di.ablsI By sickness that be had waited
long time 70 earn enough TO pay bis way
home
KATIE knew, a. she lay there io hi.
arms that The worst was ovcr-,hat be
knew Of her mother death. lie bad ex.
Pe''ai TO FAD 10 30 knowing her frail pa.
ture
Inc next morning they Oh went toge.
ther 20 tbo grave, aud IL seemed as It her
angel must see aud be glad ljr them but
Oh if she bad kn1wo, sobOed KATIE.
she does Know, NOR, my child 30
c5mioried :. said her father, and she ,ras
comioricd 10 tae thought.
lh.Ts was great stir 90 The little isb-
lng town, when tie strange news was told
that ADAM RAMSEY was alive! N,nv
were TIE eager questions pu, TO him about
those who had gone out IN the boat with
him, and many the strange tales Of suffer-
ing he bad 10 tell. There we're companies
OF earnest men and women every day az tho