Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-04-01
LEFTY MooRE's STORY.
? ny MARY kyLs DALi.Aa.

latch Of tho kitchen door lifted and my sweet
heart, Harry Wood, came in. l expected him
that night, and he was late, and WAS very,very
glad to see him. was always very glad to see
him, for l held him very dear He sat down be-
side me and took my hand In his. and kissed mo
softly on my forsheAd .u..1.a
His lips we're cool and fresh, aud his eyes
sparkled, coming 30 newly out Of the frosty vim
tor nights air, but he did not smile as he usually
did he looked very, very grave.
iHard at work for Christmas, Lotty?' he
asked. "Ihe children will be happy Tomorrow
II nobody else"
''You arc no. happy tonight, I'm afrsid,"I
said.
He put his head down on my shoulder and hid
his dear brown eyes there.
"Its weary waiting, Lefty" he said, "when
want you for my very own 10 much This IL not
a land to get on in, Lefty. There's younger
and fresher across the sea, whore man OF
my trade may make more than starvation wages,
and where indeed he need not stick to any trade
for there's land enough for those that Will till
.You moan America :" said.
~ mean America, he answered. LEFTY, love
I'm going there, ahd when know that am able
to keep you from want, you'll come to me, wont
yon Lefty ~
There are words that go to the heart like =
knife. Those almost killed me. Surely would
have gone with him anywhere, but to part with
him for could tell how long to have the
horrible angry ocean that dreaded 30 between
us-that WAS more than could bear to think Of.
Yet l knew that he only spoke the truth. Yes,
If we were ever to be married, he must leave me
now,
put the dolls aside. I could not work at
them now. l put my cheek against Harry hair,
and we sat quite silent for long, long while.
1t was after the clock struck eleven that he be-
gan to tell me in what ship he intended to sail,
and what he would do whom he reached Ameri.
o. He read me q letter from his cousin, who
had lived there several years. which certainly
Io fNrt yrod i'm
at least one friendly hand in that strange coun-
i Think OF 1t, Lefty, dear" he said growing
moro hopeful. "Our own little farm in some
sweet, wild place, where we can live and grow
old together. No more fears Of work falling, or
wages going down. It's worth the pain Of part
ing for while, is it not, dear2'
Yet, oh, it was hard to part Until die
shall remember the moment when he left me.
How he held me to his heart, how he let me go,
and came back again to kiss me Just once more !;
how even then, when We had torn ourselves
apart, his face as wet mine, he returned again
and clasped me close, close, close, and kissed me
on my cheek and on my brow, and on my mouth
again. Yes, shall always remember it,
In the gray dawn sat before the shoulder
ing fire and finished the children's dolls. Then
went sorrowfully to bed. ! knew that ~ the
uhr,stmss chimes were ringing, he was trudging
hiH way through the bleak morning. with h!s
bundle on his shoulder, aud knew that when the
wild December winds were at their hercest, and
the elect beat in the sailors face and stihened
his iingers-when life aboard ship was the cruel
irt thing one could dream of-he wonld be on
tho ocean, He had told me ho must work hlt
passage out, for lie had no money to pay for 1t
I know what q wnter-voyaGe was even to pas
sengers well-sbeltered and well cared for, ant
how could keep merry Christmas and take
my comfort ut the Christmas fire?
Iwent to church that morning, but even tht
church looked gay with evergreen and holl,
berries; and the hymns are all glad ones. l.
sitting in my pew alone, for my sister was to- TO.
busy with her Christmas dinner to attend ser
vice, found in my little book, his gift, tn
PRAYER for those upon the sea- and read it over
and as read could see the white waves and tn
gray sky,and the Lady Margaret tossing i'll thei
midst
Often and often saw her IN my dreams, wax
ing and sleeping, while waited for news froI
her. Often and often felt again my. Harry
parting kisses on my lips. u, Was i really TO S Dc
again and mover could Say to mysoif That
would beso. had presentiment of evil fro'
Il WAS a horrible winter. Storms came thic
and fast. We heard stories Of shipwreck an
disaster every day. At last there came horr
BILE rumor OF an accident to the Lady Margd''
and while waited in All agony OF suspense IL
further news it came in horrible certainty. =,
The Lady Margaret had been wrecked on I'll
banks OF Newfoundland on the bitterost day
that winter. Many of the passengers escape'
the latter persisted, and among the names
those frozen to death was that Of Harry Woo
Frozen to death. All, great Heaven Such
death for him Such death Tor me 70 Know Ih
he had died. remembering as did the war
clasp of his hand, the warm kisses his lips III
given read the horrible particulars over a.
over again. l agonzed with him. almost d,
with him. lay upon my bed for long wee
after in such feyersh delirium that was on
conscious that one Of us had frozen to deaf
and could not say which,
But God spared my reason and gave me ba
my health. After while TOOK up my acct
toned tasks again.
Nv trial had changed me very much, and
had no hope left. had nothing TO hope Il
but in the end took the days az they were se
aud made the best Of them. As for love, ne
er thought of loving again. All that had pass
away from my existence.
NV little nieces grew to be great girls and til
women. At last one Of them married an Am
lean, who took her home to his own country, q
who asked Aunt Lefty to go with them, II o.
went. I had always had strange aw
longing to cross the sea, and be where he h
been when he was lost but our jour-
was taken in fair weather, and we had no q
ual storm during the passage. When
reached the epot where his vessel had b.
wrecked, there was great fog and we could
nothing, Lut could fancy 1t Ill.
s,msny years ago, and yet leaned over
vessels side and said to the cruel ocean
"You took my love from me, AND you wree
him on these terrible rocks. l hate you
how hate you "
And was young Lefty Moore in the first f
of her terrible WOO hbhln put ohly lui WI
had been the miadle-age woman who tr!et
make the best OF everything SO long that l
settled down to that very soon and gong
New York, with all its strange sights and soul
found myself 30 much amused and intere
that almost forgot myself Tor many u
Then there was the BRIDES new house 10
nish, aud 10 many little things to get and dc
very! very many, was in and out from NOR
until night
AT last one day my niece wanted pair
shoes, and, being busy, sent me to buy Z
for her. looked for shoe-shop along
avenue n.a ns sh'Grsa Sa ike liked % the looks Of
shoes in the window but when l entered
most wished myself out again, for at the
sat terrible looking man, poor aeioi
creature whose appearance really made N
vt first He had lost both legs, il he had
had any, and his face was strange, ~.
looking thing, one ear was gone and the u
his nose. think should have run sway
could decently; but felt obliged to stay,*n
ter / had bought the shoes, and spoken te
poor soul. really felt only pity for him.
had gentle voice and q nice manner, an'
eyes, though they were dimmed with PAM
really beautiful and actr ally fingered =
while and had chat, aud when arose 10
said:
ulf YOU will come in again shall be so
shall try to suit you always, madam
said would come again, and did. i.
/ bought all my shoes and my niece's OF
aud we had many pleasant talks together.
ter while found that he Was an Engils'
and when the English paper We always hs'
WAS read through at home, TOOK y
1 was terribly sorry for him, and some1'
wished that knew more OF his hte, put ~
or told me anything. l think did most
taking, but he always begged me to
again. ,.,..,,. , and ,,;s
who had at first been sort OF terror 70 "
WAS so good. so kindly he knew SO mnc
wss 90 sad, too and no wonder thst my
bled for him. And this went on for hVe
five long years. , ,