The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-25

violently against mass OF slippery
chalk, which afforded no purchase for
hand or foot, I lay there, fairly exhaust
cd, expecting every moment the return
Of the wave that would sweep US back
into the gulf, when thought I saw O
light close beside me shining into my
eyes, and face peering anxiously over
the waters. 1t was q delusion, one Of
the hallucinations OF approaching death.
Next moment We were covered with
binding surge, and great green wave
swept over us, driving us pell-mell be-
fore it with inconceivable fury. I lost
my senses for while to find myself
jammed in between two fragments OF
rock. Jenny was gone. I had lost my
hold OF her, and she had been carried
away into tho boiling gull.
I had nothing TO expect myself but in.
slant death. The next wave would wash
me ont OF my hole, mere crevice in the
precipice. had hardly strength enough
to breathe, mud could eight no longer
against my fate.
But though WAS constantly covered
with surf, and nearly sufiocated, ye. the
waves did not rench me with full force.
The tide was retiring.
Time passed on, I hardly knew how,
till the moon rose red and meuacing.
The tide was down now, bnt tho surf
reached to the very base Of the cliffs.
The flood would como presently, like n
lion to his half.devourcd victim, md l
should perish. Then I heard voices be-
low me, and saw by the moonlight some
men draped in sllort smocks or blouscs
cropping about among tho rocks beneath
me. They were countrymen, evidently,
who had been attracted by the wreck,
and who had found their way down the
cliffs by some concealed footpath. l
shouted-they heard me, and clambered
to my retreat They were full of com.
passion and kindness. They carried me-
along the base Of tho cliffs by footpath
among the debris, till they reached Il
smooth gap iu the wall Of chalk. by
which they assembled. I was presently
carried to house, stripped, and placed
in warm bed. l rrcollect Just this
much, and then memory fails mt. I had
a long illness, I am told, and was near
deaths door, but recovered at last, and
found myself the guest Of worthy Nor
man farmer, who occupied charming
little homestead Oh the heights above
the sea.
As soon as I could get abont, L went
down TO Havre to inquire about the
Petrel, at our consulate. She was lost,
l was told, on such and such night,
with NIL hands on board at the time.
The captain Ind returned home two
months ago. determined to go home
at once, and leave place SO fraught
TO me with sad memories. Now that
Jenny was lost forever, I realized how
much she had been to me. Her kind
ness, her courage, her devotion, her
charming gayety and animation, recalled
themselves to me, and I told myself that
I should never sec her like again. I in.
quired us to her last resting place.
Only two Of the bodies had been found,
it seemed-those OF the cook and the
black cabinboy.
Well, itremained only for me to return
to England, saldoncd, melancholy
man. l left my watch with TIE good
farmer who had taken care OF me, rs
some recompense for the trouble and
expense to which he had been put The
captain OF the John Bull gave me credit
for my passage money, and l landed ut
st. Katharine's wharf without clothes
but those I wore, sadly stained with
seq water, aud with only n few shillings
in my pocket. But there was money
due to me for my pension, couple Of
paymaster-general's Office to get it.
"William Thornley," said tho clerk,
looking at his list. "Why, he's dead
struck off the list two months ago.
You're the man, you say. Well, I'm
sorry to say that only treasury order
will bring you to life again"
The personnel of the otlico was almost
entirely changed since was last in Eng
land. The old clerk who used to pay mo
had been pensioned oil, and there was
no one who recognized me. The infor.
nation came, l was informed, from my
old office, and there I went in much cha
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Went 70 Ihn oiu ouice. lno Pace
once so iam'ilaf 70 me; now low Knew me ;:,1 no
more. one ot ny % ol'i ct cnamS Nv %1s ,soSad SUI
st. nv "I" storad % burst % into % louohtor '''A'
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ho .rinJ ' ~" ~ ' "
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