Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-09
THE HIDDEN BROOK:


Yes, terrible-that is Just what i
was. l shall never forget it. even
| should l live to one of those wondroul
ages at times recorded in the papers
Moreover, it was not thing for ma !
to forget. Many events may slip from
| our mind, bit never that moment when
we stand on the brink of the grave
brought thither by the probability of
an awful death.
1t happened in this way had
| been in Australia for about FIVE years
during which time ! had amassed
tolerable fortune, whenI began to long
to see the old country again-a desire
considerably strengthened by the fact
that the girl loved, and who had con.
scented to be my wife, was going te
England, and I could not bear the
thought of such an extent of ocean be-
tween us; so I determined to 60 too,
and let our marriage take place there.
May Brodstone was the only daugh
ter of wel!-t6.do squatter, and the
pret,iest, incest girl for miles round
the station, though, until / had become
acquainted with her, rather fond Of a
bit of girlish Irritation. This was the
worse for me, as it turned out.
Among her many admirers was one
Jacob Kiel. Dark~haired, dark.eyed,
dark -complexioned, he was of that
class of men *hs feel strongly. and
who never forget an injury-like wild
cats, they are nasty customers to offend.
Well, May. l fear, had firted some.
what with Jacob Kiel, who l really be-
lieve, loved the very ground she walked
on, though she declared-aiid l knew
it was true-that she had never given
him the slightest hope.
1t was about this time that appear
ed upon the scene; and she discovered
that she found the right man, as I had
found the right girl. May Brodstone
instantly gave up all her admirers, was
as steady and quiet as gum-tree when
no wind blows, and finally said the
Eyes" upon which my happiness de.
pended.
Old Mr.. Brodstone knew that the
match would be good one, and read
lily gave his consent, so that our en-
gagement was soon made public.
was pressht WHEN the news reached
Jacob KEEL. / shall never forgot his
face. His lips were compressed, his
dark eyes contracted; he looked from
May to me, and I felt that, if ever be
could, he would do me mischief. With
out syllable he quilted the place. A
strange sensation ran through me as he
departed and May told me that cold
shudder had run through her veins.
We did not see much of Kiel after
this, though we knew he was often
about. the station upon business but
the man somehow threw q kind of
shadow over Mays and my happiness,
and we were not at all sorry when we
got on board the steamer and steamed
off towards Old England. We had
not, however, got clear out of sight of
land when May, giving a little cry,
put her hahd on my aim, and. slightly
nodding her head towards the lower
deck. SAID
s'Oh, Edward, look-he is here too !"
And so he was. Leaning quietly
over the side, watching the land appar-
emily, was Jacob Kiel-a passenger for
England, like ourselves. l will own
that was considerably annoyed, though
when May, drawing nearer, exclaimed,
in low, startled voice, edward, dear,
| don't know how it is, but l dread
that mani cannot divest my mind of
the thought that he means us HARM |
laughed, and tried I'd Danish 80 absurd
an idea And certainly it appeared l
had every right to do so. Save by a
casual interchange of a few words, Kiel
never troubled us and we were max.
ing capital journey, when just as we
were within twenty degrees Of the
line, we were struck by hurricane
which the captain declared was almost
u cyclone in violence.
The vessel could not weather it.
The masts crashed overheard, taking
several of the crew with them, and, be-
fore the wreck could be ctt adrift, a
portion of the broken spars, dashing
against the ship, had caused leak
below the water-line, atid The cry was,
"We are sinking! Lower the bosts--
the pumps are useless r :
I, The captain, was martell0dsls firm
and cool, and by his sxampls made tts
all the ssme:
1880, L., a...-. 81 :. 1, .stsi ,