New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-16

| himself in some way, is not known; but
when he tried to land he fell upon the
beach. helped TO carry the poor fellow
! into his mothers cottage, and / shall not
I soon forget her face as it met his. The doc.
| tors talk of paralysis OF the heart, and say
that he must have known that such task
| as he undertook last night would probably
! Kill him. He had been warned in Germany,
| 1t seems. I'm glad to gay they have not
| told the mother this, for they had before
told her how he entreated my uncle to send
him, and how could she reconcile the two
facts!
Every word entered deep into Alice's sore
heart, and when all had been told one
thought and long ing held her. Acne aud
| unobserved che slipped away and hurried to
the river. The old ferryman was busy
enough this morning: the boat had been
ceaseiessly plying its way to and fro since
daybreak. Eagerly Alice listened to the
voices around her as she was pulled across,
tor all were taking Of the storm, and all
spoke Owens name.
When she reached the opposite shore, she
walked on rapidly among the spars ct the
lost vessel and over the dismal line of drift
ed seaweed to that cottage on the beach, il
which she knew that Owen lay. For no.
ment she felt that she mist be mi staken,
because no crowd had gathered here. but
one glance around showed her group of
people whispering together at short dis
lance. and unconsciously thanking them in
her heart tor the silent respect thus shown.
she knocked softly at the half-closed door.
II am an old friend of Mr.. Vaughan's."
said Alice, very softly, as she looked appeal
ingly into the face Of Owens sister. Ma
[ see him ~
Duadgha's eyes, swollen and tired with
weeping fixed themselves for moment
wonderIpgiy upon the lady who said thus;
9a1r INIT IL
tired as her OWE. quietly and simply dressed
yet elegant as few Visitors at the gloomy
cottage had ever looked to the girl before
" lthuut answering, she led Alice into the
Kitchen. and taen stood in hesitation beside
the window; where a bunch OF primToses
and wild white viplets dropped as if thev
felt the sorrow Of The house.
My brother is very, very ILL., che whis-
pered: every word uttered in keenest pain.
DO yon think you mad better see him ;"
les, y yes, Il may. replied Alice. her
voice most earnest and entreatng
Without another word, Duddgha walked
OF holselessiF To an inper cuUl: gently
crew her weeping mother from the bedside,
and stood aside for Alice to pass in.
The end Was very, very near. Alice saw
taat. even in her first yearning gaze.
Owen. she cried. But she could sa- no
other word, and only fell upon her knees
beside the bed, and looked at him with all
her heart sCrging IN her eyes.
''AilCe, once more together" ne wins.
pered, and the look upon his face was one
OF perfect peace no agony and no regret
Together at the end. The distance that
lay between Us, dear is all travelled now"
hneeiing there 10 the presence of the
great Leveler, and looking back upon her
life and his, Alice felt how slight had been |
this distance of which he spoke. vet how
impossible to pass it now. The barrier |
winch had stood between them when she |
feit herself above him had been raised bv |
her own hand, she owned. with a sobbng |
pain at her heart. Now, with that wonder |
tU! glory on his face. he stood immeasur-
ably above ter; and this barrier was from
the hand Of God.
And still she could not speak to him one
word; only her eyes. so full of love and
pain and penitence, told all
His two kind friends were with him at
the end. Old DR.. Hope, who had only the
DAY before received the short. sad letter in
which Owen told his story and resigned his
appointment IN the grammer school. was in
time to tell him, with dim eyes, he had
come himself on purpose to take him back
to the place he had filed so well: and Sir
Bulkley 'rwynne was there, ZOO walking
luietly in the outer room, and muttcripg
mat the sunshine on the water dazz!ed him.
The eyes upon the pillow, bright with
happiness, read the yearning
owe upon those faces gathered in the silent
Dom, and read in it that highest light
which made all clear
Softly, through the open doorway came
he soothing murnler Of the open sea. Away.
the VIDE blue above the open windows,
ark's song faltered toward the unreached
heaven. The only shadow on the bright
pring noon was the hushed shadow of the
utspread Wlngs.-Deiyyuri1