Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-29

"The boat is out on its duty, Hughes,
the Baronet answered, a little sternness
in his voice. though he marked pityinSly
the mans panied breathing. ~ our place
ia filled by one who will 10 his duty even
to DEATH
at sbouldn't have been Owen Vaughan
though" said Hughes, when the bystand-
ers had told him of the launch. ellis
arms haven't been in lately for that sort
of work and they say that, two or three
years ago, he was forbidden to use an
oar. What could induce him to go when
he knew that All, there see how she
rides that heavy sea--God bless her,"
The waves sobbed gently aud softly
tired of the passionate unrest of their long
night; and, gazing upon them with wide
and fearless eyes, as if their mellow plash
bewildered her, Alice stood again at that
window from which she could see Owen S
cottage home.
1t was quite late in the morning when
Mr.. Gwynne returned to tell OF the scene
upon the sea-shore last night.
After all, I'm thankful to tell you only
one accident occurred" he said, wonder
ing at the depth and sadness OF Alice's
sympathy, 'but it was painful one in
deed. That young Vaughan. OF whom
my uncle told you so much Miss Hope,
happened to be at his mothers cottage
came only the day beforehand he volun-
teered to take one place in the liie-boat.
begged for it, indeed. Splendidly he
handled his oar, so all the crew say, and
was untiring in all he could do for the
rescued. Strong ard brave and ready,
they said; an if you knew them you
would know what that means. Whether
it was only that he worked too hard, or
whether he hurt himself in some way, is
not known, but when he tried to land he
fell upon the beach l helped to carry
the poor fellow into his mothers cottage.
and / shall not soon forget her face as it
met bis. The doctors talk of paralysis OF
known that such task as he undertook
last night would probably kill him. lie
had been warned in Germany, it seems.
I'm glad to say 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 deeply into Alice's
sore heart, and when all had been told one
thought and longing held her. Alone and
unobserved she slipped away and hurried
to the river. The old ferry-man was busy
enough this morning; the boat had been
ceaselessly plying its way to and fro since
daybreak. Eagerly Alice listened to the
voices around her as she was pulled across
for all were talking of the storm, and all
spoke Owens name.
When she reached the opposite shore.
she walked on rapidly among the spars OF
the lost vessel and over the dismal line of
drifted sea-weed, to that cottage on the
beach, in which she knew that Owen lay
For moment she felt she must be mistak-
en-. because no crowd had gathered here,
but one glance around her showed her a
group of people whispering together at 4
short distance, and unconsciously thank
ing them in her heart for the respect thus
shown, she Knocked softly at the half
closed door.
II am an old friend of Mr.. Vaughn's,"
said Alice very softly, as she looked APP
pealingly into the face Of Owens sister.
MAY ! see him ?''
Duddgha's eyes, swollen and tired with
weeping. fixed themselves for a moment
wonderingly upon the lady who said this.
. lady with beautiful pale face and eyes
as tired as her own, quietly and simply
dressed. yet elegant as few visitors at the
gloomy cottage had ever looked to the girl
before. W thout answering, she led AL
ice into the kitchen, an then stood in hes
itation beside the window. where bunch
of primroses and wild white violets droop-
ing as II they felt the sorrow of the house
my brother is very, very i'll" she whis-
pered every word uttered in keenest pain.
.'Do you think you had better seen him. '
Eyes, Dyes, if / may" replied Alice.
her voice most entreating.
Without another word, Duddgha walked
on noiselessly to an inner room; gently
drew her weeping mother from the bed
side, and stood aside for Alice to pass in.
The end was very, very near. Alice saw
that, even in her first yearning gaze.
.'Owen ~ she cried. But she could say
no other word, and only fell upon her
knees beside the bed, and looked at him
with all her heart surgng in her eyes.
''Aiiee, once more together" he whis-
pered and the look upon his face was one
Of perfect peace, no agony and regret.
Together at the end. The distance that
lay between us, DEAR is all travelled now"
Kneeling there In the presence ofthe
great Leveller. and looking back upon her
iiic anu MS, Alice lell now suSnL Hau peel
this distance Of which he spoke, ethow
impossible to pass it now. The barrier
which had stood between them when che
felt herself above him had been raised by
her own hand. she owned, with sobbing
pain at her heart. Now, with that Won
derful glory on his face, he stood immeas-
urebly above her; 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 re-
ceived the short sad letter. ia which Owen
told his story and resigned his appointment
in the grammar school, was in time TO tell
him. with dim eyes. how he had come
himself on purpose to tempt him back to
the place he had filled SO well Sir Buckley
Gwynne was there too, walking quietly in
the outer room, and muttering that the
sunshine on the water dazzled him.
The eyes upon the pillow. bright with
unutterable happiness, read the yearning
love upon those faces in the silent room,
and read it in the highest light which
made all clear
SoffIv fhrou ub the omen doorway ean,e