River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-06-04

will the parson give us bit Of
prayer " asked grizzled old sailor
touching his nat.
All knelt, while in solemn tones Regi.
maid commended their souls as dying men
to the all-merciful Father. A beautiful
confidence breathed through the prayer,
and deep hush followed, all the more
impressive from the wild clamor which
preceded it.
"You are sure there is no chance for
us !" asked Helen, when he returned to
her side.
Humanity speaking, none. do not
see the least" The words were firmly
spoken; his face wore its usual happy
look. Worthy living makes worthy dy-
lng, an old saint has told us. Are you
much afraid ?" he asked.
"No, not very," with slight SILVER.
'But you are sure, quite sure!
~ think so. | see no hope whateverl'
What a face she turned upon him as he
spoke The pinnacle light famed full
upon her, and showed it plainly. Her
eyes shone, deep flush was in the cheeks,
every line was grown inexpressibly ten
der
"You are not frightened % he ex-
claimed, involuntarily. "You look hap
Ply, happier than ever saw you look be.
fore 7"
81 am happy" she replied in voice
SO soft that he scarcely recognized it as
hers. ave have but few minutes to
live-we are almost spirits can tell
you now what | never could have told
had we liyed-that | love you have
loved YOU for a long time.
Miss Miles Your'
Don't be surprised be shock
ed" she pleaded, "0h, if you knew
what il is for me to once speak and tell
what is in my heart! All my life have
longed to speak, and never could. We
are dead now, and at last | can -
On the edge of eternity Reginald
Thurston was conscious of embarrass-
ment at this avowal. Helen detected it.
"You do not know what to say to me"
she went on, VIII sort of disembodied
frankness. "Dear fricad, say nothing.
| am not ashamed that have loved you,
and by-and-by you will not be sorry. We
are going where love is life and law; mine
cannot harm or inconvenience you
there"
"Poor child" he n-urmured, inexpres.
sibly touched
"No, not poor. | have been much hap.
pier for knowing you, and now we are
going to the next world together.
never thought that anything so wonder
full as that could happen"
A cry came from the forlorn group en-
the other side Of the deck.
What was that ! What did they
say!'
81 think they said, a ship =" replied
Reginald, straining his eyes into the
darkness.
sch, surely not How could | live
now!'
There was terror in her face.
"Do not be frightened" he said, gently.
81 am not worthy of the affection you
have given me, but whether we live or die
| shall always thank you for it,
She did not answer, but there was
beautiful look in the eyes she turned up
on him.
Just then the ship gave heavy lurch,
downward plunge. Reginald clasped
Helen's hand firmly.
The next moment they were in the sea.
Half an hour later he was recovering
his senses On board the bark Curlew, the
last man rescued from the Inflated steam
er. All the interval was black eclipse.
He only knew that somewhere in the
ocean depths HeleI's hand had been torn
from his, and that he rose to the surface
without her. Poor Helen Lonely in
death as in life, she has gone companion
less into the unknown world
This was years ago. Reginald Thurs
ton had been successful man and
happy one. He has never married. This
is no tribute TO Helen's memory. He
thinks, and perhaps rightly, that his
work is better done without the incum-
brance of a wife. 1t may be that as his
hair grows gray, and the shadows grad
ually lengthen over the road, his thoughts
go back, and he realizes that the truest
love which blessed his manhood was
quenched on that wild night beneath At
lantic waves. But why do say quenched!
Do we not all believe, with Helen, that
''love is life and law" in the land where
she has gonei And even in that land Of
compensation, wherever, whatever she
may be now, she must be happier. Eter.
nifty, it would seem, must be sweeter for
her one aloe blossom Of speech-that for
II. II. L.fa el.n Il i'll