The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-05-13

/, Violet. was stove to pieces before 1t reached
the waters; an then, a. II Inc demon 'u''
4 controlled the storm WA Sallsneu, Il Cohp'l"'
tive calm ensucd. The Captain gathered 'he
; little band around hum, saying, Wi'h hl' ilp'
r qulvcnng: ,,.
}, "My friends, it &, appointed for Us al, 10
die; our time has come now; Itt Us AL NY '
meet our tate like brave people.
"Arc you sure, said Violet, ,aie you s"'''
Mr. LcDrun, there is no hope
o.. II am afraid not, Miss Dcsmoulins, al.
swcrcd Edwin.
Are you sure" she sad, "theIc is no pos,
sible way to keep ailoat until morsing, ana
be picked up by passing ship
"None whatever" he replied, I'VE arc SINK
lpr fast. Look over at the sea, 1t is nearly
up to The Geek: in less than m hour she VIII
70 down. Have courage, and trust in liim
vino is with us always.
j Oh, do, | dor turning her head away 10
| conceal the tears that were flowing from hcr
ieyes. Directly, she turned toward HIM Win
"a bright face, saying;
"Ah! if it is so-then-now, with The GER
Italn,y of death coming soon, can say to you,
what rhould never have dared to say, other
wise: "I-I-love you. Oh, love you; have
loved you, | believe, all my life
Then came look in her beautiful eyes he
never saw there before, "a light that Il never
seen on sea or shore an intense soul look OF
ineifabe longing love. He was ScnsOiy
moved, only managing to say:
Miss Desmoulins, | certainly am hononcd
and proud TO be thought worthy of such a
love How could have been SO blind: II
we live
. Hush" said Violet, Say no more, we
shall not live, else had never made the con
fesslon. Death comes TO me now very sweet.
/ All! what cry was that
II thought said Edwin, some one Salu
ship was in sight"
"Oh, no." She replied, ",o live! I could
not bear that now"
/ "Do not fear, Miss Violet Whatever
comes, | shall always be thankful for your
confidence, tor your love, and live or die all
the better man for the knowledge that | have
/ been loved by you. May it not have been tAat
your influence, unknown 10 me, has already
been, through all these past years, blessed
one for me? 1t is said we all have guardian
angel watching over US, who rejoices when
we are true, and wceps when We are false
MAY YOU not have been my earthly angel
likewise excrtlng a kindred watchtulness
that has made life happy and blessed"
"Ah, oh! dear, | Lave been nothing but 4
poor, lone gill, loving and unlovcd, and
now"
"And now" he said, you shall he that no
no longer. L An! We are sinking fast
let me at least do what | can 10 save
With eager haste he secured coil OF rope,
and was about to fasten her to loose spar,
the only movable object left upon the deck,
when the ship gave a urCh forward, righteu,
plunged backwards, trembling and swaylng
like diving deer, and in moment they were
struggling in the foaming, secthing waters.
He held her with one arm, fighting mantulIy
for life, for her, until he felt something strike
his side. 1t proved to be the spar lie drew
her up to it, painting, gaspng, nearly exhaust
ed, her long golden hair floating about his
neck, her face pale and wan, but wllhaL the
dear lovelight shining III her eyes The
cruel waves were beating them against the
wood, beating out the little lite left. growing
weaker, weaker each moment, until he barely
heard her last, almost nariculatcd murmur;
Kiss me once, darling, just once!'
With last supreme effort he pressed his
lips to hers. She murmured:
"Oh happy death and gave sigh; then
a great wave swept down upon them and all
WAS blank-sky, waves, Violet, all faded from
his sight
When he returned to consciousness he was
in the cabin of Portuguese vessel, that, at
the days dawnng, had discovered him IN
their track lowered a boat and picked him .
up, and found him with one arm fastened to
a spar with death grip, alone, single tress
of her beautiful golden hair fastened TO but
ton of his vest, and which had, doubtless, been
torn of when the cruel waves parted them.
lie had dim recollection Of her slipping |
from him, of a struggle to hold her otter that
first and last kiss, of the wave that beat him
back and tore her from him, nothing more, |
for all was darkness
After long illness, and long voyage, he |
reached America, at last, living 10 be an old
man, dong great deal of good, In quiet
sad way, in this cold, uncharitabIc world, .
loved by many-both men and women, for
fine qualities and noble nature. Especially
was lac loved by children, for whom he ever
had a kind loving word. In his old age
there was one little girl, with bright blue
eyes and golden hair, who was his especial /
iavorte He would linger near her with T.
such a wistiul gaze, she used instinctively to
feel there was Il something, intangible to her,
that he so loved her for; she would place her
little, childish hand in his, softly stroke his .
face, sometimes rest her head upon his knee,
and so SIT while he tondly carressed her gold.
en- head until the iengthened shadows called
her home
He never married The love born in death,
the blooming OF the Aloe once--and once
only-suiced He remained true and faith.
iul To that love. Al last dying calmly ana
peacefully, though little wandering in the
last hour, he would murmur: "What fear
tul night what an angry sea"
After slight struggle he opened his eyes,
wide fixed on space, with the same rare smile .
of old upon his wasted face, stretched out his
arms Us If TO cnloid avlSlble object, murmur.
ed softly "Niolet,' and 50 died
When they came TO prepare HIM for burial,
they found, close 10 his heart, treSs of gold
en- hair inclosed in IA small lockct with these
words on the inside:
"sacrcd to The memory ~. D."
And on the reverse side this couplct was IN .
rravcd
IT'S better To have loved snd lost,
TIzH never to have loved At all
Among his private papers, which were
wlled 10 me, the dear friend of his last years, ,
was the outline of this memoir. II IS all .
true save the names. Ii explains the sadness
of hls nature. Down in that cruel sea lay all .
that would have made life joyous for him,
-.