The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-04-14

""u SomC vi his companions ueClueu 10 go
to sea on fishing expedition.
Eunice heard the news with a sharp pang.
Her husband was about to leave her on an
always dangerous undertaking, and she was
still angry. What if he should never re-
turn?
How perverse the human heart is. Now
was the time to yield aud exchange the word
and kiss Of peace. She knew it, and yet
with that strong contradiction, which so of
ten possesses us like an evil spirit, she would
not bring herself to show the least sign of
contrition. She attended to all the prepar-
ations for his departure with strange pre-
cision and care, while all the time it would
seem as though her heart would break, yet
never once approached her husband with
word or caress The poor fellow hung about
disconsoately until all was ready, hoping
to the last
But when the parting moment came, and
Eunice mounted the stool as she always did
to fasten his jack about his throat, being too
diminutive in size to reach him in the usual
way, there, were no jokes about her small
stature, nor kisses for her loving service.
Hurst saw that in her face which prevented
any approach on his part, besides the re-
collection Of that speech Of hers was still
present lie said to himself that it must be
that he had been deceived that she had
never loved him and was now regretting her
life. So as her hands dropped from their
little Office Of buttoning his jacket he turn
ed away with sigh.
Silently he kissed his old mother, and ST.
lently lett the cottage and strobe of. And
Eunice, wild with grief, love and remorse,
fled to her room, and kneeling at the win
dow saw, through binding tears, the boats
shove off, with the men cheering and the
women waying their hands to the last.
When there was no longer the single lire of
a vessel to be seen she threw herself upon
the bed and gave way to a passion of sobs
and tears.
Poor child her repentance was very bitterl
"When he comes home, O when he comes
home | will humble myselfv' she said
Then came the terrible thought that per-
haps he might not return, that she might
have no opportunity to weep out her repen-
tance upon his breast. When she could
bear her agony TO longer she arose and went
down to help Mary Tregcrman about her
household duties. Without word the two
women kissed each other before going about
their tasks, for it was an understood feeling
among the women ofthe village when their
husbands and sons went out to sea that the
sympathy between them WAS deepened,
whether mute or expressed,
How that day passed Eunice could not
tell. Some times when her heart seemed
like to break she brought a low seat to her
mother-in-aw VS. side, and sitting upon it
rested her head upon the elder woman's lap,
now and then raising her sorrowladen eyes
to say. you think he will come back moth
err"
81 pray God he may return to us" was
the reply.
The fishermen had expected to return the
latter part of the following day but by the
next morning the wind had changed and by
afternoon a raging storm had swept the
coast. Evening drew on, and though the
rain had abatcd the wind was tearfully high,
and the sea roared like Il legion of wild
beasts let loose.
Then began the terror of the women
From cottage to cottage they went in groups,
consulting, discussing and weeping as they
talked. Only Eunice was silent, and new
er wept What right had she to tears 1t
81, l, 1 1Ial
over the fountain of her tears, and that the
water should never again gush forth, though
all the while her heart beat wilder than the
sea. But there had suddenly shaped in her
mind the resolution to go out with some of
the men who were about starting to the aid
of Hurst and his party.
TO think with Eucine was to act. The
group were now assembled in Mary Ire
germans cottage, men and women, and
among them Ben Holding, one of the old
est and most experienced seamen.
Tremb ling with excitement, her face
as white as sea-foam, Eunice approached
Ben. Take me with youw she implored
the old man.
| 'Where, NY child
"Out in your boat, Ben, to find my hus-
band"
"Heaven helpus, she is going mad Here,
will not some of you look after this poor
little one9"
But she resisted the efforts Of the women
to draw her away, and clung to Ben. Lead
ing him into a corner and falling upon her
knees before him, she caught his hand in
hers and laid her cheek like some white
blossom, in his hard horny palm. Kneel-
ing there she told him her grief and the
cause of it, and how she must set out to
seek her husband and have his forgiveness,
though they should both perish Immediate
ly afterwards
The old mans mind went back to his ear
ly days, chord was touched, he could not
resist the poor young wife at his feet, He
knew it was a wild undertaking, but he
knew he could not say her nay.
"Well, God help you my child, if it must
be so !" was Ben's answer as he arose to
make ready.
When it was known that Eunce was to
go with Ben to seek her husband, perfect
clamor broke forth.
"Ben you are crazy to think of it! That
child in storm that has made some of you
men pale think we are all growing mad
to hear TO it !"
But Ben sienced them all. "The child
has her sacred reasons" said he. "Ill not
be the one to thwart her"
Mary Tregerman was bewildered. She
had never known of the misunderstanding
between Hurstand Eunice, or how they part
ed And now she did not know what it
all meant that Eunice should be starting
out on that awful night to seek her husband
| ON the sea