The Morning herald., 1876-10-10


snxious heart. But the time was nearly
approaching when tidings might be expec.
ted to reach them of Wilfred's safe arrival
at his destination; but the time came and
passed, and brought with it no news of the
voyagers across the waste of waters.
Spring-tide arrived, with its gorgeous
blossoms, and tender flowers and herbage,
but with it no tidings Of the goodly ship
and gallant crew; and Captain Dormer be-
came daily more exasperated impatient.
Summer came-bright,g glorious, rosy sum-
mer; but with it no tidings Of the goodly
ship and gallant crew. Harrassing anxiety
succeed to impatience-suspense, i'll en-
dured by the restless, miserable captain,
who stormed and chafed from morn till
night. Autumn days succeeded long,gray,
lingering autumn days; but with them nc
tidings of the goodly ship and gallant
crew.
They had sailed away and were heard Of
no more. There was none to tell their
story; no vestige of a wreck, no trace Of the
missing vessel. All was enveloped in dark,
inscrutable mystery. They had sailed
away, and after that their doom was an
unfathomable Flank! Still did Agnes
hope on bravely, still did she try to com.
fort and cheer her wretched parent; but
when winter came again; spring-tide sue
ceeded, the orchards blossomed, and the
roses bloomed, and the yellow leaves fell
and no tidings were heard of the goodly
shin and gallant crew, then her hope gave
way, and the father and daug liter looked
on each others faces, and wept. Dreary
and monotonous months succeeded; and
the once resolute and fiery captain bade
fair to become nervous hypochondriac,
and without any decidedly bodily ailment
slowly wasted away. He would wander
on the beach for hours together, telescope
in hand, scanning the distant horizon, as
if from thence alas news were to be wait.
ed of the lost ones. When at home, he sat
in moping attitude, crouching over the
fire; muttering to himself with suppressed
sighs: "Next week he must be heard of,
must say; my brave boy; my gallant
Willy-next week he must" But Cap
tain Dormer was never heard to swear
now.
"Next week" came and it was repeti-
tion of the same sad burden-next week,
and the next, and the next after that.
Agnes heard frequently from Miss Wal
singham, who was an excellent CORES
pondent; but much as she desired to en-
brace her beloved grandparents, it was not
possible for her to qit the afflicted captain,
and moreover she clung with tenacity to
the locality were there was q possibility Of
receiving intelligence at the earliest period
of the missing ship. Persons shook their
heads pityingly, and limited at the l,ropri-
ETY. Of Agnes assuming Widows weeds, for
there was not an individual in the port Of
F. who did not feel certain that the
gallant fellows who so bravely sailed away
would never be heard Of more. The ship
foundered at sea, they said, doubt was at
an end. But the awful mystery of the
how and whereabouts, would never be re-
vealed.
Agnes shuddered at the suggestion OF
adopting the insignia Of bereavement,
when what mortal tongue could tell that
her husband was no more. The ocean
could not speak and utter forth in hoarse
murmurs the dreadful tale. Had it really
swallowed up those young and gallant
hearts, exulting in their strength and the
strength and swifsness Of their bark, in
which they rested free from danger7 Ag-
mes mourned not, deplored not as people
are wont to do over their dead How
could she deplore and mourn for the dead,
even when hope had fed, when the sad
sea-waves whispered to her fevered fancy
that cruel, taunting, never-ceasing whisper
"He may return-may-may"
(To BE CONTINUED