The Van Buren press., 1876-10-17
MISCELLANY.
The Burial at Sea.
CHAPTER | THE DEATH.

d ner Tor the first time on tue second day
we were out. He was a tall, robust, dark
man, and had not, | thought, good
countenance. His age should set down
as about forty. The iads was very frail
and palld in appearance, though truly
beautiful Unuke himself she was lair
and had blue eyes. and hair Of that pecu
liar straw color which was then beginning
to be 50 much in yosue. From her man.
ner Of languidly dawdlng over her food,
II was eaey To tell that she was an Invalid
even II Captain Campbell ID not already
so informed US
They were introduced aAasm aud airs
Wellingsly At thinner lliey made them
selves far more agreeable than might have
been expected OF personsswho, it was oh
vious, were naturally resolved,
There was reason Tor this reserve
They were accompanied, | had already
privately understood, 10y Mr. Weliiugs
ly's sister-a lady terribly afflicted She
had lost her mind, and was, TO speak
plainly, "a hopeless mheeile She was
kept IN a room communicating directly
with the stateroom Of her relatives, where
she might be constantly watched over.
No one ON the ship bad seen her since
she first came aboard, deeply vailed and
dressed entirely in black
That evening, to our surprise, Mr. and
Mrs. Wellinssiy appeared again IN the
main saloon, where the rest OF US were
amusing ourselves with cards, music aAd
conversation, as best We could They
entered just al the point where there was
M a.. lf,,.r
ment The fantrst embarrassment followed
y few struggling remarks were made
as an endeavor To cover is hiatus, and
then Mrs, Welingsly, without seeming
TO perceive the slight awkwariness of the
situation, went quickly over to the piano
= had quite forgotten one might be
Likely 10 find plano aboard ship, she
said pleasantly Whatlu comfort ON a
long voyage
venturei wish chat She would play
for US Without that usual uieelatlon
which marks most performers on this in
strunent at "A similar request She consen
ted readily, and ran her hands quickly
over the keys, strikirg the chords with .
touch that undeniably indicated true
artist
She played a beautiful composition,
by whom | know not, bat with such skill
as rarely, indeed associated with the per
tofmances OF an amateur Shortly after
its commencement her husband came ov-
er to the sofa where | Was seated, and
i took his position beside sine Presently
b he said, IN Il low voice, leaning toward
me.
Poor Clara seems quite hersellto day
She has not been SO well for many weeks.
Ii must be due to tile change OF ar
III did rot strike me TIL aiterward that
this was singular remark from him ad.
diessed to me, total stranger. there.
fore answered:
Your wife is an invalid, then -
"Oh yes he rojoined, surprised, his
tone seeming to convey that he had sup
posed had readily perceived that; -
might even describe heras an incurable
invalid since it is impossible TO tind out
her peculiar aiment l try the ocean
= voyage as Il last resource, Something
tells me it will fail, as everything else
has failed and sometimes, he continued
falling abruptly into melancholy reve-
rel, and speaking to hlms If, IL have a
presentiment that she will nerer Reach the
end" aud his voice died away. He was
lost in dismal thought
This is an encouraging beginning"
said, TO rouse him, inuicsting his wife 5
music, which was now all gayety
lie looked up and sighed, Yes but
Tomorrow she Will be Ill again There
is always corresponding reaction to
these fits ol health and spirits. Between
my vile sickness and my poor sister $
terrible affection, | have, l think, more
troubles than one human being snoud
be doomed to bear Ii repine, rs Ger
tainly sometimes do, il is not strange
lie WAS still speaking in that musing
tone more to himself than to me, and
rather in sorrow than querulousy.
My sister has lost Tie use Of her men
lal faculties from paraiy sis, he went on.
Her case Is hopeless, absolutely l do
not expect her TO improve But you see,
e sir, my wife IS stiii young ana apparent
: IS strong. sac need not aie II We couid
. vnl ind out her disease, because we
shou.u hu W, tuea what to try IA, REM
edy but--who can tei! have consul
TED medical authortles innumerable.
Ihey talk of decline, decay ot vital
power, aud AL that, but not one could
give me any satisfactory explanation as
10 the primary cause"
Here We were interrupted by the mu
sic coming to an end Some one next
called upon the performer Tor II vocol Sc
lection, but Mrs. " ellingsiy laughngly
declined on the ground tlat she had no
shlI. in that direction whatever, but She
4 referred Us to her husband
Frightening Immediately he rose and
went 10 The piano, and TO hls wl!es ac
COMPARTMENT, sang IN rich. round bar
itone, with occasional bass effects, an ar
from Fra Davola." For one who dis
claimed and pretension to musical knowl-
edge, 1t was certainly remarkable effort.
| was already interested in the man,
and not unlayorasly but the night we
had no further private conversation.
Next day he and hls wife made taer APP
pearance again tnen learned that the
d atli cted sister was perectly docile at all
: times and could be with safety lett To
hcrset, though the precautlon was al
WAYS taken on the occasions to lock her
into her room
la the evening Mir Welingsly read
To Us, aud read well also sung again