Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-28
ALMOST TOO LATE.

This is simple story of simple folks and
yet 1 find that the truest pathos and some
of the most exquisite passages of feeling
are found in the lives of a lowly class of
people. At least, the human heart is the
same the world over as much loyalty and
self-sacrifce may be found in a hovel as in
palace; while love-that oldest legend.
that first song that last and best wine-has
the same absorbing interest, the same full
diapason and rich chords, and the same
rich vintage flavor in some isolated cottage
as among the splendors of a royal man
| sion.
| Hurst Tregerman was fisherman. He
was giant of a man in size standing, tai
Ter than the tallest man in the village
Nature had taken some pains with him. A
royal nature looked out from his eyes, a
child S innocence lay in the smile upon his
lips. Every one loved and trusted Hurst :;
he was a little grave and silent, but then
it was well to have him contrast to his
lively, noisy companions.
Many village girl tremblingly hoped to
find favor in the eyes of this man, but
though tender and defe1ential to all wo-
men, he showed no signs of deep, special
interest in any one until he was forty years
of age, when his romance came full upon
him.
And romance it was shipwreck one
black night, left upon their shore the usual
eloquent but strange array of broken tim
Der, household goods, mute little souvenirs
and tokens of love, pride, ambition and
vanity, and last of all, CHASTITY and staring
upward, as though out of place, several
dead bodies, and a single one in which life
held itself doubtful tenant.
Eunice Ware was carried to Mary Ire
germans cottage, where, nourished and
watched by those strong, loving women,
the fishermen's wives and daughters, she
at last opened her eyes upon her new sur
roundings.
She had been governess in an English
family, all of whom had been cruelty en-
quilted in the sea which had spared her.
She was>young and child]ike in appearance
and, as Mary Tregerman had never had a
daughter, she Immediately adopted this
homeless stranger with the ready sanction
of her son, Hurst.
After that, let it storm as it would, the
sun never seemed darkened in the Trigger
man cottage; there WAS a presence there
which kept constant brightness and joy.
The young stranger adapted herself with
perfect ease to her new life. To see her
assisting Mary Tregerman about her house.
hold duties one would think she had been
accustomed to such work all her life. She
even learned to mend Hurst's nets, which
was wonderful employment for such small
white fingers.
Long before he was conscious Of it, En-
nice Ware had completely wound herself
about the fsherman's heart, and that
without any man@uvre Oh coquettish art
for she was guileless and transparent as a
child But it was simply impossible to re-
sist the charms Of her looks and ways.
Hurst had great struggle with himself
Eefore he could speak of his love to Eunice.
He called himself a presumptuous fool
even to think of her. He tried to avoid
her presence, only to seek it again with
more persistence than before. The little
maid, with her lovely face and pretty
foreign ways, filled the eye, Of this man
until all the rest of the world was shut
out.
When, at last, he spoke to her IN his own
simple, earnest way, telling hershe was the
( first and would be the last woman of his
/ love, he was surprised to find that she did
not seorn him, but that her heart had gone
out naturally to him as her resting place.
There were none to wait for, and SO they
were married in the old church where for
whole generation the fishermen had wor-
shipped God.
For six months there was neither shadow
or interruption to their happiness, but, at
the end Of that time, Satan, as ever since
Ewes fall, hated their innocence and joy,
and stirred the young wife's heart to sud-
den momentary passion, as the wind will
ruf1e blue summer pool into wild, angry
circles. One day there was a triAing diff
ference of opinion between them, and then
Eunice spoke an angry word which had no
root to it, but which stung the ear of the
man who heard it, It was one of those
thoughtless speeches which are but from
the lip out, but which, alas do their
dreadful mission before recalling. Eunice
had said, in her wrath, that it would have
been better had Hurst married one of his
own class; and then there fell great 81
lence between them, while both suffered.
To do Hurst justice, he tried hard, after
time, to overcome this difficulty, an6
made many advances to this poor little
child wife, and was at any moment only
too ready to forget all and take her to his
arms; but she, woman-like, was INDUCING
to the full in fit of pettishness, and
would not be won over.
While this state of affairs lasted, Hurst
and some Of his companions decided to &c
to sea on a fishing expedition: