The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-01

That was all.
She reached her thin hands heaven
ward, gave one expiring gasp, and for
ever eluded the iron meshes Of human
law that had imprisoned her in the
bonds of matrimoDy to a man she
loathed.
was glad she was free; too glad for
tears or lamentation. But would ever
learn the secret that she had left unre-
vealed?
a burial on the land is a solemn scene.
l, who had so recently buried my
mother, was well prepared to remember
that. But to this day cannot recall
that burial in mid ocean without emo
tions of the deepest horror. Not that
there was anything so horrible in it as
in many other narrowing experiences Of
my life, but the conditions were such
that the Impressions they made were too
vivid to be ever forgotten.
Elder Chalmers betrayed the keenest
sorrow. Not thought Of his own rep
rehensible conduct in regard to the early
taking of Of his unwillingly Gagged bird
occurred to him. 1t was all, in his eyes,
the will of the Lord Jehovah, who had
called her hence because the husband
had loved her better than he had loved
the Lord
Such jealousy, attributed to the Most
High, seemed to me, even then, as moth
ing but blasphemy. I have never since
seen cause to change my mind.
The body was arrayed for burial in a
simple robe of white. The fair, abund-
ant hair, which Elder Chalmers would
not allow his bride to wear in natural
ringlets, because of the vanity, during
her life, was beautifully arranged by
Mrs. Motley in ripping waves that
framed her seraphic features as with a
food of glory.
81 am so glad she is dead p' I said to
Gerald, as we stood beside the cot on
which her remains were resting like an
apparitiOn.
"Whygp
He looked at me with a sad rebuke in
his eyes as he asked the question, and
turned away without replying.
81 thought you fancied her," he re-
marked, dryly.
$50 did, and so do; but love her
freedom far more dearly than 1 loved
her life"
I think my husband did not under
stand me. Indeed, it is little wonder,
since he knew that was only child in
years.
The sailors were called, one at time,
from their posts of duty, to take a sad
farewell look at the sweet form COM
posed for burial. The few friends gath
cred close around the cot to join in the
funeral rites which DIR. Motley led, while
the chief mourner sat, now in silent,
and now in sobbing agony, beside the
smiling face which needed not his pres
ence.
The day was as calm as a sleeping in
fant's breathing. The CLASSY ocean
heaved in regular respirations like q
soundly sleeping, deeply breathing
world. The ship rocked, at long inter
walls, like a monster cradle, and the
ereaking of its sun-dried masts jarreC
on my ears discordantly.
We all Joined in the services with the
deepest feeling. The beautiful funera
services of the Episcopal Church wer'
over at last, and then a sailor came for
ward with a solemn air, and bidding u
retire to the cabin, took the body rever
emily in his charge.
After half an hour we were agaiI
called upon deck. There lay before u
the semblance of what had been tn,
beautiful corpse, but it was now encaseC
from head to feet in heavy canvas
with sinkers of lead attached to carry i
to the bottom Of the deep.
The sailors who were off duty perche,
themselves in the rigging. Those de
tailed for the final service to the deal
stood silently by, awaiting the word O
! command.
closed my eyes and shuddered.
can hear the creaking Of the masts an
breathing Of the billows yet.
Ah, me!
Mr.. Motley pronounced the closin
words Of the burial service in a sad
z sepulchral voice. Elder Chalmers CAV
2 vent to a sonorous sob; Mrs. Motle
screamed; Gerald sighed. a dull thuC
, a heavy splash, and all was over. Th
body had been lowered in the brim
I deep.
! A monster shark had been followin
the vessel for many days. determine
that would not look upon the lea'
vestige of the scene, but in spite of nj
a my eyes flew open. 1 could not bel
but look.
q 1 did not see the shark snatch th
7 body and devour it. do not know
4 did it, but do know that in the vessel
> wake saw blood-streaked stream
q foam, and am sure 1 heard the snal
ping jaws of the greedy monster, WI
did not afterward follow US.
If 1 hated Elder Chalmers before,
. doubly loathed and abhorred him nov
But, even on ship board, when a hl
IS man life drops out, it is very easy to
d far fill the gap as to make it outward
y imperceptible to the society wherein
ID had before been indispensable.
IN But my own spirits dropped, and n
health failed.
er Not only did 1 see the solemn face
Il Elder Chalmers whenever 1 closed n