River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-06

ing from Oillow to billow, were soon out
of sight, leaving some half-dozen stand
ing upon the deck. The ship was filling
fast with water; in short time we weuld
be beyond the reach of human aid. Still
clinging to my mothers hand, l glanced
hopelessly upon the groupe gathered to-
them were John Vandeleur and the
woman whom he called wife. / noted
his presence with strange gladness; no
matter what happened, we were together.
At that awful moment, tace TO face with
death and eternity. found no sin in the
love which overtiowed my heart for this
man.
And so, crouching upon the deck of
doomed vessel, we watched the morning
break gray and dreary and awful, CLEAN
ing upon that waste of water and the hui
man beings awaiting death. AT day
break we saw the vessel could hold up no
longer, and spars and masts and all avail
able objects were secured; to these frall
supports each awestricken creature was
dashed. and was soon floating upon the
water
The storm was over now; the waves
were still, and the sky shone blue and
bright. AT last, with great noise, the
noble ship went down. and the cold. dark
waters closed over it for ever.
A shudder passed over US as we chung
| to frail supports, and realized then, with
death standing beside us, upon how
slight a tenure our lives hung. And so
we fioated for hours and hours. Looking
back no upon that time, 1T seems like
an endless ege, in which we moved slowly
over the slning surface Of the sea.
closed my eyes at last, hardly conscious
of what was doing. When | opened
them again l drifting slowly along, and
John Vandeleur's wife was clinging to
the spar beside me. How she came
| there | never knew. An evil light shot
| into her bold black eyes as they met
mine.
~ know ALL she Kissed, transfxing
me with her wicked gaze, "and hate
| you."
| She drew from her bosom something
that shone and scintillated in the sunlight
1t was dagger. Great Heavens Face
to face with death as we were, what need
/ to hasten the dreadful endl / glanced
about us. We had foated away at som,
distance from the rest, and were quit,
alone upon the water. The fires of mad
ness burned in the woman's eyes.
aft / perish" she continued, in tho
same hooking tones, "you shall not sur
vive to marry John Vandeleurl'
| / felt the hand of death at my heart
She raised herself on one elbow, anC
poised the shining blade before me. Jus
then floating fragment of the wreck
struck her on the head. saw the naughty
face grow suddenly CHASTITY, and the rec
blood pour like rain oyer her beautiful
features tnen knew no more.
We were picked up afterwards by {
homeward- bound vessel; / was conscious
and the woman beside me quite dead
The ether passengers were also rescued
and no life was lost save hers. A Ions
illness followed my escape, and when
came forth from the confines of the darl
valley it was to find my mother anc
John Vandeleur bending over me. Nj,
eyes sought the dark ones gazing anx
| iously into my white face, and then m,
mothers voice fell solomnly upon thu
silence of the room.
LET us thank God!n she said fer
vently.
And kneeling there, they sent up
prayer to Heaven. earnest and thankful
while John clasped my hand as though
he would never let it go.
And so / became his wife.