Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-06

witness again. The loud roar OF storm
without nearly drowned the wailing and
lamentation of those within. l glanced
towards John Vanderieur's wife. She
was standing cool and seh-possesseds
leaning against the piano. her great dark
ewes full of scorn at the display of terror
around her. Just then the captain, death
white and agonized, rushed inte-.the--
cabin: avau4oty
"Save yourselvesV' he shouted. We
have sprung a leak, and are going down: y"
There was rush forward, and. seizing
nv mothers hand, / dragged her after
me in the wake of the crowd. The lite
boats were soon launched, but all save two
were instantly swamped, and these. filled
in. a moment to overlooking, darted away
through the capped water: and toss
ing from billow to biliow, 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 would
be beyond the reach OF human aid. Still
clinging to my mothers hand, glanced
hopelessly upon the groupe gathered to-
gether. Six of us all told, and two Of
them were John Vandeleur and the
woman whom he called wife, i noted
bis presence with strange gladness; no
matter what happened, we were together.
At that awful moment, face to face with
death and eternity, found no sin in the
| love which overlooked my heart for this
man. ,.s-...,..
And SO, crouching upon the deck of
doomed vessel, we watched the morning
break gray and dreary and awful, CLEAN
4I,oA - a4or &hn
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 frail
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 tenure our lives hung. And so
we fioated tor hours and hours. Looking
back now upon that time, 1t seems like
an endless age. in which we moved slowly
over the shining surface Of the sea-
closed my eyes at last, hardly conscious
Of what l was doing. When l opened
them again drifting slowly along, and
John Vandeleur's wife was clinging to
the spar beside me. How she came
there I never knew. An evil light shot
into her bold black eyes as they met
/ mine. ---~~.-........ .-y
II know ALL" she Kissed, transfxing
me with her wicked gaze, land hate
you" s .-
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 end glanced
about u.s.. We had foated away at some
distance from the rest, and we're quite
alone upon the water. The fires of mad
ness burned in the woman's eyes. s-a-.-
"If l perish,'' she continued, in the
same hooking tones, '.you shall not sur
vive to marry John Vandeleur!'
felt the hand of death at my heart.
She raised herself on one elbow, and
poised the shining blade before me. Just
then floating fragment Of the wreck
struck her on the head. | saw the naughty
face grow suddenly CHASTITY, and the red
blood pour like rain oyer her beautiful
features; then 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 long
illness followed my escape, and when.I
came forth from the confines of the dark
valley it was to fnd my mother and
John Vandeleur bending over me. MY
eyes sought the dark ones gazing anx-
iously into my white face, and then my
mothers voice fell solomnly upon the
silence of the room.
LET us thank God!" she said fer
vently.
And kneeling there, they sent up a
prayer to Heaven, earnest and thankful,
while John clasped my hand as though
no would never let it go.
And so became his wife. CHA