The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-07-04
THURSDAY. JULY 4, 1873.
BROOKHAVEN. MISS, TIL

1 time Of year were ieafless, yet 80 thick
we're the branches, aud 30 closely inter
locked above as to make the way quite
dark. / had proceeded some two hundred
Yards under the shade OF these trees
when my attention was arrested by voices
1 few steps in advance. Immediately
stepped one side 80 as to be more Sc
cure from observation, and became un
Willingly an eaves-dropper to the fol
lowing conversations: h'sn'1
Eyes, my dear. this is my last inter
view for years; perhaps for ever, but
never while life lasts will I cease to
think of you. my own dear Eliza, and it
God should favor my return. trust if
may be TO claim yoa as my own true.
Iloving wife, and then shall bid adieu
forever to old ocean, and settle down on
terra firma with you and my dear old
mother for my constant companions, but
some way am uneasy for the future. "
"Why SO. dear Richard? God forbid
HAT you should have forebodlngs on
khis, yonreye of departure. for such
feelings will sadly disturb me in your
absence; to think any harm would be-
fall you, would drive me frantic. Try
and Danish such thoughts from your
mind"
81 have tried time and again, and
Just rs often do they recur. Still l
know am not superstitions, yet some>
thing which cannot explain, always
whispers trouble and often makes me
sad and gloomy"
81 hope, dear Richard, you do not
distrust my constancy to You in your
absence?"
mo, God forfend that | should ever
doubt the sincerity of your word, Or the
motive which prompted it, but l fear
some great calamity may yet prevent
our union"
"God only knows our futures, Rich
ard, and we must put our faith in Him,
and to Him 1 shall pray nightly for
your safe return to me, beside the ship
is new, aad father says she is by far
the finest and strongest vessel i'll the
whole whale fleet, but l half suspect
you refer to the possibility of my
fathers opposition to the match. Yet
have not often told you in case he
should oppose our union l would still
be thine, for none but you will 1 ever
wed, beside, have frequently of late
heard him speak of yon in terms of
eloquent praise, aud did he not offer
yon mates position on board of my
name>sake-the new ship?'
Very true, my dear, and rejected it
and it partly on account of my age and
wishing to escape the responsibility,
1 shipped before the mast. but this
must, and shall be my last voyage. If
| live to return = shall bid tinal adieu
to my old ocean home and remain with
the ones I love. I have followed the
sea since boyhood, and have succeeded
in laying up very handsome sum of
money to commence new life with on
shore, but still that inaccountable feel>
ing peryades me night and day, presag-
ing future trouble. but 1 shall take
your advice, and put my trust in Him
who tempeis the wind to the shorn
lamb"
"Nobly said, my dear Richard, and
now let me present you with this keep
sake, always cherish it for the cons
fort it viii giEe you IN your hours OF
trouble, as well as for the love of it's
donor"
"TEank you, my love, it shall be my
companion in prosperity and adversity,
in safety and danger, and ever in my
absence shall it be reminder of thee,
my own true, but absert love-
distinctly heard kiss follow, this
declaration, then the conversation con-
timed few moments in so low tone
that could not understand when de
scried the outlines of the two lovers as
they emerged from the sha .e OF the
tree where they had been sitting during
the conversation 1 have related.
waited until they had passed out OF
sight, and slowly proceeded on my
way.
CHAPT. SECOND.
Eorl,.,oxk ,,orp;pv th, rraafpek NJ.