New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-10-23
had anything to do with this change ?''
"No, not exactly" he replied, evasively.

had anything TO do With this change q.
"No, not exactly, he replied, evasively.
she who"
"Hush, Florence. hush-not word" said
Arthur, gently,
The hot blood mounted to my cheek, as I
fancied had got at the truth. j became alb
sorbed in one of those sudden fits of thought
which possess the mind with all the tendency
Of dream; and as [ stood with my eyes va
cantly fixed on the grayeled pathway, | was
unconscious of everythin g-even of the
presence of my lover. Presently low, gen
tie voice whispered in my ear.
Farewell, Florence, farewell! If you are
| free, dearest, when l return, may again
know something of happiness"
| started from my trance. Arthur Melford
was gone, and saw him in the distance,
walking rapidly away.
"And so it is Miss Sanderson who mas done
this; it is she who has come between me and
| Arthur Melford.'' thought as walked slow
| ly home.
Exactly q month after my parting with
| Arther MelfOrd my father was united to Miss
Sanderson. The honeymoon was spent in
Switzerland, and while the happy pair were
away Visited some friends in the country.
I had not seen or heard anything further Of
Arthur Melford. Both my father and his wife
| were silent whenever | made any inquiries re-
specting him, and the more reflected, more
certain did I feel that there was a great deal
concealed behind my parents reticence: A
certain GOODNESS existed between me and my
step-mother. In this cooless must how
ever, confess that took the initiative. dis
liked my fathers wife, why, scarcely knew.
| MY father was happy, supremely happy in
her society, and his relations and friends con
graduated him on his choice. Then, too,
what could be more admirable than the un-
varying kindness with which Mrs Maynard
treated her huaband? while, as regarded my
! self, although she of course felt that there
was difference between us, she would scarcely
condescend to acknowledge its existence, and
| treated me with generous affection which
made me sometimes warm toward her in
| spite of myself
| But then, that sudden parting with Arthur
| Melford! What was the cause of that dreary
farewell? Was it not probable that the daugh-
ter of young Melford's employer had found
with me, and had she not feltit her duty to
| inform my father Of the cladestne and pre-
sumptuous courtship ofthe poor and despised
young man?
Eighteen months passed away. My father
had retired from his share of the business in
which he had so long and SO proftably en-
gagged, and we were residing in a pleasant lit
tie retreat in a quiet watering-place on the
Kentish coast. 1t was Autumn. Seabridge
was getting dull; the myriads who annually
flock to the unpretending yet popular littl
town, were falling off with the yellow leaf In
another brief month they would all be gone.
We fingered to the last, for my father en-
beginning of October, the Seabridge pier, with
It's tarpaulined sailors, formed his daily prom
enade. 1t was the season of the euuinoctial
| gales, and the casualties atsea were becoming
| frequent and serious. The autumnal visitors to
Seabridge for the benefit of their health be-
gan to experience difficulty III taking their
constitutional walks; trades people became
anxious about their plateglass, and like SO
| many sailors on board ship, prepared for a
long spell of bad weather. One evening we
! were seated round cosy fire, when word
| or two spoken by my step-mother tony father
| reused my curiosity to a high degree. It was
III reference to the bad weather that Mrs.
Maynard spoke.
Terrible indeed at seal" she said ellis
ship will be due soon. Heaven grant him a
safe voyage homew
I could not catch my fathers reply, but
bore reference. After our early supper nv
father suggested that we should take turn
of the pier.
"There's fine sea running" he said; "and
as we return to London next week we must
| II axe the most of the briny.'
We readily acquiesced, and having wrapped
ourselves up in our warmest garments, set
out: The night was very dark. and the scant-
lily lighted and narrow streets of the town
looked desolate and deserted but round the
custom house, which was opposite the pier,
was assent ed group of sailors who, from
their excited demeanor, were evidently dis
cussing some grave calamity. We pressed
on eagerly, being anxious to learn the cause
| OF the excitement. One of the toughest and
heartlest of the old salts informed us that the
life-bOat was about to set out to the rescu of
a large clipper ship which had struck on the
Eddy Sands, the crew of the light-ship having
fired an alarm rocket.
In the course of few moments the life beat
| towed out by the steam tug, left the harbor,
AS they dashed out into the pltchy darkness.
OF the night loud cheer rose from the crowd
assembled at the pier-head, and many u silent
prayer was breathed for the safety of the gal
liant mariners and the success of their endeav-
ors. We determined to remain on the pier
until the return of the life-boat, which,
it was said would probably be in
the course OF an hour and half. We whiled
away the time by taking brisk pedestrian ex-
erclse and although the night was cold and
cheerless, we felt to much interested in the
fate OF the good ship which had run aground
TO think OF any Inconvenience we might ex-
perience.
Nerrly three hours elapsed before there
were any signs of return of the life-boat, but
at the end of that time shout from the ex-
pcctant multitude announced that she was at
hand. general rush was made toward the |
head OF the pier, and in few minutes the yes
sci and the steam tug had glided into the
quiet waters of the harbor. The greatest excite
ment prevailed. It was soon ascertained that
the name Of the wrecked ship was the Alder
ton, from New York. The captain and the
whole Of the crew and passengers were saved,
and as they landed on the pier they were
scrutinlzed with curious eyes by the good
people of Seabrldge
"Here comes the captain" exclaimed one,
as tall, dauntless- looking man mounted the
wooden steps by the landing pl ace; "but who
is that with him ?-one of the passengers, of
course, 2 -