The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-11-15

o"''y, "thuugh ~ seemed 10 De supported OI
by soft pillow. 1t was quite dark and the m
air seemed full of hideous noises the scream m
Of the wind, the loud roar of the surf filled
the air with tumult indescribale. a
Where am p said, feebly stretching v
out my arms into the darkness. | felt arms |
about mine, a soft kiss imprinted on my a
forebad. n
we shall be ashore dear, in five
minutes said a voice in my ear, and all j.
our troubles over
| raised up with a grmn, and tried to
gain my feet, but fell back exhausted. The
scene about me filled me with terror the
thought of drowning help pess in this gulf of
raging waters had an ineffable bitterness for
me.
willie, said Jennie once more in my ear,
IF you get safe ashore will you give my love
to fatherY
Then I found that was lying beneath
the shelter of the poop.deek, protected
little by that from the seas that were break
ing over Us, and that life belt was fasten-
ed under my arms. Jennie was crouching
beside me, holding my head in her lap, chat
ing my temples and hands.
The few minutes that elapsed before we
struck seemed an age The wind beneath
the cliff was not so violent, aud the back |
current Of the waves kept US away from the
rocks which we almost touched. But the
respite was not long we grounded upon an
outrunning spit of rock, and instantly the
sea swept clean over us, carrying away the
masts, spars, rigging and-everything
went by the board, | had seized Jenne at
the moment of striking, and we were hur.
RED away together in hideous rough OF
cordage and timber. Dashed violently
!, against mass of slippery chalk, which at.
: forded no purchase at all for hand or
, foot, lay there fairly exhausted, expecting
every moment the return of the wave that
, would sweep us back into the gulf, when |
thought saw face peering anxiously over
the water. 1t was delu>cn, one Of n
! halIucinatons of approaching ieath y xl
} moment we were covered with rlnding surge
and great green wave swept over us, dtlv
/; ing us pell nell before it with inconceiv ab e
e fury. los my senses for awhile, to find
myself jammed in between two fragment, o
=, rock. Jennie was gone. | had lost my hold
: of her and she had been carried away into
h the boiling gulf.
| hau nothing to expect myself but in
stant death. The next wave would wa-l
o me out of my hole,a mere crevice in the pr C
II ipice had hardly strength left to breathe
e and could fight no longer against my fate.
Time passed on, hardly knew how, I'll
u the moon rose red and menacing The It'd
ST was down NOW, but the surf reached to tn
le very base of the cliff. The food woul
Il come presently like lion to his half devonr
. ed victim, and | shall perish. Then | hear
70 voices below me,and saw blythe moonligh
II some men draped in short smocks or blouse'
'i cropping about among the rocks beneath hin
III They were countrymen, evidently, who ha
been attracted by the wreck, and who ha
10 been attracted by the wreck, and who ha
. found their way down the cliffs by SON
concealed flotpath. | shouted they hear
1t me, and clambered to my retreat The
were full of CONF passion and kindness. The
carried me along the base of the cliffs by
III footpath among the debris till they reache
'e a small gap in the wall of chalk, by whic
III they aSc'endcd. | was presently carried to
~ house, stripped and placed in warm bee
ie | recollect just this much and then memor
fails me. | had long sickness am tol,
u and was near deaths door, bat recovered
We last, aud found myself the guest of a worth
u Norman farmer, who occupied a charmin
ne little homestead on the heights above ii
sea.
- As soon AS could 60 about, | went dow
'e to Havre to inquire about the Petrol at OF
h Consulate. She was lost, | was told on sue
'u and such night, with all hands on boar
'P at the time. The captain had returne
home two months ago. determined to {
sh home at once and leave place so fraugt
Py to me mith sad memories
Now, that Jennie was lost to me forever
~ realized how much she had been to me. II,
su kindness, her courage, her devotion, h,
'e' charming gaiety and animation recalle
as themselves to me, and | told myself that
W should never see her like again Finquire
10 as To her last resting place. Only two
Se the bodies had been found it seemed-tho
ne of the cook and black cabin boy.
u Well it remained only for me to return
Eel England, Il saddened melancholy man.
'e left my watch with the good farmer who hi
u" taken care of me, a. some recompense fl
at the trouble and expense to which he ha
| =. ID
At gave me credit for my passage money, and
''u landed at st, Katharines wharf witho
u, clothes but those | wore, sadly stained wit
eu sea water, and with only few shilling
we in my pocket But there was money due
'u me for my pension, a couple of quarters no
NE and took a cab to the Paymaster General
Office to get it.
~. William Thornley, said the clerk lookr
u, at his list. Why, he's dead struck off Il
~, "I list two months ago. Well, I'm sorry to IS
that only treasury order will bring you
~, life again.
.I The personel of the office was almost el
Nv ~ tirely changed since | was last in Engan
"' The old clerk who used TO pay me hi
a.. been pensoned off, and there was no oi
I who recognised me, The information cam
as | was informed, from my old office, and the
- went with much chagrn. There could |
-, no difficulty in eventually getting the m,
,ai ter put to rights, but in the meantime wal
ed money, and didn't know where to get il
Invent to the old office. The place that "
NE once so familiar to me now knew me
4" more. Ono of my old chuns was still thel
'he aud him found out. lie looked at II
stared, and then burst into a aughter.
ore ,What ? Won re not drowned then9 ., be .
ed.
nj nrownad No hrt nraoions paarft w