The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-24

spent? He slept and ate little. Lines
were growing along his brow and about /
his eyes.
After weeks Of anguish, an island /
came in sight. Thitber the shin turned |
her course and stopped. II was a DESC /
late place, with no sign of habitation |
Tor man or beast. ROck-bound, the
ocean washed up with the same sound
It used TO have against the cliff where
Grace and he had so often sat, and from
whence she went TO her death. There
was solitary clump OF trees, Just like
the spot where they found her body.
Must everything remind him of her?
The lumber was taken out. Then
quick hands fashioned a rude shelter.
Sufficient food was placed in the hut,
aud seed for planting. Then, as the
Betsy made ready for starting, the Cap
tain said, in a cold, hard way:
This is TO be your home Remem-
Der %
"Great God! Nor' gasped the young
man. "Kill me. Do anything rather
than this death by inches. 1 shall 90
wild r'
"Another went wild for you 90
And the Betsy moved out from her
barren mOOrings, and there was only
the desblate waste Whereon he stood.
Should be kill himself? 4 man who
rObs another of life usually has not the
courage 70 rob himself We are crea-
tOres Of necessity. We accept what we
must With faltering steps he walked
around his prison. There was not one
thing to love- not flower, er bird, only
the monotone Of the sea, that had no
kinsnip with iOy.
Tired, broken, an old man in a day,
he flung himself down in his hut to
sleep. Nature is kind even TO her enc
mics, aud he slept. He dreamed that
he and Grace sat again on the headland,
and she talked, in her purity and trust,
Of her confidence in him, her belief that
he could do no wrong; OF their peaceful
and blessed future, aud Of the 10Y her
brother would feel when he came home,
for he so reverenced a noble man. How
pretty their home should be down where
they could hear the waters as they
heard them on the cliff. She was pref
tier than ever he thought; her hand so
smooth and white as he held it, and her
cheeks so delicately tinged with red.
She trusted in him too fully; would
| that she doubted him little, only that
/ he might show her how true he was
.
away on a far-off journey, longing to
get to her, but an ocean rolled between.
/ Every vessel he essayed to enter sank,
and some were far away or would not
come, though he hailed them ever so
| loudly. He cried out in an agony OF de-
spair, when voice, just like that of
! Grace, said sweetly, 81 am come to
you :! and looking up, an angel stood
beside him, and it was Grace. Her
hand touched his forehead. He reached
out to clasp her in his arms and awoke.
He was alone, alone on a barren island
in the middle Of the ocean, but he never
forgot that touch OF her hand.
The hours aud the days and the
months and the years crept by with a
snairs pace. He planted the corn, which
burst through the ground and took on
blade and tasseled ear, with no eve to
see il save Gods. He read and re-read
his few books, and thought; but OH the
desolateness OF such a lifei Death
would have been a mercy, bat death did
not come. Every morning and evening
were the same. Sabbath and week days
were alike TO him. No word was heard.
He forgot the sound OF his own voice.
I Year after year be strained his eyes for
| a sail, but there was never one in sight.
Oh to look upon one living thing; TO
I see once more one human facet
Five years went by, and a sail was in
sight. With an intensity almost sui
cidal, he watched the ship draw nigh.
I Fears mingled with his hopes. Ii was
no doubt the Betsy, but what would
I that bring TO him She could not bring
worse than she had brought. She came
alongside, dropped anchor it seemed
| only for minute, when the captain
I handed him some books and said, in the
old hard way, "Rememberw the only
word spoken, and the Betsy was soon
lost in the horizon. His heart died
within him, but he had seen a face once
more, thank God for that, if only OF a
bitter enemy
] His hair was grown quite white. He
was older by thirty years than when he
came. How much longer could this
/ last He hoped, when he died, il would
be under the clump Of bushes like those
I where they found Grace. Eternity alone
must wash out those India brands on
his hands aud forehead. His steps grew
feebler year by year. II was terrible
expiatiOn of a terrible sin. To rob
/ WOmanhOOd was TO rob God
At last another five years had gone
by. Ten years silent commune with
God and nature had wrought a great
change. He could bear now whatever
came, but there could be not long TO
bear il.
Again the OLE ship Betsy came in
sight. Calm, unruflled as a man who
knows he is going home, whether he
knows the route or not, he waited for
the familiar ship. The captain took in
all at a glance.
"Shall / go home to die?"
"Yes."
"I should like to see the grave OF
/ Grace and our baby once more"
The incoming voyage was shorter
than the outgoing, but not short enough
for the weary man to reach the desired
haven. They were nearing port.
81 have asked and received forgive
ness" said the dying man. "I want
yours also. II is Grace's hand l feel
il as in my dream. She has come for
me. have have but one wish-to lie
beside herw
'It shall be as you say" And the
captains hand pressed warmly the cold
hand of death.
The Betsy came In with flags al hall
mast. The villagers did not see the
brand which repentance had washed out
for heaven, but not for earth. And they
buried him by the side Of Grace.
The only people who enjoy bad health
are the doctors.