, 1880-07-26

the storms. and there can no harm come
to u.s."
And without waiting for reply she
seized one of the lanterns from the
hand of the old man, and dashed out
into the storm, while he followed close
ly behind her. Hardly had they
reached the rocks when they heard u
crash, and heart-renaing shrieks for
help, above the noise of the storm; and
they knew the ship had gone to pieces
on the treacherops ledge out into the
sea.
For some time they waited, hoping
that some of ,ho poor ~re ches would be
cast ashore; but it seemed as if their vir-
gils were to be in vain. AT length Irene
saw something floating on top of the
waves, and it came nearer and nea er.
till at length they could reach il. and
draw it npon the rock on which they
stood, VIII. they discovered that it WAS
the body of man lusbed to plank
Uncle Ben drew ont his knife aud
quickly severed the cords which bound
him. and, with lrenes assistance, car
ried him to tho cottage. H. WAS utter
| ly senseless, and the cold salt water was
dripping from his long, chestnut hair
anr his clothing.
He Is gentleman" said Uncle
Ben; you can tell that by his dress.
and he bent himself to the task of
bringing life back to the apparent,
! iift less form.
An hour or more passed by Def IRE
they saw any signs of life; then the
ey elids ,rembied slightly and the lips
quivered. and they knew that he lived
| Leaving Ireue to watch with the s'ran
ger, Uucle Ben again sought the shore,
hoping 20 i've aid to still another suf
fering fellow being; but the storm
ragged on, and brought the old man no
reward for his watching.
CHAPTER IL.
The morning dawned, bright and
beautiful, leaving bat little trace of the
storm. The rocks here and there show
ed fragments of the wreck, but not
trace of human being could be fonnd
| Uncle Ben searched the coast for miles
either way but returned with nothing.
save some pieces of garments, frag-
ments of furniture, etc.
AS the day advanced the stranger re-
gained his faculties, and. though weak,
was able to converse. He was return
ing home after an absence of many
months. There we're twenty passen-
gers, beside the crew aud officers, on
the ill fated ship; all of whom save one
man persisted. His name was Charles
Haight; his home New York; and how
! he ha,! escaped the fearful fate of the
others was AN unexplainable mystery.
or it seemed as though nothing short
of a miracle could have brought any
man alive upon that rocky shore in
such storm. He was youpg-hardly
| twenty -one-and handsome. His friends
were wealthy, he said, and would re-
ward the preserver OF his life with be-
coming gratitude.
The days passed on, and Irene un-
tiriDgly nursed the stranger; but his
strength came back slowly; and, as the
days went by, she drea led to think Of
the time when he would leave them.
for they had become deeply attached
friends. He had talked to her by the
hour of the great world hey ond her lit
tie home; had told her of his home aud
! friends; how his mother and sister
would love her for his sake; and how
the time would come when she should
see for herself all the things he had
| told her of.
At length he had so far recovered
that he felt he would be able to return
to his anxious family, who were. no
doubt, mourning for him as one dead;
but ere the day decided upon for Uncle
! Ben to take him to the nearest point
from whence he could pursue his Jour-
ney, rrived, he said to Irene,-
Dear girl, in these days of my sick
ness, and while you have so tenderly
and untiringly watched over and cared
for me, have learned to love you; and
in pledge of that love I put this little
ring upon your finger. You have often,
in these pleasant days, told me in many
ways that you loved me; but you have
never been out into the world, to min.
gle with the throns, and shall not be
ungenerous enough to ask you to bind
yourself to me until you have had op-
portunity to Judge well the strength of
your attachment for me. Tomorrow
shall leave you; but it will not be long
before you hear from me. And l trust
to be able to repay the debt of gratitude
[ owe you, at least in some measure"
Irene took the ring, and with fearful
eyes looking into his, artlessly said,-
"Oh. Charlie. you cannot think
that could ever love any one more
than you? No, no; 1 might mingle
with the world, see all the beautiful
things you have told me of, receive the
homage of kings, but still my heart
would be all yours. Do not doubt me;
but trust me ever, as trust you."
Then followed long conversation
with Mrs. Manning. in which he ex-
pressed his love and devotion for her
daughter; and his desire, when the