The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-06

bcsSle IL Ihppy DIlue da"ncu upon Tie
sen.
No sign of the wreclk-.no sign of
| either Of the two young officers
The girl went down into her cabin and
gave way to her grief.
| The gale still roarcd, md the ocean
was white with foam and flying spray
Occasionally an iceberg was observed in
the distance, and the captain scrutinized
it with his glass, but he saw 10 ono
upon it.
Hours passed; the gale abated, enab-
ling him to alter his course toward the
land.
Now number of bergs were seen, far
| ahead.
All at once she saw him start.
"You see something ?" she gasped.
eyes, human form OH one Of those
bergs!'
AS the vessel drew near to it, the agi-
tated girl took the glass from her uncle's
hand. He steadied it for her in the
right direction.
'It is he!" she shrieked "but oh,
uncle, is he alive? Remember it is two
days since he left us p
The captain made no reply, but his
hand trembled rs he again took the
glass.
Bessie knew that he shared her fears.
'It is really Belton," he said, as if he
had hoped he had been mistaken.
ooh, yes, uncle, I recognize his cloak
| -the one lined with white and black
| furw
Nearer drew the ship to the berg.
tHe does not move |" whispered the
third mate to the skipper.
"Bessie, I think you had better go
below" said her uncle, in faltering
voice.
She made no answer; she stood rs if
trnnsfixed, her gaze riyeted Oh the figure
Oh the berg.
The vessel was soon near enough for
the form to be plainly seen with the
naked eye. ,--..
Seated in niche near the summit of
the berg, that form did not move a
muscle!
Straight and rigid it sat, propped
against the crystal wall behind it, only
the mustache, the ears, and the upper
part of the head visible above the high
collar, which was drawn we'll up over
the face. The hair protected outward,
stiffened with ice, the coat was glazed
with frosty particles as if sheathed in n
thin, scaly armor.
"I will go, too !" cried Bessie, when
the captain backed the main yard and
lowered a boat.
He objected but she insisted Oh going,
and he allowed her to have her way,
thinking that after all it were best she
should learn the worst rs soon rs pos
sible, for the suspense she would suffer,
if left aboard. would be terrible to bear.
The boat approached the berg.
"Belton % called the captain, when
within speaking distance. There was
ne reply.
"Harry, oh, Harry, speak to me p
shrieked Bessie.
Still no response-still no movement
of the form.
"God help you, niece, it is as l
thought r cried the captain. "He is
dead p
cay, ay, frozen to dcatlr!" murmurcd
one of the crew.
The girl uttered q dcspairing moan,
and bowed her face on her hands Sobs
of anguish escaped her-she shook like
n leaf.
Not man was there in the boat
whose eyes did not moisten.
Behiad them the ships bell sounded
four strokes.
Dismal fell its clang upon the cars of
all.
It was the hour when Bessie and
Bolton were to have been married
| Now it was knell of death
At length the boat grated along side
Of the berg.
The captain, with his men, clambercd
to the side of the motionlcss form.
Bessie stood below, her dcsp,dring
gaze turned up toward it.
Slowly and sadly her uncle pulled the
stiffened, cracking collar away from the
face.
Thcn there could be no doubt that
tho unfortunate man was dead
The glazed eyes, the white and rigid
features, and the flesh as hard as n stone
told the fearful story.
He was frozen to death
For moment the spectators gazcd
upon the CHASTITY visagc; then n wild,
simultaneous cry broke from them, for
the face, now 50 plainly revealed, was
not BeltOn's, but that of the second Of
ficer, Darkle!
So intent had all been upon their sad
errand that they had not noticed boat
approaching from shore.
Bessie was the first to notice it, and
amongst the crew in it she recognized
her lover, Henry Bolton
A moment later he was out upon the
ice and the girl was clasped to his
breast.
AS the captain and his mon gathered
round him to shake hands, he explained
how he had been attacked and hurled
from the wreck by Darklc.
When he fell, his cloak caught on q
spike on the schooncr's side, and thus
left behind him, it must afterwards have
been found by Darkle, and have beel
used by him in vain to keep himself
from freezing to death.
The berg on which Belton had falle,
drifted to land before the gale came up
and the young man, shivering and in {
pitiable plight, made his way towards {