Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-31
For the INDEPENDENT.
MINNIE'S SURPRISE.
BYr.

VemDer evening, n Minnie bate
mar was sitting by a cheerful fire
There was a deep shadow on the fai
brow, and far-away look of NUT
anxiety in the thoughtful brown
eyes. She had been married tire
years. Thirteen months before, he
husband had left her side for his las
voyage. Yes, he was a sailor ! Sh,
had protested, but he was firm. Hi
last words were: "This voyage ant
that little cottage, the store and
settled life, remember pet" kisl
and he was gone. He sailed ava,
in the Seagull, a gallant three. mast
er, under Captain Gilmore. 1t wa.
to be a voyage of but ten months
but as / said, thirteen had passed
away and she had not arrived in
port yet.
Willie, her bonny two year old
prattler, with papa's eyes and hair,
lay dSlcep Ill Ills CIlD.
WELL" thought Mrs. Bateman
II must run down to the little gro.
Gerry and get some articles which /
very much need, while baby sleeps
So donning her hood, and wrapping
her shawl about her, she quietly
opened the door and went out into
the cold November evening.
Good evening, Minnie, 1 have
news of the Seagull," said kind
hearted, bluff Mrs. Burton, the viii
lage storekeeper, handing her a pap
er. She pointed to the following
paragraph:
WRECK OF THE SEAGULL.
Havana, July s.,
A dispatch was received here to-
day, stating that the Seagull COM
manded by Captain Gilmore Is
wrecked and sunk off the coast of
Brazil; All on board vent down
Minnie uttered a faint SCREEN and
would have fallen to the floor, il, at
that instant, a strong arm had not
been thrown around her.
"Bring her in and lay her on the
bed" said Mrs. Burton, running for
restoratives. After some minutes,
Minnie opened her eyes, but, with a
shudder, relapsed inio unconscious
ness again.
"Call in DIR. Brown" exclaimed
Mrs. Burton, ''there he goes.o
DR.. Brown was Immediately sum-
moned. He said it was a severe
shock to her nervous system, but,
with attention, she would soon be
we'll again; and applying remedies
soon brough her to. After giving
directions and administering a com
posing draught, he babe them adieu.
"Some one must care for the poor
things baby,n said Mrs. Burton and
calling her son Daniel to take care
of the store she sailed forth. Reach
ing the house she found the little
man crying Justify and calling INA !!
ma ~ She took little Willie up land
and wrapping him up warm, locked
the doors and reached her home a
few minutes after. The patient was
sleeping peaceably. After a bounti-
full supper of bread and milk little
Willie was undressed and put to bed.
"How do you feel this morning,
darling ?" asked Mrs. Burton, COM
ing into the room, a strange light in
her eyes.
Every we'll, / thank you, only a
slight headache" said she, her lips
trembling.
"Minnie, l have good Jews for
you. Do you think you can stand
it ?"
eyes, Mrs: Burton, good news
seldom kills"
Placing her arm gently around
her, Mrs. Burton continued: "When
you tainted dear, you might have
killed yourself had not a man enter
ed at that moment and caught you.
That man was your husband
She had scarcely ceased speaking,
when a bearded face and manly form
appeared in the doorway. Minnie,
| with a glad cry of surprise, sprang
into his outstretched arms and was
folded to the breast Of her husband,
while he fondly kissed her.
1t appears while sailing off the
coast of Brazil they encountered a
dense fog, and night coming on, lost
their reckonings. Suddenly a squal
struck the ship, which careering on
her beams end, went over a rock bar
and was wrecked. He and five 9TH
ers were in the riggings, which with
the mast went by the board, and
tearing loose we're borne far out to
sea. Not many minutes after the
aIco Chemicals.