The Evening critic., 1882-05-26
MRS. MELvrLLE,s VISION.
A Pathetic story of the Loss of the
yeannptfP.


The wife OF Engineer Melville, the gallant
oflccr OF the luckless Arctic exploring steamer
Jeanette, who Is now searching for his lost
comrades around the lce-bound coast OF North.
ern Siberia, occupies n picturesque little cot
tage cmboworod amid twining honcysuckles
and fragrant blossoming lilacs at Sharon Hill.
"Although It has been moro than three years
since George left us all here" said she, yes
terday, "and went out on that lll.fatol
voyage, and although oceans OF cruel waters
and leagues OF land have separated him from
us, have seen him twice within year"
Startling as this statement was, Mrs. Mol
VILE was evidently In earnest. "On the
10th OF last june she continued, "I re-
tired TO my room late at night. Days OF
anxious waiting for some news tho Jeannette
without bringing ray OF hope had almost
caused me 10 despair OF ever again seeing my
husband. had fallen into an uneasy sleep,
from which one OF the children aroused me. 1t
was, perhaps, more than an h ur after this,
and while l was wido awake, that became
conscious OF n strange presence In the room,
and You may well imagine with what mingled
feelings OF Joy and fear heard Georges voice,
and, looking up, saw him standing by the bod
side. Saw him as plainly as l now sec you.
ne was saying: Count tho bell, Count the
bell OF n ship striking, two by two, the strokes
of the hour. Count thcm,' continued my hus-
band, and said: Yes, George remember
that when the seventh stroke sounded thought
that If 1t was ships bell there could be but
one more, and as the last sonnd died away my
lostl and vanished from the room. At that
moment the slttingroom clock struck the
hour of 4, and II was the mornlRg of the 11th
of June. At that very hour on that very morn
ing the Jeanette went down into the fathom-
less depths OF the Arctic Ocean, and tho ice
foe closed over her grave. am no Spiritual
ist,." continued Mrs. Melville, "nor do | be-
lieve In spirits. l do not attempt to explain
what have Just told you, but II Is every word
OF II true. never expected after that to hear
OF tho safety Of the crew of the Jeanette.
few weeks after the occurrence which have
narr ated, and at the same hour In the morn
Ing, had risen for the day, and was In the
hall which you see there. Again l saw my
husband, nay, even felt his breath in my
face. was dreadfully startled, but had sum
Client courage to call out, George, is that you?
when the figure disappeared, as 1t swallowed
up in the air."
"And did you never speak of this beforef"
said the astonished reporter.
Frequently" said Mrs. Melville; " fire.
quently TO our little household, and once to
Mrs De Long, the unfortunate wife Of the poor
commander Of the Jeanette. Last summer,
or In the early fall, met her in Philadelphia.
She was hopeful, even confident, Of the ultl-
mate return Of her husband. Twas cast down,
and finally told her what have related to you.
She was disposed to laugh at me, but told her
| that believed that the Jeannette had been
| lost on the 1th OF june Alas! for poor Mrs. De
Long, my prophecy too true. Here Is a
letter from her to my little girl on the very day
| the news came that Captain De Longs dead
| body had been und."-IhiladeiphiG Record.