Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-11-18


long voyages, going out Of sight @
land and remaining nearly all day
We often returned with loads of fish
Once while far out we encountered
heavy wind which came near takinl
us away. The sea rolled so high | ex
pected every moment our boats woulC
be swamped. Paorina behaved brave
~, and did not seem the least excited
In this hour of peril | became sea-sick
and it was with great difficulty man
aged the boat.
Generally we bad fair weather.
daily grew more and more in love with
her and she reciprocated all my affec.
ton, and she agreed to give me her
hand in marriage. We had the day
set and were to be married on the sea,
where we had spent so many happy
hours. Everything was ready, and
the marriage was to take place the
next day. / had the license in my
pocket, and the minister engaged. My
friend Furguson, to whom l had made
known the whole affair, was to accom-.
pany me.
UP to this time no one had ever sus.
pected anything. Paorina aud had
completely evaded the suspicion of her
father and mother.
Next morning Furguson, the minis
ter and myself skipped over the water
and soon arrived at the appointed place.
The marriage was to take place at ten
o'clock. Paorina was to go out fishing
as usual. We anxiously watched and
waited for her boat. At ten o'clock
we saw large steamer leave the wharf
and glide away. We saw nothing else
on the water. What could be themat-
ter? Every one on board looked seri.
Gus. Twelve o'clock came, and yet no
Paorina. At three o'clock we turned
the prov of our boat toward the town.
| was well-nigh crazy with rage, despair.
| knew too well the secret had been
discovered. determined to storm the
lighthouse and take my loved Paorina.
The next day ! picked up the morn.
ing paper and looked down the local
columns. There l found an item that
made plain the cause of my disappoint.
ment the day before. 1t read as fol.
lows:
Yesterday morning at nine o'clock Mr..
Falco, the keeper of the lighthouse, sailed
for Genoa, Italy. He was ACCOMPANIED by
his daughter, Paorina."
That was enough. / became more
desperate than ever. Life was bur-
den now. | resolved to 90 to Italy.
| knew some weeks must elapse before
L could get ready to make SO long
journey. In the meantime, | looked
anxiously for letter. Finally the ex,
pected message came:
STEAMER -, GULF OF GENOA,
March 9Th, 49,
ny dear -: 1t is wretched girl that
pens these words. | have hardly ceased to
weep this long and dismal voyage. By the
hand OF cruel father was torn from Won
and beloved America. He learned of our
intended marriage, how never knew, and
hurried me OH board this steamer at an hour
when least expected it. can write but
little now. 1t is sufficient to say, be not dis
courae ve shall meet again. In the
meantime we will correspond through the
friend whose address send you.
Yours ever devotedly,
PAoRINA.
This gave me great relief. Wekept
up the correspondence for some weeks,
during which time l received letters
which more and more convinced me of
her inestimable worth.
AT last was ready to make the voy-
age, but concluded to wait till Ireceiy.
ed another letter. The letter was due
several days before it came. At last |
received it. 1t was not from Paorina.
but her friend through whom we had
been corresponding. 1t announced the
terrible news that Paorina was very
sick of fever, and it was feared she
would not recover. | had to wait an.
other week for ship. At the end of
his time another letter came, announc.
ng that she was dead. A package
came with the letter, containing ring
md other jewelry of Paorina's.
Her last words we're, II will soon be
n America with him."
The scene is closed, let the curtain
all.
Spare my child! spare my childp
lies the mother, when too late. One
MY of DR. MnHnttln ToooL.... IT Al