Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-11-17

shu1ders, and finally pluuges down
headlong into the yawning gulf which
opens - receive her.
Aud Harry Reed? In this instance
vigorous young life sustained by Nigh.
Of purpose, does not succunb quite 90
readily as rotten old timber. For two
nights and two days, awful privation
and suffering are his; but at length
numbed, bruised, larcerated, and with
the death-stupor stealing upon him-he
is observed and picked up by an out
ward bound vessel.
In due course he recovep; and, en-
rolled as one of the hands, proceeds with
me ship to Valparaiso. whittier she is
bound direct. There, with the present
Of silver coin and many elaborate di-
rections, lie entrlsts to hanger-on OF
the harbor All English lctter-a wild
outpouriDg of all the long -pent passion
Of his heart-to be posted in the town.
What eventually became Of the poor,
painfully produced sheet no one living
knows. Possibly the drunken tatterde-
nation to whom it was handed-a Span
ish half-caste-put it to practical use as
a cigarette paper, and its rhapsodies.
Ike many other lovers rhaphsodies.
lrifted away in smoke; moro probably
t lies embedded in the gfensyy lining of
MS jacket to this day. enc thing is
certain; that it never reached the sup
plant hand stretched forth to receive it,
or brought relief to the soul famishing
for news in the little old-world village
beyond the Atlantic.
From Valparaiso, the ship at length
returns to lisbon with copperore, and
from Lisbon she starts with general
cargo for-word most musical to one, at
least, of the crew-Ipswich. Once more
in the Downs, where she lies three days
wind-bound, English newspapers are
received aboard; and in one of these, In
a column devoted to local intelligence, a
young sailor spells out, amongst other
items, that marriage has been solem-
nized, just three weeks previously, be-
tween one Thomas Gordon and one
Rachel Cheal.
And the fair maid of Cherbury-what
Of her? Verify she, too, like Ler lover,
has passed through the Valley of tho
Shadow Of Death, rs her wasted face and
great lustrous eyes bear record. Day
in, day ont, fair weather or foul, she
must needs stray aimlcssly to the beach
where the last kiss fingered upon her
check, and the last gool-by was whis-
pcrcd. She Is never alone. Honest
Humphrey broken in spirit now, and
| bowed with grief, yet loving his poor
shorn lamb still more tenderly than of
yore-ls ever at her side; and to mur-
INJURED questions-the expression of pas
sionate yearning that is within her as she
gazes beyond the waters of the bay aud
beyond the horizon-will give answer in
softened words, hopeless himself, yet re-
| luctant to crush the last futtering yes
tige OF hope.
1t is in the gladsome sunshine of a
young May morning that gallant ship,
which has voyaged from afar, bears up
In Harwich roadstead, and signals for q
pilot. Not long has she to wait for a
response A trim little craft comes
dancing over the waves like white
winged gull, and swings up gayly along
side. In another minute George Chea]
has swung himself aboard, and little
jim prepares to put about and return
But on the deck OF that gallant ship i.
would seem, in good sooth, that the sea
has given ny her dead; for stalwari
George, gazing with startled eye on 6
face which greets his sight, staggers
back and grasps the taffrail for support
Few words pass between the long -par.e,
friends, for their feelings are too dceI
for utterance; but a aSmoment or two af
terward thera is a wild scream o
delight from alongside, for Harry Rec
has descended into the boat, AM
mechanically taken the tiller A little
later the boy Jim has unloosed the arm
he has thrown about his old comrade'
neck, and scrambling forward strain
his eyes toward the harbor which th
little craft is now rapidly nearing. ant
in very fever Of excitement imparts th
intelligence that Humphrey and Rache
have come over from Cherburv, and az
awaiting his return,
Hating Of speech. mechanical Of &C
ton. stonv-eved as one who dream.
Harry Reed sits with his hands on tn
tiller, asking no questions; hearinI
nothing beyond the quick :hrob OF HI
pulses, and the surging Of the blood i
his ears. SO the moments pass, and Ii
boat Is brought up alongside the harbo
steps. Yet another brief interval, an
Harry has furbled his way mechAnicall
1 MP on to the pier; and moment NOR
: and he become. suddenly conscious {
the approach Of wonan's figure, OF
passionate cry IN his ears, and OF ha.
fain'ing form IN his arms.
= q 60