Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-09-13


use as cigarette paper, and its rhap-
sodies, like many other lovers rhap-
sodies, drifted away in smoke; more
probably it lies hidden in the greasy
lining of his jacket to this day. One
thing is certain, that it nsver reached
the suppliant 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 copper ore, and
from Lisbon she starts with a general
cargo for-Word most musical to one,
at least, of the crew-Ipswich. Once
more in the Downs, where she lies
three days windbound, English news
papers are received aboard, and in one
of these, in column devoted to local
intelligence, young sailor spells out,
among other items, that a marriage
has been solemnized, just three weeks
previously, between one Thomas Cor
don and one Rachel Cheal.
And the fair maid of Cherbury-
what Of herr Verify she too, like her
lover, has passed through the valley
of the shadow of death, as her wasted
face and great lustrous eyes bear
record. Day in, day out, fair weather
or foul, she must needs stray aimlessly
to the beach where the last kiss
fingered upon her cheek and the last
goodbye was whispered. 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-is ever at her
side, and to murmured questions-the
expression of the passionate yearning
that's within her as she gazes beyond
the waters of the bay. and beyond the
horizon-wi give answer in softened
words, hopeless himself, yet reluctant
to crush the last fluttering vestige Of
hope.
1t is in the gladstone sunshine of a
young May morning that gallant
ship, which has voyaged from afar,
bears up in Harwich roadstead and
signals for pillt A trim little craft
comes dancing over the waves like a
white-winged gull, andswings up gayly
alongside. In another minute George
Cheal has swung himself aboard, and
little Jim prepares to put about and
return.
But on the deck Of that gallant ship
it would seem. in good sooth, that the
sea has given up her dead; for stalwart
George, gazing with startled eye on a
face which greets bis sight, staggers
back and grasps the taffrail for sup
port. Few words pass between the
long g-parted friends, for their feelings
are too deep for utteranee; but mo-
ment or so later there is wild scream
Of delight from alongside, for Harry
Reed has descended into the boat and
mechanically taken the tiller. A little
later the boy Jim has unloosed the
arms he has thrown about his old COM
rade's neck, and serambling forward
strains his eyes toward the harbor
which the little craft is now rapidly
nearing, and in very fever of excite
ment imparts the intelligence that
Humphrey and Rachel have come over
from Cherbury and are awaiting his
return.
Hating of speech, mechanical of
action, stony-eyed as one who dreams,
Harry Reed sits with his hand on the
tiller, asking no questions; hearing
nothing beyond the quick throb of his
pulses and the surging Of the blood in
his ears. So the moments pass, and
the boat is brought up alongside the
harbor steps Yet another brief inter
val, and Harry has fumbled his way
mechanically up on to the pier; and
moment more and he becomes sudden
ly conscious Of the approach of wo-
mans figure, of a passionate cry in his
ears, and of half-fainting form in his
arms.
"Rachel, Rachel p groans the strong
man in his agony, when his voice at
length comes to him, s'couldst thou
not have remained true to me even
this short while?'
Her fingers move over the face
the fingers of the blind move.
"True, Harry?" she murmurs
AYE, true till death r
"True?" he cries, cas-, ing her from
him in sudden frenzy of passion,
8 when thou'rt married z"
"Married?' she whispers, gazing
helplessly into his face. Then sudden
ly she comprehends, and begins to
laugh Historically and sob; and he, by
some subtle intuition, suddenly com
prehends also, and straining her to his
heart, cries:
"Idiot that I have beenl 1 was
blind blind; but now see p
And all this time gray-haired,
weather-beaten coastguardsman has
been tacking round and about these
two central figures, yawing off as he
has approached. only to be drawn at
last into irresistible contact with them.
What further words may have been
spoken, or acts performed, by the little
group, history does not record; but
that Humphrey Cheal quilted HarWich