Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-28


to the scene of peril, and finding it impossi
BILE to induce Mrs Barrett to seek shelter, had
thrown about her a rough tarpaulin, from the
harsh folds of which her haRgird face aud
wind blown hair was a sorry sight to sec.
The two bodies we're now coming in atop
OF the foamng surf, with no help or hinder
ance of their own, aud closely locked togeth-
er, were swept swiftly ashore with other prey
Of the elements. They we're narrowly res
cued from the greedy NAV Of the returning
wave and carried with all speed to the little
inn, where everything was in readiness to re-
store consciousness to the one, and foster it in
the other
The storm passed away as suddenly as it
came. The pale glow Of twilight deepened
into night There was no moon, but the
stars shone over the bay and the harbor and
the dusky little promontory. To look at the
gentle ripple Of waves tapping lazily along
upon the soft white sand, Phil could hardly
believe that so little time ago two men had
been done almost to their DEATH He could
scarcely stagger out into the wooden porch
of the inn to breathe the cold sea. a.scented air
And az for Joe, God only knew what would
befall him He had been brought back to
life, but not to consciousness. Polly had
managed TO get word to the town physician
but the way was long, and the sand was
heavy.
It must have been about midnight Phil
could not tell the exact time. His watch was
in his waistcoat under Miss Mortimer's head
in the bed of the lsndlady. Phil had told
them not to awaken Miss Mortimer under
no circumstances he was so glad she was
asleep-and it would be impossible to say
hOir glad he was The latch OF the door
clicked behind him. Pills heart sank. He
was afraid Miss Mortimer had, after all, been
awakened. But a fatering, uncertain step
reached him, and the cold little hand of Pol
ly Barrett clutched his arm.
Any one but Phil would never have known
her. The last remnant Of her soft comel-
ness seemed swept away with the storm. All
her womanly crimps and fripperies were
gone. She wore an i'll fitting gown Of the
landladys. Her whole face was Of wan
gray pallor,- like the waves under the cold
light of the stars.
SIS Joe better" 2" stsmmered Phil. docs
he know"
"He knows everything, and perhaps he's
better. Oh, Phil Phil" Polly repressed
her sobs, and motioned Phil to the door "He
is determined shall try and get some sleep,
and that you shall watch with him for a
while. Asif l could go to sleep! But go to
him, Phil don't thwRrt him-go"
Phil went in to Joe. He will never forget
the low ceiled room, the two wooden chairs,
the pine table, whereon mop of ragged
wick flared from a saucer of OIL the bottle of
liquor within reach and the coarse green
glass; the grim old clock in the corner ticking
of the seconds, and Joe's ghastly face and
motionless form upon the camp cot in the
corner Joe tried to stretch out his hand to
Phil, but it fell back heavily upon the patch
work quilt Of the andlady.
"You did your best, Phil he said ''you
brought me ashore, but the trouble was done
out there something seized me, God knows
what-paralysis, cramps, palsy-who can
tell a.? Anyway, old man, TN done for. |
can't move a muscle below. It's q mere ques-
ton of time, Phil, and we can't afford to lose
any"
II hope you're wrong Joe wen know
better when the doctor comes. You were
right not to tell Polly. But she must come
to you, Joe.
Phil would have gone at once for Polly,
but something in Joe's face held him back.
Hold on a Bit Phil. didn't send for
you and send Polly away TO tell you some
thing that you'll both know soon enough.
There's burden on my conscience, Phil it's
been lying there like "A plummet Of lead all
these years. Listen to me, and don't inter
rupt me il you can help it. Give me some of
that stuff from the bottle, and when grow
weaker give me more
Phil lifted Joe's head and put the glass to
his lips then he sat down upon the edge of
the cot, leaving his arm between Joes neck
and the pillow. Joe could feel Pills pulse
now, and the loyal heart Of his friend beating
close TO his own.
ITS twenty. five years, Phil" said Joe,
'since that night we drove down to the shore
here and had that talk together. You remem.
Der it, Phil?'
"Yes, joe"
"Ah you've remembered it too well, Phil
| I've tried hard enough, God knows, to make
| you forget The sun was sinking over yon-
der in the west and sky and sea were all
aflame Some heecy clouds dropped low
over the old shed where we had ordered some
clans. | remember when | saw Polly that
night. The dress she wore was like a stab Ia
me it was OF some soft floating material
that reminded me of the woolly clouds over
the old shed You didn't eat the CLANS Phil.
You dallied with the shells, and turned them
over with the queer old fork they had given
| you. Aud all at once you put them aside,
and lighted a cigar, and turned your face to
the sea, and began to talk Of a woman you
secretly loved. Now give me some wine,
| Phil"
Phil put the glass again to Joe's lips
Don't talk any more, joe" he said. LET
me go for Polly"
mot yet" said Joe. "You were hand
some fellow, Phil, twenty-fv years ago Al
| you went on to talk of the woman you Sc
cretly loved, some sort of light shone upon
your face from the splendor in the west thai
made it like that of an archangel. 1t seemed
| to me that no woman could withstand you
My first thought was to walk out in the wa
ter and strangle myself my next was worthy
Of Judas Iscariot 1t was a resolve to betray
you. | must have been tempted by the dev
II, for, as God is my judge in this awful mo
ment of my life, l never dreamed befor,
that night that you and l were in love with
the one woman. l got upon my feet anC
shouted, She is mine = garing upon yol
with dogged, resolute stare Have you
then, asked her to marry you 2 you said, anC
your face still looked like an archangeps
while mine must have been inAamed with tn,
passions that beset man beyond his strength
As l repeated, She is my promised wife, th'
words seemed to leap from throat of fire
it was the first downright, hideous, malicious
lie l ever uttered, for had not yet asked hel
i had not get asked her; but when l die
ask her, upon that very night the next Ii,
slipped easily from my perjured throat
though it was worse one by far. For tolC
Polly, Phil told her before l asked her t
marry me-thst you had confessed to N,
your love for her friend, the poor little cir
that afterward became our bridemad. Wheth
er it was my guilty conscience, that make
hell enough for any man, fancied l saw
something in POlly's eyes that told me, had i
not been for my treachery, your chAnc
would have been better than mine. Nov
take your arm away from my neck, Phil, ant
curse me if you will-my story is done"
The pulse at Joe's ear leaped and tugged a
if it would burst an artery, but Phi's voic
had the old tender ring.
You might have spared yourself all this,
he said. Il think Polly has proved who
was that she loved"
"Ah, after that night, Phil, yes. Polly i
not the kind of woman TO make the misery
of men. But 1 cheated you of your chance =
''Be it so, Joe. l forgive you, and l low
you all the same. "Now throw off the bur
den, and live for Polly's sake and mine"
TOO late, too late" faltered the failin
lips. They refused to touch the glass. TIL
limp body fell back almost lifeless in Phil
arms. Then Joe aroused himself once more
and called for Polly in harsh, strained voic
that reached her despite the roar of the sea
She flew to his side, but was only in time +
catch few indistinct, disjointed sentences
With last effort the dying man lifted tn
hands of his wife and his friend, Joined ther
together, clasped his own about them, and 5
the three remained till the soul of Joe Bar
rett fled.
.EA,a 20 tLo.o oo,l1 ba s,cb a thin1 q