Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-24
work better for me. than / could for my
self. Or if, perchance it might cure me of

self. Or if, perchance it might cure me of
my infatuation.
Without allowing myself time to reflect,
I engaged passage for Europe, and made
hasty preparations to be gone some months.
l would not see her again; I would not tell
her was going. set my teeth at the very
thought of what it would cost me, and it
required all the strength of which | was
master, to carry out the determination, but
l did it.
placed my business affairs in the hands
of friend, and one thing only remained
to have my will drawn up. II give and
beuueath to Elizabeth Barnwell, my affianc:
ed wife" (ah, Bessie! BessieD "all my
property, real and PERSONAL" ETC., with the
enumeration thereof following. Perhaps
Thought I, little bitterly, 'if she were ever
to come in possession of what had once
been mine, she might have one tender
thought to give to him whose only thought
was of her.
The wreck of the Scotia is an old story
now, but story written in tears and
lamentations to those whose dear ones
were never heard of again, and of frightful
memories of the few survivors. We were
tossing in mid ocean ina gale of wind and
rain, such as l had never dreamed of on
land, when the vessel sprang leak.
"Man the lifeboats," was the captains
order, ringing out even in the midst of the
noise of the elements.
1t was gallant crew. Swiftly, with won
derful method and discipline, his COM
mand was obeyed. But one was found un-
seaworthy, and the crowd of terrified pas
sengers more than filled the others. Ones
chance for life would be slim indeed! Was
it in the body or the spirit l should spend
the Christmas Eve l had promised with my
cruel darling?
helped few frightened women into the
boat, then turned to think of self-preserva-
ton. I found a life-preserver, fastened it
on, and lasbed myself to loose spar which
1 thought would float. Then came heavy
blow on my head, know not from whence,
sensation of pain and numbness, and the
world of sea and sky was blotted out. l
knew no more.
Moments of partial consciousness followed
by lapses into my former state, are the dim
recollections (that hauntme), of this period.
Nor have I ever been sure of the time that
passed ere in good measure recovered. l
opened my eyes on strange scene. was
lying on bundle of straw, covered with a
sheepskin above my head were the rafters
of low log house, and in the corner of the
room, on broad fiat stone, smOuldered the
ashes of fire. / was alone, but in a few
moments fair-haired, blue-eyed girl, in an
unfamiliar costume, entered. She uttered
an exclamation when she encountered my
look, and hastily ran to the door and called.
In moment woman and two men entered
and stood around me, pleasure evidently
painted on their faces, and talking volubly
in an unknown tongue. Presently the Wo-
man brought me coffee in wooden bowl.
The salty taste was disagreeable, but the
steaming beverage seemed to revive me,
and l drank it with ayidity. In their hum
Bile way, no one could be kinder than these
poor people on whose hospitality l had thus
been cast Weak as was from long expo
sure and illness, it took some time for me
to realize where | was, nor of course have
I ever learned the full details of those past
weeks and days.
Suffice it to say that had at last been
picked up by a Norwegian fishing-boat, and
my name and nationality unknown Il
chanced to have no papers about me, even
could any of the crew have read them), they,
carried Inc with them, and to the best of
their ability nursed me back to life. SeWed
in the lining Of my vest, l had consdera-
BILE number of bank-notes, which, incredi-
ble as itmay seem, and water-sOaked though
they had been, were yet available. Allthat
was on my person was honestly returned to
me, and this enabled me, though in small
measure, to repay the kindness of my hosts
ere parted from them.
Returning memory and strength brought
back to me all the past in which Bessie was
concerned, and l was seized with wild
desire to see her once more and fulfill my
promise of spending Christmas Eve with
her. Already the winter was upon me,
and little short of miracle could enable
me to accomplish it. But fortune favored.
Once more I stood in the streets of New
York. l landed the day before Christmas.
The gay crowds were thronging the streets !;
the Christmas bells sounded in the air, as,
sadly changed in appearance, and almost
overcome with a Whrl of feeling, | stood
that Christmas Eve upon the familiar steps,
and the door yielded to the key which all
these months had lain in my pocket.
I drew slightly aside the portiere which
hung before the parlOr door, and myself
unseen, gaZed into the room.
"But, my dear young lady, this is surely
very unwise, to say the least' Gt was the
voice of the lawyer, in whose hands had
left my willy, "to refuse such nice little
property like that for chimera! All lovers
have their quarrels, no doubt, but"
II will not touch penny of it, )" low but
steadily sounded my darling's voice.
| could not see her.
"He promised to spend this Christmas
Eve with me-" she added dreamily, with
something like SOD. Inc lawyer took
turn up and down the room ere he replied:
"Far be from me to deprive you of hope,
but months have elapsed since the loss of
the vessel on which he sailed; no word has
come from him. 1t is not credible that
he has survived. This property lies at your
command, and it was his particular request
that if he did not return 1--WE must all of US
provide in such case for our possible demise)
the papers should on this special evening
be placed in your hands,"
A moment, and Bessie stood in the mid
die of the room before me, pale and sad, but
more beautiful than ever. How my thirsty
soul drank in her loveliness!
"He said that, living or dead, he would
be with me tonight. If he is dead drove
him to it, and will 60 to him."
l could wait no longer; forgetful of con-
sequences sprang into the room. With a
wild cry, she threw up'her arms and fell
into mine, extended to receive her. We
had kept our tryst.