The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-02
head aud fair neck.

As Marc made his apologies she in.
errupted with
"Oh! | know. You are the gentle
nan Es,elle is engaged to; then 1 don't
mind. It's not so bad as if you had
been a stranger. How you scared"
Here one little dimple, then another,
,rept forth, till merry peal of laugh
er rippled through the room, in which
Marc joined.
When Mrs. Darcy and Estelle return.
I'd, they found Inez, for it was she, and
Marc chatting away like old friends
In spite of 1nez' recent loss, which |
lated only two months back, her child |
sh, mrth loving nature could take no
hold of sorrow. Her tears were like
April showers, quickly over True,
she had known but little of her father,
having spent most of her life at board
ing school. Mr.. Cline had been self
ish, pleasure-loving man, who took but
little thought of his motherless child
and lived close up to his income, leav
ing lnez penniless at his death.
The pretty morning dresses Inez
wore she owed to Estelle's generosity.
The weeks slipped by, and still Inez
guest at Sunnyside. AT first
she talked good neal of going out as
governess, but later on she ceased to
do so.
Somehow Estelle and Marc were
very seldom alone those days. Inez,
with her pretty, helpless ways, contriv.
ed to monopolize great deal of Mares
time. Yet Estelle was pleased that it
should be So
In her noble heart there was no
room for jealousy. No thought that
Inez, with her saucy, kit,enish ways,
might win her lover from her. Her
faith and trust in Marc were perfect.
The wedding day drew nigh. Incz
was to be bridesmaid, and then Estelle
with her warm, impulsive nature had
proposed that she should accompany
them to Europe on their bridal tour.
and lnez had clapped her hand like
chilk, exclaiming:
Oh! if I only could. How | should
like it," Mrs. Darcy, wiser than the
rest had judged it best for Inrz to re-
main with her; but Inez had pDuted
and come as near showing temper as
such weak. little creature could, and
had gained her way.
1t was decided that she should &C.
company the bridal pair.
Marc and Estelle were man and wife,
and the steamer was bearing them on
toward England's shores. Inez, too
sick to move and wishing herself back
on land, was in her state room, with
ever thoughtful Eqtelle tending and
petting her, rewarding her husband
with fond smile whenever he came
to inquire after the sick girl. How
good of him, thought she, when he so
disliked the sight of sickness or any
thing unpleasant.
1t was Marc who carried lnez on
deck and arranged the rugs and pillo ws
bearing with the whims when even Es.
telle grew almost indignant at her
friends peevlshness toward her hus'
band.
One evening Estelle, suffering from
severe headache, retired early to her
stateroom, but, finding the air below
very close, she returned to the deck
Seeking her husband and Inez she
drew near the wheelhouse Suddenl,
she paused and stood as if turned to
store. In the shadow of the wheel
house were her husband and Inez
Inez's golden head lay upon his breast
and there was a fond ring to Mares
tones that Eslelle had never heard be
fore as he uttered the words:
"For Gods sake stop crying, littl,
one. You will drive me mad. Yol
know that l love you as l never lovec
Estele, but was forced to marry her
If | had been rich then | could hav,
pleased myself, but as it was, it woul,
have been simply folly"
No cry escaped the lips of the WON
an whose loving heart had been crush
ed by these words of her husband, on
ly as she blindly groped her way bacl
10 the cabin the thought, "IIe neve
loved me; it was only my money,
seemed to stab itself into her heart.
Fighting with her despair, thi
stricken woman cried out, unselfs
even in her agony:
Marc! Marc! my husband!
would make you happy if could !"
They were nearing their journey
end, and Marc had peceived no differ
ence in his wife. His thoughts wer
elsewhere. Had they not been, h
would have seen how pale and thin sh
had grown, and that never of her ow
accord did her lips caress him.
Then came the night when the
were startled from their sleep by th
cry of danger.
Women shrieked and clasped the
little ones to their breasts, while mel
white to the lips, hurried on deck to /
,, driven back by the wild fierceness {
the storm. Waves like gigantic moul
, tains hurled themselves against Il
ship, under which she staggered an
, ree,ed and righted herself again, onl
, to be struck down anew.
D Valiantly the good boat fought h
7: fight against the deep. Mast aft
? mast was torn away, till she lay bar
- trembling like wounded human,
r the mercy of the angry waters, 81
J., had sprung leak. All night the M
:, worked at the pumps, cheered by the
:. brave Captain, who told them tn,
0 must be close to the Dover cliffs, al
r they might yet all reach the shore
4 safety.
,. lnez clung trembling TO Marc, VIII
e Estelle, calm and collected, NOV
3, about amongst the women, helpi
with ready hand.
3. Little children grew quiet at /
y touch, and mothers ceased to bew
d their fate.
d. Marc never forgot the pale grande
d of his wifes face as she passed to a
e. fro amongst all the confusion.
ID Towards dawn the storm abai
s. somewhat, but dense fog enveloI
% them like a shroud.
AT last the order was given to N
r. the lifeboats. Sobbing women q
at frightened children were quickly lf
ie over the ships side; while warm he,