The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-10-31
MY INSANE LOVER.
The True Story Of tho Wreck OF
the Mystic.


Never 70, have ! told snY one the true
story n the Mystic.
The day after the accident the evening
papers contained full details, reasonably
accounting for the disaster. They de.
schbed graphically the fatal collision,
the sinking Of the little boat. my rescue
from what was so nearly awAterY grave,
and the f%ruitless search for the body Of
Leonard spArllng. The industrious re-
portsrs faithfully performed their task.
They gave all the facts, 50 far ~ II wns
possible for them to learn them, but thu
whole truth no one In the land o. the
living could have supplied but myself.
and |. though alive, was as good ~
dead to all that transpired around me
lmpOriuuAte neW@gAiherers, sympa-
thiEing strangers snd suffering friends,
were alike unable 10 obtain one coherent
sentence. My partially paralyzsd. only
semLconscious brain either refused 10
act At all. or. failing 10 comprehend
ihA, had escaped impending calamity.
caused the organs d speech only TO
whisper plsadinglYi DON'T Oh.
don'tf'
In afew daystbere was q great change
for the better. Full consciousness re-
turned. but ! was too weak 10 speak.
While In this state | overheard snAiches
Of the conversation Of those eager ones
who watched lovingly Abou, my bed.
and learned the expected explanation Of
the asful tragedy that had produced
such bitter grief IN one family and 10
much suffering 10 another. II was then
that formed the resolution ! have 30
sacrcdly kept, that for the sake Of the
dead my own version Of the dreadful
affair should not differ from that al
ready so well known. Whether I did
right or wrong It Is not for me TO say
now the only apology | have To offer Is
that then believed II for the best;
that aching hearts would not break II !
buried tho real truth deep In my own
But You have a right TO know all. II
my duty TO SHARE this secret with yon.
We are sailing ont Of port together In a
new ship; we ARE 10 traverse the I'M
known seas; the sky is clear. the breeze
favorable. the surface Of the ocean Of
life as far as the eve can reach i unruf.
lied, and before Us there Is a full prom.
Use Of a pleasant and successful voyage.
shall We not, before we cross the harbor
oar, unlock our treasury % c Grels aid
'nspec, the c~onicntsp There may be-
'ome there that are worth sharing and
keeping. and some ihst We had better
ir0p overheard and sink forever out Of
sight and memory.
This incident Of the Mystic Is one.
There should no longer BE- any mystery
tbput u.
W oonrs you remember Leonard
sfariiug We went 10 school together
1nd studied together In ID. same class.
Even IN cor scacol days be was a gal.
lani lad. He used 10 carry ms book,
lof ne after school. and 10 many a
Storm Nc shared the same umbrella.
amer his return from college We met
,gain. and soon became ~ hrm friends
A. ever hsd no suspicion that he
sted - then. lis whole being seemed
Ole vrappsd up 10 bis mother first.
hen his buai and his studies. always
wFPssd | came last in bis thoughts
1unl be declared that his chief obiec,
n ife vas 70 msks me bic wife. told
BIN b sss i-siing. snd refused 10 BE-
btfs that be meaut shat he said. |
thiat be ~As pAibed when 1 told him
siisrvard 10 believed be loved his
lp1 NOTE than be- could ever lore any
sonan On earth. You know what
ts.lim - uas. lie knew his Graf, A.
uunuughiy - an old SEA captain. and
q uld 70 anywhere along the shores q
The LAKE OF BAY. In the dark. without
rowing " padding = stroke. knew
Ewssfs on the wkier with him. for while
:. SAs fond Of practical Jokes he never
ran any foolish risks. yet ! was alwAys
IN = state 81 nervous terror while sail.
tng. And be was never happier than
when he had me In the bow, with the
Mystic flying through the waves bcior,
siif breeze. or pitching aud tossing
ike = cookie shell. and driving me hal
Wild with fright He hoped In time Il
make = sailor u me. but I neyer eol
over my horror Of the water. and oh
how dread IL nowi
That fatal evening Mr.. Sparkling was
In his happiest mood. He had invite,
me TO 20 for = sail, and ! had consented
without q single objection or expression
u fear.
Il am moro than ever fond Of you 10
night. Mary" he said. A. we walkes
down 10 the little wharf where he ken
his boat ''You are getting To be jus, a
brave a. . good woman ought 10 be-"
Then he told me again Of the allera
dous and Improvements he had had Il
the Mystic. and continued 10 speak Of
his ~favorits theme I'LL va reached III
bay. There lay before Us the chief ioy
OF Leonsrd's life-the wide expanse O
bay and lake cleaning In the goldel
radiance Of the setting sun, and N
Mystic In all the glory Of 4 new sal
and paint. the swiftest aud prettiest O
the little craft that skinned thos
waters.
She u indeed . perfect gen." I es
claimed when | caught sight Of her.
Leonard stared Al me IN wondermeul
had never said 20 much IN admiration
81 ANYTHING nautical before. lie did no
speak for some time. but the expression
Of bis face was . revelafion. He helpe'
ms into the boat with more than bis NJ
ual cars. and SEATING me In the how
stood for IN instant gazing steadily 10
ward me - II he would rad me througl
Nd through. The scrutiny vas not IN
satisfactory. I saw that BE- attribute,
= SUPPRESSION q pleasure with which
sseaiysd his propositIoa 10 saIl. ans
:n4pznent I had paid 10 his boat
= tg.e 4 ~ water than . desir
IN - - ssailor. u.rx.. n.
~ 4muet, ~ ssII V the brvs,s
- ~ tnx<shst M ~