The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-14

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her mother and sister. Dacre is stand
ing by her side, white ard stern.
She, throws her arms about his
neck in farewell. Tears and sobs
choke her speech. '"Oh, Dacre, if the
life boat does not return in time, I shall
never never see you again. And you are
so good-remember I shall always
A rough hand is laid upon her arm.
She, too, must now 90.
For one instant Dacre holds her in q
clasp from which no hands can tear her.
Some one is lowered in her place
then Dacre pushes her forward quickly.
May not an other instant see her
dashed into the sea.
This acquaintance, this friendship,
this love begun ton days ago on ship
board, has it lived it's life, and is this
the end?.~ ','.
Away goes the life boat, and still the
vessel, RACES on, and still there are wo-
men left to wiring their hands with hor-
ror at what seems now certain death.
But again the life boat comes before
the sturdy ship yields to her furious op-
ponent, and again it puts off, leaving
the few stout hearts behind who had
longest waited.
No boat will survive the storm, yet
quick wit and skill have strung together
a raft, and when the life-boat leaves
them, the crew and remaining pas
sengers lash themselves to this Dacre
Farleighstone is among them.
At last the break comes, and an hour
later, when the dull, 1eadeh day slowly,
surlily dawhs Upon the scene, the wreck
is no longer within range of their vis-
ion, but ten ,drenched human beings
are floating along in the deep sweep of
ugly water. The wind has at last abat
ed, but the rain still pours down
Around them vast nothing, unbroken
by line Of shore or CLEAN of sail.
Will they, ere long, also become
nothing?
Within cheerful, fre-lt drawing
room, Mrs. Thornburn is seated with
her two daughters.
1t is eight months since their visit to
Europe, and they are once more COM
fortably established for their winter
season in New York.
Poor Dolly's tender parting with her
lover had been the first intimation which
her mother had received of any attach
ment between the two. Consequently,
Dolly had not escaped vigilant sur
veillance thenceforth, Notwithstanding
the fact that Dacre is reported among
the missing; the mother, evidently,
would never trust Dolly out of her sight
more.
A downright scolding Dolly had re:
teived, but, owing to her evident ILL
health, "as ~ consequence of their mis-
hap, the mother said, she was spared
further reference to the subject.
II shall marry her as soon as posi-
ble, said the mother, in confidence, to
her elder sister, "One is never safe
with such girl on ones hands,"
Consequently two or three rich
bachelors had "been thrust at her," as
Dolly expressed herself to her bosom
friend, Jessie; "and," Dolly would add,
in the midst of her sobs, ''all ugly as
they can be! And Dacre was SO hand.
some and now, poor boy, shall never,
never see him again! Mamma thought
he was too young and too poor, because
he had only his salary; but he was then
on business for the large firm with
which he was connected; and he told ME
had he the prospect of rapid advance
ment, And now that he has gone I
shall never, never marry. Think how
little would seem to value his memory
to turn about and marry the first ugly
rich man I Imet!"
So Mrs. Thornburn found more diff
Guilty with her daughter that winter
than she had anticipated.
She would go to no parties. She
would see no gentlemen.
1T is Mr.. Haddon, called for the
third time this week." said Mrs. Thor
burn, glanclng at card handed her by
a waiter. II told him once you we're
out, and again you were i'll, but urged
him to call again, and insist upon
your seeing him, Dolly"
"There is only one way you can n AXE
me see him" !" cries Dolly, springing to
her feet in anger, "anj that is to drag
me in struggling in your arms"
Having exploded which outrageous
speech, Dolly leaves the room, her
mother standing helplessly aghast.
Presently Miss Dolly may be seen
making her way to the house Of her
friend, Jess Holmes, into whose re-
sponsive bosom she pours forth the
burden of her woes. She remains to
dinner, much preferring the society
there to that of her mother in her pres
ent mood. For there is always Jessie's
brother Jack, young man possessed of
fine spirits, whom Dolly likes next best
to her lost lover and Jessie.
He is late tonight, and when at
last he arrives, he brings with him
"a handsome, tall, bearded fell
low, whom he Immediately pro-
ceeds to introduce to the girls, when
he is interrupted by slight scream
from their fair guest She grows pale,
then red, and but for the action of this
stranger, she would have lain prone up
on the floor in swoon.
He hears the one word, "Darce!" ut
tered in such a voice, he sees the face
best beloved on earth, and the next in
stant he holds the frightened girl in his
arms.
/ kisses his little love back to conscious
ness, and Jessie knows it is the lost
Dacre returned. The sea has given up
it's dead.
He had but just arrived, and meet
ing his old friend Jack Holmes Ito
whom, of course, Dolly's confidence
had never extended, )he had accepted his
invitation to dinner, little dreaming
whom he should meet there.
The crew and the passengers on the
raft had been picked up by a steamer
going some roundabout way to Spain,
and after much delay Dacre had sue.
ceeded in reaching London. There he
was obliged to remain until his busi-
ness left him free to return to America.
He had never secured Dolly's city ad-
dress, and therefore could not write,
but had hoped to discover her abode
upon his arrival in New York.
Well, it is a shocking tale of disobe-
dience have to relate now, yet, all I