The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-30
MY INSANE LOVER.
The True Story Of the Wreck Of
the Mystic.

The True Story Of the Wreck O
the Mystic.
Never vet have told any one the true
story of the Mystic.
The day after the accident the evening
papers contained full details, reasonably
accounting for the disaster. They de.
scribed graphically the fatal collision,
the sinking of the little boat. my rescue
from what was so nearly a watery grave,
and the fruitless search for the body OF
Leonard Sparkling. The industrious re-
porters faithfully performed their task.
They gave all the facts. 50 far as it was
possible for them to learn them, but the
whole truth no one in the land of the
living could have supplied but myself,
and !. though alive. was as good as
dead to all that transpired around me-
lmportunate news-gatherers. sympa-
thizing strangers and suffering friends.
were alike unable to obtain one coherent
sentence. My partially paralyzed. only
semi-conscious brain either refused to
act at all, or, failing to comprehend
that had escaped impending calamity.
caused the organs of speech only to
whisper pleadingly: Don't! Oh,
don'tr'
In a few days there was grea. change
Tor the better. Full consciousness re-
turned, but was too weak to speak.
While in this state l overheard snatches
OF the conversation of those eager ones
who watched lovingly about my bed,
and Learned the expected explanation of
the awful tragedy that had produced
such bitter grief in one family and so
much suffering in another. 1t was then
that l formed the resolution I have so
sacredly 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 / did
right or wrong it is not for me to say
now; the only apology have to offer is
that l then believed it for the best;
that aching hearts would not break if l
buried the real truth deep in my own
breast.
But you have right to know all. It
is my duty to share this secret with you.
We are sailing out Of port together in q
new ship; we are to traverse the I'M
known seas; the sky is clear, the breeze
favorable. the surface of the ocean Of
life as far as the eye can reach is unruf-
fled, and before Us there is full prom
Use of pleasant and successful voyage.
Shall We not, before we cross the harbor
bar, unlock our treasury of secrets and
inspect the contents? There may be
some there that are worth sharing and
keeping, and some that we had better
drop overheard and sink forever out of
sight and memory.
This incident of the Mystic is one.
There should no longer be any mystery
about it.
Vi course you remember Leonard
Sparkling. We went to school together
and studied together in the same class.
Even in our school days he was gal
liant lad. He used to carry my books
for me after school, and in many q
storm We shared the same umbrella
After his return from college we met
as ever. l had no suspicion that he
loved me then. His whole being seemed
to be wrapped up in his mother first,
then his boat and his studies. / always
supposed 1 came last in his thoughts
until he declared that his chief object
in life was to make me his wife. told
him he was jesting, and refused to be-
lieve that he meant what he said. I
think he was panied when told him
Afterward that believed he loved his
boat more than he could ever love any
woman on earth. You know what
q sailor he was. He knew his craft as
thoroughly as an old sea captain, and
could go anywhere along the shores of
the lake or bay, in the dark, without
rowing or padding a stroke. knew I
was safe on the water with him, for while
he was fond of practical jokes he never
nan any foolish risks, yet was always
in state of nervous terror while sail
ing. And he was never happier than
when he had me in the bow, with the
Mystic flying through the waves before
q stiff breeze, or pitching and tossing
like a cookie shell, and driving me half
wild with fright. he hoped in time to
make q sailor of me, but l never got
over my horror of the water, and oh
how I dread it now!
That fatal evening Mr.. Sparkling was
in his happiest mood. He had invited
me to 60 for sail, and had consented
without single objection or expression
of fear.
Il am more than ever fond of you to-
might, Mary" he said, as we walked
down to the little wharf where he kept
his boat. ''You are getting to be just as
brave as good woman ought to be-"
Then he told me again of the altera-
lions and Improvements he had had in
the Mystic, and continued to speak on
his favorite theme till we reached the
bay. There lay before us the chief joys
of Leonardo life-the wide expanse of
bay and lake cleaning in the golden
radiance of the setting sun, and the
Mystic in all the glory of new sail
and paint, the swiftest and prettiest of
the little craft that skinned those
waters.
"She is indeed q perfect gen." lex
claimed when caught sight of her.
Leonard stared at me in w0nderment,
] had never said SO much In admiration
of anything nautical before. BE did not
speak for some time, but the expression