The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-15
It in the body or the spirit I shoult
spend the Christmas Eve I had pro

spend the Christmas Eve I had pro
missed with my cruel darling?
I helped a few frightened women
into the boat, then turned to think Of
self representation. Ifound a life-pre
server, fastened it on, and dashed my,
self to aloose spar which I thought
would float. Then came a heavy blow
on my head, I know not from whence,
a sensation of pain and numbness,
and the world of seq and sky was
blotted out. I knew no more.
Moments Of partial consciousness
followed by lapses into my former
state, are the dim re%collections (tha,
haunt me), of this period. Nor have
I ever been sure Of the time that
passed ere 1 in good measure recov'
cred. I opened my eyes on a strange
9 I was lying on a bundle oil
straw, covered with a sheepskin; above
my head were the rafters of a low log.
house, and in the corner of the room
on a broad, Hat stone, smoldered the
ashes of q fire. I WAS alone, but in 9
few moments a fair-haired, blue-eyed
girl, in an unfamiliar costume, en-.
tered. She utteredi an exclamation
when she encountered my look, and
hastily ran to the door and called. In
a moment a woman and two men en-.
tered, and stood around me, pleasure
evidently painted on their faces, and
talking volubly in an unknown tongue
Presently the woman brought me
coffee in a wooden bowl. The salty
taste wa disagreeable, but the steam.
ing beverage seemed to revive ME, and
L drank it with avidity. In their hum.
BILE way, no one could be kinder than
these poor people IN whose hospitality
I had thus been cast. Weak as l was
from long exposure and illness, it took
some time for me to realize where ]
was, nor of course have l ever learned
the full details of those past weeks and
days.
Suffice it to say that 1 had at last
been picked up by a Norwegian fish
ing-boat, and my name and nationali-
ty unknown Ct CHANGED to have no
papers about me, even could any OF
the crew have read them) they had
carried me with them, and to the best
Of their ability nursed me back to life.
Sewed in the lining Of my vest, I had
a considerable number of bank-notes,
which, incredible as it may seem, and
water soaked though they had. been,
were yet available. All that 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 I parted from them.
Returning memory and strength
brought back to me all the past in
which Bessie was concerned, and
I was seized with a wild desire to see
her once more and fulfill my promise
Of spending Christmas Eve with her.
Already the winter was upon me, and
short Of a miracle could en-
able me to accomplish it. But for
tune favored. Once more l stood
in the streets of New York. I landed
the day before Christmas. The gay
crowds were thronging the streets;
the Christmas bells sounded liz the
air. as, sadly changed in appearance,
and almost overcome with a whirl of
feeling, I stood that Christmas Eve
upon the familiar steps, and the door
to the key which all, these
months had lain in my pocket.
1 drew slightly aside the portiere
which hung before the parlor door,
and, myself unseen, gazed into the
room.
"But, my dear young lady, this
surely very unwise, to say the least
Git was the voice of the lawyer, in
whose hands I had left my willy, "to
refuse such a nice little property like
that for a chimera! All lovers have
their quarrels, no doubt, but"
II will not touch a penny of it,
low but steadily sounded my darling's
voice.
I could not see her.
"He promised to spend this Christ
Eve with me-" she added, dream
lily, with something like a sob. The
lawyer took Il turn up and down the
room ere he replied: