The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-30

vere headache, rretifsd early to her state
room. but, finding the air below very c!ose,
abe returned to the deck. Seeking her nus
hand and Inez she drew near the wheel
house. Suddenly she paused and stood as
if turned to stone. In the shadow OF tne
wheelhouse were her husband and lnez.
Inez's golden head lay upon his breast and
there was a fond ring to Mare tones that
Estelle had never heard before as he uttered
the words: car,
sFor Gods sake stop crying, little one:
You will drive me mad. You know thai J
love YOU as | never loved Estelle, but was
forced to marry her. II l had been rich,
then | could have pleased myself, but as IL
was, it would have been simply folly"
No CRY escaped the lips OF the woman
whose loving heart had been crushed by
these words OF her husband, only AZ she
blindly CROPPED her way back to the cabln
the thought, "He never loved me; 1T was
only nv money" seemed to stab itself INTO
her heart.
Fighting with her despair, this stricken
woman cried out, unselfish even In her
agony:
"Marc! Marc! my husbanG!! | would
make you happy if l could:' :,
They were nearing their Quincy eho anu
Marc had perceived no difference in his
wife, His thoughts were elsewhere. Had
they not been, he would have seen how pale
and thin she had grown, and that never OF
her own accord did her lips caress him.
Then came the night when they were
startled from their sleep by the cry OF
danger. ~
Women sirieked and clasped their little
ones to their breasts, while men, whlte TO
the lips, hurried on deck to be driven BACK
by the wild fierceness Of the storm. Waves
ri I,,J1al themselves
against the ship, under which she staggered
and reelcd and righted herself again, only
to be struck down anew.
Valiantly the good boat fought her fight
against the deep. Mast after mast was
torn away, till she lay bare, trembling like
a wounded human, at the mercy oil the
angry waters. She mad sprung a leak. All
night the men worked at the pumps, cheered
by their brave captain, who told them
they must be close to the Dover cliffs, and
they might yet all reach the shore in safety.
Inez chung trembling to Marc, while Is
| telle, calm and collected, moved abont
amongst the women, helping with a ready
hand.
Little children grew quiet at her touch,
and mothers ceased to bewail their fate.
Marc never forgot the pale grandeur OF
his wiie's face us she passed to and 1rO
amongst all the confusion.
Toward dawn the storm abated some
what, but Il dense fog %enveloped them like
a shroud.
At last the order was given to man the
life-boats. Sobbing women and frightened
children were quickly lifted over the ships
side; while warm-hearted sailors a
| them cheer up, for land was close at hand.
As they lowered the last boat, Estelle,
| LAYING her hand upon her husbands arm,
said:
Marc, if anything should happen to me,
want you to believe that my greatest wish
vas for your happiness. You once said,
that perhaps some day you would put my
love to the test. You wonderedif it would
fail you. 1t shall not fail you. Marc, my
husband, kiss me just once as-as if you
loved me-"
..Estelle! my wife, l." and Mare clasped
his wife to his heart with something OF the
love that should nave been hers from the
first. For a moment she chung to him
then gently withdrawing herself from his
arms, she said:
"See, Inez is faint. Take care OF her,
am ~strong-now. l can see to myself
The little crowd pressed eagerly forward,
and were rapidly lowered to their places
The captain a the last to quit the ship.
| With one last look round to see that none
were left he drew his hand quickly across
his eyes TO uaSh away Cne tears CnaL WOuIu
come at the thought OF the late OF the good
ship that had carried him in safety fol
many a year. Then, dropping into the
boat, he gave the word tc pull off.
In the darkness and hurry none had
missed the gentle woman II had com
forted them all in their hour OF need. Els.
telle's husband, to do him justice, believed
her safe in the BOAT with them all; but in.
stead, she stood alone upon the deck OF the
now fast sinking ship, her eyes trying ia
pierce the darkness that hid the man she
loved better thar her life from her sight.
Alone, no not quite. Something touched
her hand. 1t was Carlo, her husbands
great Newfoundland dog. Patting him, she
pointed to the water and a him 60, but
he only whined and licked her hand. Their
Estelle knelt down upon the deck, and will
her head resting upon For faithful friend't
shaggy coat, awaited he fate.
Almost at the same moment as the last
life boat was drawn up on the beach by
eager, willing hands, the great ship, with
one heaving toss, went dow into the
mighty deep, and Marc Darcy learned toe
late the value OF a true woman's love.