Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

idCc. leo shore was Tess IMAM nall a
mile distant, but la that short space |
was more than once on the poiat OF
giving over my efforts.
Bat was laboring for life far
more dearer than my own, and |
struggled on. At length, faint and
gasping, | was drawn, with my pre-
cious burden, out of the seething bil>
lows upon the land Waiting only
long enough to regain my breath,
plunged INTO the water again and
swan back 10 the wreck.
When | reached il again only q
small portion OF it was left. Clingiae
to broken timber, Ia stolId despair. /
found Clarenne Bell.
81 did not believe you would re.
turn, said he, looking at me IN bag,
gard amsz sment. Are you more than
a man that you should risk your life
for one that has injured you as
have2"
This is my revenge" l replied.
Good for evil; life for worse than
death"
He utteIed a groan and covered his
face with his hands.
The renewed struggle was indeed a
hopeless one. Wearied by my pre-
vious efforts, with heavier and quite
as helpless burden to support, | be-
lieved from the start that we wer:
doomed.
For more than half an hour labor.
ed desperately on. till | could scarce,
ly move my cramped limbs. Ny eyes
were blinded with blood and my breath
came in groans. Finally | felt my
senses leaving me.
# can do no more" [ gasped; -
am sinking"
Ny arms relaxed and I foated helps
less at the mercy of the waves.
you are dying for me- he moan>
ed; land 10 God Claud, for
give"-
A swell passed over his head and he
disappeared. The next instant
became unconscious.
An age seemed to have elapsed
when l became vaguely aware of a
sense of great paia and the sound of
a woman's voice in prayer.
so Father in heaven, spare him to
me" it said spare him that he may
at length forgive me for my sin and
take me back to that noble heart
which betrayed"
Lois" murmured, stretching out
my hand feebly towards her.
He lives" she cried, falling upon
her knees beside the bed and covering
my hand with kisses. "Oh, it is more
than ] deserved"
"Hushl / said gently; don't
speak of that now. Tell nae Of Clar-
ence."
"He still lives" she ans were d,
averting her face; "but it is SAID that
he was MORALLY injured by piece
Of wreck and will die He has asked
to see you"
He was lying in the next room,
Of his approaching fate, de-
string only 10 see me before ne died.
On the following morning l was
able to get to his bedside. Battered,
dying, with the last yestige of his
once wonderful beauty gone, he was
luuetu a bOffOWlul SlgBJ.
They tell me that my time is up"
lie said, feebly, trying to smile; land
am heartily glad of it. In some
measure it squares accounts between
US. You can forgive me now, can
you no, old friend20
Fully and freely, before heaven"
| replied. solemnly.
You used TO say no woman could
resist me-" he continued, with a mo-
flash OF his old, hooking
manner. II tempted, deluded, fas-
cinated her; but under all she was
true to you, During our journey on
the steamer she came to her senses.
She loathed me and did not disguise
it. She would never have married
me, and what would have been the Sc.
quel cannot guess, but for the provi-
Dental storm that killed me and res
stored her to you unframed, Forgive
her, Claud. She loves you, and has
never ceased TO love you
II have forgiven her. | said, as
entirely as have forgiven you.
With a faint smile, in which there
liuHCIe0 SOlnClItbS vi tIC SoJf N0AS
less friend l had known and loved so
long, he closed his eyes, and so | left
him.
His death drew the last bitter sting
from my heart, but it was months be-
fore the memory of that sad time fad
ed te a plaintive dream. Even then,
with my love strengthened and my
faith renewed, it was long before the
OF happiness was again open>
cd to me.
The folly l had pardoned, Lois could
not forgive in herself. She was not
worthy of such love as mine, she said.
1t was fitting she shoHld pass the rest
Of her life inthe penance Of self. denial
and regret.
But we were both young, and love
conquered with her as it had with me
as ia all true hearts; though tears and
fire, sorrow and shame, it reaches
that UNION which is foretase of
heaven,
Loss Upon Loss.
New York Sun.