The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-10-03
THE WASHINGTON CRITIC SATURDAY EVENING OCTOBER g. 1885

merely to keep the boat out Of the
trough of the sea, as the wind would
carry us obliqucly to the shores.
Against both wind and tide we could
not hope to reach the lighthouse, so
we driftCd.
The flames had now spread to every
portion of the ship behind us and the
lightning was sweeping off TO the hori.
Zon in great bands of purple light In
one place the breakers seemed to ride
in unbrokcn, and this point we APP
preached cautiously. 1t was cove
and soon we were borne into q little
bay whose waters were comparatively
calm. There was nothing to do but TO
wait for daylight, which was fast APP
preaching.
Half an hour later there was light
enough TO find an opening from the
cove, and soon we were all on the
beach with our hearts full of thanks
all except the young American, who,
without a word, started toward the
sea. The captain tapped his forehead
significantly as ! made a movement to
follow him, and said. Gle needs u
friend to watch him The lighthouse
isnot far away. Wen come back for
you
The gray lights of morning were Just
stealing upon the ocean, which was
kissing and throbbing like some great
monster in AN agony of pain. The
sands grew whittier and whittier i'm the
morning twilight, and ON he went
ahead of me SO swiftly that | could
scarcely keep from falling far in the
rear How ptied him, with his pale,
haggard face, his staring eyes. and his
hair flying in the wind. OCcasionly a
sob would burst from his lips, and he
would turn like mailman and shake
his ClcnchCd fist at the sea, which
curlcd mockingly at his feet. sud.
denly he dOrted forward and ran like a
deer. Ahead of him ] could see some
white object lying on the sand Then
! saw him stOop, as if throwing some
thing aside, and when | reached the
spot he was on his knees in the sand
kissing the beautiful hair and the
sweet face, which some cruel spar had
battered beyond recognition, and the
slender white hand, with the ring and
its curious stonc-thc same ring which
he had given her but few hours be-
fore. When he saw that he threw
himself face downward in the sand.
While he lay there took away the
seaweed which had caught in her hair,
and spread the torn drapcry about the
poor bruised limbs Then sat down
and he lay there quite STILL with his
whole frame occasionally shaking with
sobs. | knew It was useless to try to
comfort him, so waited.
Within an hour the coastmen came
and tendcrly bore her away. Him |
led along like child He said moth
ing at all, and just as we reached the
light house he dropped senscless to the
earth.
All day and night he was lost in un-
consciousness. The next evening, at
the close of the day, he came to him
self. The sea lay very calm under the
red sun-rays, and upon it his opening
eyes first fell, He turned with a
shudder. This time they fell upon a
sweet face which was bending tenderly
over him-the same sweet face which
had glowed with love in the moon
light on that dreadful night of the
storm.
He started nervously, like one wax
ing from dream; the blood surged to
his face, aud he stared at her flXcdly
who are you?' he broke out
wildly. care you-an angelo"
Don't you know me-" she asked,
gently. lie claspcd his hands on his
forehead as if trying to rccolect.
"But--the ring-thc ring-you were
drowned 2"
She held the ring near his eyes, and
bending her head low, she said, softly:
1T was poor Marie"
Then she whispered that she had
taken the ring off in her cabin that
night, and that the poor maid must
have picked it up in a moment of idle
curiosity.
a smile broke over his face, and he
placed both arms around her tcndcrly,
She laid her face close beside his,
and together they watched the quiet
sea mirror the changing tints of the
sunset