The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-08-05

He had not chance IN that terrible sea,
but was thrown like bit of floating
weed upon the very rocks he had been
steering for, chung there a moment, only
to be swept back by return of the
waves. saw this in the last lurid streak
of light which flashed across the water,
before the night came, and in it were
shown at last the features of my strange
companion. Was it all dream? did
not know even then, nor did / feel
afraid, but as those eyes met mine a
thrill ran through me, and sank into
unconsciousness. Late that night, when
some of the men went down to see that
their boats were secure, they found Adam
Carr's new boat safely drawn up on the
beach, and me lying in il in a dead
faint.
After that came time of dull, stupid
misery to me. could never answer
questions, nor give any account of that
dreadful evening, save that Adam Carr
had gone mad and jumped overheard,
and had been dashed against the ribs
of Death, =" and that tainted when this
happened and knew no more. But then,
how had the boat been brought into
port they asked? Ny story was proved
true by poor Adams body being washed
ashore. two days after. For long the
people looked at me strangely. Their
superstition made them regard me as
"uncanny," and shun me as something
they could not account for. Besides; in
stead of the sea claiming its victim, as
they expected it to do, I had been mirac-
ulously saved from it.
1 often wonder did not 90 mad my
self during that dreary time.
For l settled in my own mind clearly
enough how it was. l should never see
my bonnie sweetheart more. had not
a doubt that he was dead, and that my
cry for help had brought him in the
spirit to my assistance. For awhile l
nursed my sullen grief in silence; but at
last Miss Ashford's kindness broke down
the barrier, and / told her everything.
Only for that, and because she did not
laugh at me, and believed that | spoke
the truth i should have lost my senses or
my life, for the secret was killing me.
Truly there are strange mysteries we
can not hope to be revealed III this life,
she said solemnly. Hast thou, which art
but air, touch, a feeling, of their afflic-
tions?" 1 would try not to think too
much about it Elsie; and don't give way
to despair, above all. Think how the lit
tie ones need you"
1t was all very well to talk, and did
try honestly; but 1 couldn't help think
ing of my boy during the long, dreary
winter nights, after the children had
gone to bed, and l was left alone by the
glirnmering freight. Then the tears
would come, and, oh! it felt so lonely,
and life so sad wanting him.
1 was sitting thus one night, leaning
my cheek upon my hand, and the
stocking l was knitting for one of the
BARNS lad fallen upon the floor, while
gazed into the dying embers. How long
1 sat know not, but suddenly the Goals
fell together and flared up into a blaze,
and there, on the other side of the
hearth, stood Willie, my Willie, laugh
ing down at me.
I screamed and covered my eyes. 1
dared not look at what seemed cOnfirma-
ton of my worst fears; but in a moment
warm, living arms were round my neck,
and was clasped to strongly beating
heart.
what, what ails thee, sweetheart?
One would say you'd seen ghost!"
1 did not tell him then that had taken
him for one. The tears were turned into
tears of joy at once, and the world
seemed bright and gay now Willie was
safe at home.
When did tell him at last what had
caused me so much misery, he only
laughed and said, 1 must have let my
imagination run away with me. But he
to having had troubled
dream in which 1 called on him for help;
though he always declares he can not re-
member anything more about it.
never look at the ribs of Death"
without shudder and a sigh for poor
Edam's terrible death, and nothing will
persuade me that was not saved from
sharing his fate by supernatural assist
ance But do not insist upon it with
Willie, for he does not like me to talk
about it. He wants my life to be sunny,
and full of hope and joy and love, and
does his best to make it so, now that l
am his wife.-Lillias Wassermann in