News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-29

SlDle nave approached US while my eyes
were shut, certainly not without my
hearing It, Where, then, had this
stranger come from :
All these thoughts flashed through my
mind, but at the time W too stupe-
fed to wonder much. My faculties
seemed dulled, and could neither suf-
fer nor fear any more. simply waited
for the end. I could see dimly the sharp
ridge of rocks we were nearing, and
from which nothing short of a miracle
now could keep us.
But this miracle did take place. All
at once our course changed and the boat
turned from its dangerous way. Then,
and not till then, did Edam seem to
awaken to the knowledge that he was
no longer managing affairs. With
sudden oath he. started up and crept
forward.
When he got to the figure standing
with its back toward him / saw him
raise his arm to thrust It aside. Then
slowly, slowly, II ternzs>and looked HIM
straight in the f2ce.
He cried out 5sdly, "God help me,
for I'm mad now, anyway" and, throw
ing up his arms, he leaped overheard in
to the seething waves.
watched HIM strike out when he
rose, but was too paralyzed to scream
even. He had not a chance in that ter.
r1ble sea. but was thrown like bit of
floating weed upon the very rocks he
had been steering for, clung there a
moment, only to be swept back by the
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 thrill ran through me, and I sank
into unconsClousness. Late that night,
when some of the men went down to
see that their boats were secure, they
found Edam Car's new boat safely
drawn up on the beach and me lying in
it in a dead faint.
After that came time of dull, stupid
misery to me. I could never answer
questions, nor give any account of that
dreadful evening, save that Edam Carr
had gone mad and jumped overheard,
and had been dashed against the cribs
of Death" and that l tainted when
this happened and knew no more. But,
then, how had the boat been brought
into port? they asked. My story was
proved true by poor Edam's body being
washed ashore two days after. For long
the people looked at me strangely.
Their superstition made them regard
me now as ''uncanny," and shun me as
something they could not account for.
Besides, instead of the sea claiming its
victim, as they expected it to do, | had
been miraculously saved from it!
often wonder did not go mad my
self during that dreary time.
For | settled in my own mind clearly
enough how it was. / should never see
my bonnie sweetheart more. Ihad not
a doubt that he was dead, and that my
cry for help had brought him in the
spirit to my assistance. For a while
nursed my sullen grief in silence; but
at last Miss Ashford's kindness broke
down the barrier and / told her every
thing. Only for that, and because she
did not laugh at me, but believed that
| spoke the truth, should have lost
my senses or my life, for the secret was
killing me.
we cannot hope to be revealed in this
life" she said solemnly. "'Hast
thou, which art but air, touch, feel
ing of their af11ictionsp I would try
not to think too much about it, Elsie
and don't give way to despair, above
all. Think how the little ones need
you"
1t was all very well to talk, and I did
try honestly; but couldn't help think
ing of my boy during the long, dreary
winter nights, after the children had
gone to bed, and was left alone by the
glimmering freight. Then the tears
would come, and, oh! it felt so lonely,
and life so sad wanting him.
was sitting thus one night, leaning
my cheek upon my hand, and the stock
ing l was knitting for one of the BARNS
had fallen upon the floor, while gazed
into the dying embers. How long | sal
know not, but suddenly the Goals fell
together and fared up into blaze, and
there, on the other side of the hearth,
stood Willie, my Willie, laughing dowr
at me.
| screamed and covered my eyes.
dared not look at what seemed confirma
tion of my worst fears but in moment
warm, living arms were round my neck
and l was clasped to a strongly beating
heart.
"Why, what ails thee, sweetheart
One would say you seen a ghostn'
I did not tell him then that l hac
taken him for one. The tears wer'
changed into tears of JOY at once, anC
the world seemed bright and gay, nov
Willie was safe at hOmei
When l did tell him at last what hat
caused me so much misery he onl.
laughed, and said I must have let m
: imagination run away with me. But h
acknowledged to having had troubled
dream, in which l called on him TO
help, though he always declares he can
not remember anything more about 1T.
l never look at the cribs of Death
without shudder and a sigh for poo
Edam's terrible death, and nothing wi
!, persuade me that l was not saved fror
sharing his fate by supernatural assist
: ance. But do not insist upon it wit
Willie, for he does not like me to tai
about it. He wants my life to be sunni
and full of hope and joy and love, an
! does his best to make it so now that
: am his wife-Be{QrdUiG.