Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-28

must mo must, ana JncTe was no noip
for II, but, oh 1t was hard, while the
young blood flowed quick and warm in
my veins, to be plunged headlong into
gave one loud despairing CRY.
@Oh, Willie, Willie can you not hear
me, my sweetheart, my dar1ingi II you
were only by l know you could save me-
It's for your sake die, Willie; but love
you so, love you 80 !"
Then die, Elsie, for ye shall never be
his wifel"
sank down IN the bottom OF the boat
and closed my eyes. could not look at
my death, though knew now 1t must
come. A duh stupor crept over me, and
the agony Of fear which held me before
was gone. Was 1t my disordered imag-
nation which made me think something
had happened which sounds perfectly
incredibleS
1t was getting too dark TO distinguish
plainly, but, surely, that was Edam
Cars big form saw at the other end
of the boat STOPPING over coil of roper
Then, who was the man busted with
the sail In the center of it2
We We're shut off from all human help
there in the midst Of q bowling tempest,
and yet some one had managed to come
ON board, and evidently TO give US assist
anoa No other vessel could possibly
have approached US while my eyes were
shut, certainly not without my hearing
It Where then had this stranger come
from?
All these thought flashed through my
mind, but at the time was too stupe-
fed 10 wonder much. My faculties
seemed dulled, and could neither suf-
fer nor fear any more. simply waited
for the end. could see dimly the sharp
ridge Of rocks we were nearing, and
from which nothing short of mirscli,
now oould keep us
But this miracle did take place. All
OF once our course changed and the boat
turned from Ms dangerous way. Then.
and not till then, did Edam seem TO
awaken TO the knowledge that he was
no longer managing affairs. With a
sudden oath he started up and crept for
ward.
When be got to the figure standing
with its back toward him, i saw him
raise bis arm to thrust 1t aside. Then
slowly, slowly 1t turned and looked him
straight In the face.
He cried out wildly, God help me.
for I'm mad now, anyway" and, throw
ing up his arrns, he leap4 overheard into
tho seething waves.
watched him strike out when herose,
rat was too paraly0ed TO scream even.
He he'd not a chance in that terrible sea,
but was thrown like hit Of floating
weed upon the very rocks he had been
steering for, csung there q 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 1t were
shown at hast the features of my strange
companion. Was it ell dream? ! did
not know even then, nor did ] feel
afraid, but as those eyes met mine Q
thrill ran through me, and ! sank into
Inconsistencies Late that night, when
some OF the men went down TO see thai
their boats were secure, they found Adam
Cars new boat safely arawn up on the
beach, and me lying tn it In q deat
faint.
After thai came time of dull, stupid
misery to me. 1 could never answer
questions, nor give any aeeoant of thai
dreadful evening, save that Adam Carr
he'd gone mad and jumped overheard
and had been dashed against the ARibi
of Death, and that tainted when thi
happened and knew no NOSE. But then
how had the boat been brought int
port, they askea2 My story was proved
true by poor AdarAs body being WASHED
ashore two days after. For long thu
people looked at me strangely. Thei
superstition made them regard me a
"uncanny,n and shun noe Is somethinl
they could not account for. Besides; in
stead Of the sea claiming It's victim, a
they expected it 10 do, had been miruc
ulously saved from 10!
often wonder l did not 90 mad my
self during that dreaxy time.
For settled In my own mind cieari
enough how II was. should never Sc
my bonnie sweetheart more. had no
doubt that he was dead, and that m,
cry for help had brought him in tn
spirit to my assistance. For awhile
nursed my srlllen grief In silence; but a
last Miss Ashford's kindness broke dow
the barrier, and told her everything
Only for that, and because she did nc
laugh at ms, and believed that / spok
the truth, should have lost my senses 0
my life, for the secret was killing me.
Truly there are strange mysteries w
can not hope 10 be revealed in this life,
she Said solemnly. 4Hast thou, which az
but air, touch, feeling, Of their afflic
tionsi" / would try not to think to
much about it Elsie; and don't give wa
to despair, above all. Think how the lii
tie ones need you"
1t was all very well to talk, and di
try honestly; but l couldn't help think
ing Of my boy during the long, drear
winter nights, after the children ha
gone to bed, and was left alone by til
glimmering freight. Then the tear
would come, and. OIL 1t felt SO lonely
and life so sad wsating him.
was sitting thns ona NIGHT laan;p