The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-12

{ gave me an odd feeling
J so you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsiel It's
5 a long time since you and 1 were as much
S alone together as we are now: nothing but
) the boat that holds Us two on all that
t world o. water! Eli, but it's fine to have
' you all to myself like this"
Are you madn' exclaim I'd nv thoughts
, taking words all unconsciously
Edam laughed again, that horrible, cruel
laugh which had no mirth in it.
2 May be. Sometimes think lam nv
| self, but if am, it's for love o. YOU"
His eyes were SO bright and so wild
/, could not bear to look at them, and his
hand, as he took hold of mine, burned with
: fever.
} For mercy's sake, Edam. take care! If
} We don't mind we'll be both in the water"
AM what o. that. At any rate we'll
drown together, and you'll never belong to
another man"
clasped my hands in agony of terror.
what a fool had been not to have
guessed what might happen. l thought of
the poor BARNS at home waiting for me
now to give them their suppers. and hear
their prayers, and tuck them up in their
Deus and the tears rolled down nv cheeks
at the thought Of how long they might have
to wait.
80 Edam, didn't think We could be so
cruel" l said between my sObS But even
the tears failed TO move him.
You have been cruel enough to me-it's
he altered the sail.
By this time the lurid CLEAN had almost
DIED out from the sky, and all was dark
around Us. The wind was blowing strongly
and hurting the mass of clouds across the
| heavens at head-long speed, and tearing at
| the water until the air and the waves
mingled in one wild fray. How our little
boat lived at all in such a storm is more
| than can understand. In the hands of a
less experienced boatman we should have
| been lost in no time
DO have pity on me and the poor little
! ones that have only me to look to. Edam
dear Edamr'
"Ay, it's dear Edam now you're in my
| power, but how long would it last if let
you win safe to land! Elsie, if you say
you'll be my wife I'll make for the shore
this minute-if not"
What then!' faltered.
! IN run US straight on to the RIBS o.
Death, and there'll be an end on'tr'
What was to do! l tried to be false to
| Willie for the sake of dear life. but is was
no use l couldn't get out the words which
would make me so! II must die | must
and there was no help for it; but, Oh! it
was hard, while the young blood flowed
quick and warm in my veins, to b. plunged
headlong into eternity.
l gave one loud, deSpairing cry
%. Willie, Willie! can you not hear me.
II you were only by know you could save
me. It's for your sake die, Willie: but
love you SO, love you ~
Then die, Elsie, for We shall pever be his
wifer
sank down in the bottom of the boat
and closed my eyes. l could not look at
my death, though l knew now it must |
come. A dull stupor crept over me- and |
the agony of fear which held me before !
was gone. Was it my disordered imagine |
ton which made ne think something Lad |
happened which sounds perfectly incredi- |
BILE! 1t was getting too dark to distinguish |
plainly, but, surely, that was Edam Carr's |
big form saw at the other end of the boat |
stopping over coil OF rope. Then who |
was the man busted with the sail in the |
center of it! We were shut off from all |
human help there in the midst of bowling
tempest, and yet some one had managed |
to come on board, and evidently to give us
his assistance. No other vessel could pos
sibly have approached us while nv ewes
were shut certainly Tot without my hear
ing it. Where, then. had this stranger
come from! All these thoughts flashed
through my mind but at the time l
was too stupefied to wonder much. NV
faculties seemed dulled, and l could neither
suffer nor fear am more. l simply
waited for the end. could see dimly the
sharp ridge of rocks wy 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 a
sudden oath he started up and crept for
ward.
When he got to the figure standing with
its back toward him, / saw him raise his
arm to thrust it aside. Then slowly, slow
ly it turned and looked him straight in the
face.
He cried out wildly: "God help me, for
I'm mad now, anyway - and, throwing I'D
his arms no laanaH ri int 10 |
Seethiug waves.
watched him strike out when he rose
but l was too paralyzed to scream, even.
He had not chance in that terrible sea-
but was thrown like bit of floating weed
upon the very rocks he Ind been steering
for, chung 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 a dream! did not know even G
then, nor did l feel afraid, but as those :
eyes met mine thrill ran through me,
and l sank into inconsistencies. Late {
that night, when some of the men went |
down to see that their boats were secure
they found Edam Carr'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 c
misery to me. l could never answer ques-
JlOuS, HOT give any account JlaC Qr0lI-
full evening, save that Edam Carr had gonz :
mad and jumped overheard, and had been $
dashed against the ribs of Death" and r
that tainted when this happened and &
knew no more. But, then, how had the 4
boat been brought into port! they asked.
My story was proved true by poor Edam's h
body being washed ashore two days after. \
For long the people looked at me strangely.
Their superstition made them regard lue "
low as an ''uncanny' and shun me as
they could not account for Be-
ideS, instead of the sea claiming its victim 7,
saved from it! Ioften wonder 8
did not go mad myself during that dPeary G
lime. For l settled in my own mind :,
learly enough how it was. should never !:
zee my bonnie sweetheart more; had not y
doubt that he was dead and that my cry
or help had brought him in the spirit to q
nv assistance. For awhile l nursed my :
ullen GRIFFIN silence; but at last Miss Ash
ord's kindsess broke down the barrier, a.
nd told her every thing. Only for that q
elieved that spoke the truth l should
ave lost my senses or my life, for the
ecret Gas killing me.
Truly there are strange mysteries we -
an not hope to be revealed in this life, Il
be said sOlemnly. Hast thou, which 81
flictionsr would try not to think too b
luch about it, Elsie; and don't give way 3
D despair, above all Think how the little N,
mes need you.n oil
It was all very well to talk, and did try re
onestly; but couldn't help thinking of oi
" boy during the long, dreary winter O.
lights. after the children had gone to bed, f.
nd | was left alone by the glimmering q
relight. Then the tears would come, and, as
b , it felt so lonely and life so sad wanting 81
i'm. was sitting thus one night, leaning o.
~ cheek upon my hand, and the stocking I
was knitting for one of the BARNS had A
allen upon the floor while gazed into the i o,
ying embers. How long sat know not. III
cY,ll r. he l. foll \