The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-12-12


knew Lesl e's character was sufficiently
strong to love mother and wife aud be
true TO both, and her love was so great she
could give him to another. When the
marriage bells were rung fer Leslie and
Beatrice they were not death-knells to her
happiness. She realized the law of COM
pensation, and the three were bound to-
gether with chains of deathless love.
True to the traditions of his family,
Leslie was admitted to the bar with honor.
A profound respect for his profession
filled his whole being, and he stood fore
most among the fearless advocates of his
State. Leslie's mind was as massive as
his form, and was richly furnished with
wit wisdom, logic and intellectual power;
but. great as he was in the forum, he was
greatest under his own roof. His home
life was beautiful as poem, his tireside
an altar, and he the centre and soul of the
domestic circle, and a more unaffected
and delightful companion could not be
imagined.
During the Summer of 1873, when yell
low fever blighted the South, death en-
tered the home and sorrow filled the heart
of Leslie Perry His two children died !:
his wife and mother were stricken with
the dreaded fever, and, although he was
physically shatter, by the deadly atmos
phere of disease, and his heart crushed, he
never wearied or fHltered, but through
heroic effort saved his loved ones. Dr.
Henry said the calm judg cent of that
stricken man was more effectual than
medicine in rescuing them from DEATH
After their affiiction they decided 10
spend year in the south of France in
search of health, and Leslie believed amid
new scenes and surroundings an exs1nc-
ton of memories would follow. In their
extended pilgrimage each helped the other
to forget After that radical change Bea-
trice became herself, beautiful and charm.
ing, and If her heart went back to her
sorrow her lips were dumb
The mother regained her health and was
more devoted than ever, and both mother
and wife were bound to Leslie with bonds
of steel.
Late in the Autumn of 1880 Leslie was
that he had been unanimously
nominated tor Congress, with every
chance in favor of election. Mrs Perry
was enthusiastic over the prospect, and
proud of the distinction shown her son,
and anxious her brilliant daughter should
return to society, where her social graces
gave her exalted pre-eminence.
Beatrice felt less pleasure; she was not
ardent in her aspirations for political hon
ors. She was clear as crystal, and could
not disguise her pronounced preference
for the luxurious comfort and elegance of
her plantation home, free from the tur-
moil and strife of the world. Her highest
was her husbands love. ANY
man under such magnetic influence as
,wo women exercised over Leslie would
nave found it hard to have decided be
sween the wishes of wife and desires of
mother, but true to his nature, actuated
0y duty, not impulse, he decided for him
self. 1t is true, there was contest be-
tween head and heart, between love and
ambition; but he weighed all the pros and
cons of the case in the fine balance of
ruth, aud one overbalanced the other.
From that decision there was no appeal.
One week after Leslie's decision the
Perrys were homeward bound. The
thought of home, and the pleasureable ex-
element of sea voyoge under the most
favorable conditions, made every mile
short.
AS the Alliance was nearing the rock
pound coast of Newfoundland, leaden
sky foretold an approaching storm, but
he sense at peril was not general, for
Land ho!' made all hearts glad. Soon
lfter hope was changed to fear. The
storm burst upon them with the velocity
# hurricane. The Captain met the gale
With courage; he was calm and self pos
essed; he assured the terrified passengers
he vessel was staunch and "would weather
he storm" but the terrible tact that dan
yer increased each hour made his words of |
iltle moment. Leslie Perry had intelli-
rent knowledge to guide his opinion, and |
lie foresaw imminent peril 10 their be-
logged condition amid the sunken rocks |
If that trsacherous coast.
Every man was on duty, ror sense of |
near danger filed each heart, and in that |
life and death struggle men became heroes |
md women brave as men.
All night long the storm ragged with UNI |
lbated violence; the ship was out of her |
course and the Captain was poweIless to |
right her. When the gray light of that
fatal morning dawned the Alliance was
practically wrecked The shaft was
broken, the engines had given out, the |
0ulwarks were swept away, every timber
was strained, every spar was snapped. |
The minute-guns sounded the wall OF dis. |
.ress over the waters in the vain hope of |
rescue, but the reverberating roar OF bat
cry of artillery would have sunk into ia
sificance before the crushing, warning ele-
nents.
Wave after wave broke over the strug-
Cling ship with relentless fury, then re-
coded for new effort. The fatal rocks were
before them. Straight on to destruction
rushed the doomed vessel. Leslie Perry
knew they were in the jaws of death.
They were beyond human skill; mortal
power could not save Them For mo-
nent he was dazed. He saw the watch
aft. He heard the fearful cry,
'Mercifu God, we are losti" He seemed
to the danger. Bit he threw of
he strange influence that had held him
spellbound when he saw his mother and
wife rushing up the companion-way.
A moment later the ship, rising on an
enormous roller, was nur.ed against
ledge with tremendous force.