The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-03

throwing up his arms, he leaped over
board into the seething waves.
watched him strike out when he
rose, but Twas too paralyzed to scream
even. He had not chance in that
terrible sea, but was thrown like q bit
OF floating weed upon the very rocks
he had been steering for, clung there
for 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 com
panion. Was it all a dream? I 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 Edam Carr's new uoat safely
drawn up on the beach and me lying
in it in dead faint.
After that came a time OF dull, stu
pid misery to me. l could never an
swer 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
| 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 some
thing they could not account for. Be
sides, instead OF the sea claiming its
victim, as they expected it to do, Ihad
been miraculously saved from it.
often wonder did not 60 mad my
self during that dreary time.
For settled in my own mind clear
ly 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 5
kindness broke down the barrier and
told her everything. Only for that
and because she did not laugh at me,
but believed that spoke the truth, l
should have lost my senses or my life,
for the secret was killing me.
'"Truly there are strange mysteries
we cannot hope to be revealed in this
life, she said solelnnly. "Hast thou,
which art but air, a touch, a feeling OF
their affections? | would try not to
thi,,1y tor, ,,,,,o1, bo,,t JrI,;1.
don't give way to despair, above all.
Think how the little ones need YOU"
1t was all very well 20 talk, and
did try honestly; but | couldn't help
thinking OF my boy during the long
dreary Winter nights, after the chill
dren had gone to bed, and / was LETT
alone by the glimmering freight.
Then the tears would come, and, OH
it felt so lonely, and life so sad want
ing him.
/ was sitting thus one night, leaning
my cheek upon my hand, and the
stocking was knitting for one of the
BARNS had fallen upon the floor, while
/ gazed into the dying embers. How
long sat l know not, but suddenly
the Goals fell together and fared up
ailo " DIttEe, anu bliele Oli Uile OlIleE
side OF the hearth, stood Willie, my
Willie, laughing down at me.
screamed and covered my eyes. |
dared not look at what seemed con-
iirmation OF my worst fears; but in a
moment warm, living arms were
round my neck, and | was clasped to
a strongly beating heart.
"Why, what ails thee, sweetheart"
One would say you'd seen a ghost,"
did net tell him then that | had
taken him for one. The tears were
changed into tears OF Joy at once, and
the world seemed bright and gay, now
Willie was safe at hcme!
When l did tell him at last
what had caused me so much
misery, he laughed, and said
l must have let my Imagination
run away with me- But he acknowl-
edged to having had a troubled dream
in which l called on him for help,
though he always declares he cannot
remember anythin. more about it.
never look at the cribs OF Death"
without shudder and a sigh forpoor
Edam's terrible death, and nothing
will persuade me that was not saved
from sharing his fate by supernatural
assistance. But 1 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,
Belgravia.