The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-25


went round. looked again and again.
Either 1 was mad. or dreaming, or the face
L gazed upon was that of the love of my boy
hood-NIadeline Graham
| CHAPTER XIII.
| MADELINE GRAHAM
Yes; l knew her in a moment
The lurid light of the tempestuous morn
| ing shone full upon her face, and the cling
| ing dress and cloak, which more expressed
| than hid her lovely form. Her eyes were
| wildly fixed, her face pale as death; but in
her features there was splendid self-pos-
session far removed from common fear.
Though so many years had passed since
| we had last met she was still the same; only
taller and more womanly, and even more
| strangely beautiful than when she had first
| shed love and rapture on my boysh heart.
| She was fastened to the mast by a rope.
| Her feet were bare, and saw, to my horror,
| that all she wore save the great fur cloak
was night-dress of white cotton, reaching
| to her feet. Her hair fell over her shoulders
in loose and dripping folds, descending al
most to her waist. N-Peering more closely.
perceived that her Nlips were blue, and her
form shivering with cold: indeed, it was a
miracle that she had not perished in the chill
of that cruel night.
From that moment | saw nothing but that
one figure; all Others were blurred and prac-
tically unseen. In my wild amazement and
eagerness to reach her, could have sprung
into the tossing waves.
The vessel lay sidelong, her decks turned
toward the shore; and fierce billows, strik-
| ing her seaward sides, broke with thunder
Gus roar and cloud of spray, and then came
surging down the slippery decks in thin
sheet of foam, boiling round -.e naked feet
of the solitary maiden.
We hung off for minute. TO let one great
sea go by: then we swept alongside. What
followed was more like dream than wax
ing reality. But with an eager cry leaped
upon the deck, and staggered up toward
Madeline Graham.
Twice / slipped to my knees, and was
driven back and bruised against the bull
warks; but the third time / succeeded, and
reaching her side, chung to the mast, anti
gazed into her face.
''Madelinep' | cried.
Her eyes met mine, but she gave no sign
of recognition. 1t was clear that what re-
| membered SO viyidly she had utterly forgot
| ten.
| Drawing my clasp-knife, | cut her free.
and put my arms around her to bear her
back to the boa. The decks rocked and
terror. Then | watched my chance, and,
raising her bodily in my arms, carried her to
| the vessels side, and handed her to the men.
was about to follow her, when l was at
| tracted by wild scream, and, turning, l per-
| ceived the figure of another woman crawl
| ins on the deck, close to the eompanionway.
| She was dark-complexioned, like mulatto,
and almost naked. Without a moments heslta-
| ton, ran to her, and half lifted half drag
ged her to the vessels side.
now perceived that we had saved. in adj
| dition to the two women, two white seamen
and black man, who afterward turned out
| to be the ships cook. | clung to the bull
| warks, and looked round, searching for any
| other signs of life.
Come, lad, comer' cried my uncle
| Quick the ships breaking upF'
l looked at the strange sailors who sat
shivering in the bottom of the Iife-boat.
'.Are there no more souls aboard?' cried.
Not one,' they answered. All the rest
| had perished in the long-boat, in the fatal at
| tempt to reach the shore.
| There was not moment to be lost The
vessel was evidently doomed, and every
shock of the sea threatened to complete the
| work of destruction. The black funnel, al
most wrenched out of the bursting decks,
was leaning over terribly, and threatening
| every tHoHitilL III CRASH uONH DouB4 anu uc-
stroy tie Iife-boat.
| leapt in, and scrambled to my place in
| the stern. On the seat close by me was Made
| line. her eyes half closed. her neck resting
| on the gunwale; and at her feet was the
colored woman, moaning and crying.
1t was but the work of moment to strip
| off my pilot-coat and wrap it round Made
! lines half-naked limbs: but while l did so
the men cried impatently and pushed off.
| Give way, ladsw | cried. Now, Pull
| for your livesr'
| Away we went through the surging sea.
| Net minute too soon did we leave the yes
| sci; for ere we were thirty yards away the
| decks were rent asunder, and the huge fun
| mel toppled over and fell like battering ram
| upon the bulwarks, which broke like tinder
| beneath the blow.
| With wind and sea to urge US on, we few
shoreward. and the strength of the oarsmen
was needed rather to break than to increase
| our lightning speed. Again and again the
| great seas rose behind and threatened to in
gulf us; while gripping the steering oar
/ watched them, and guided the brave boat
At last we approached the shore. and saw
| great crowd waiting upon the shingie and
swarming upon the elf. Tossing like
| cork upon the waters, we waited our chance,
1 and then, after one huge wave had spent IL
self. and there was momentary surcease OF
| the waters power. headed the boats bow
| for the creek. and we rowed In.
As the keel struck the sands. dozen men
rushed in waistdeep to seize the boat; our
men Joined them, and then, with long pull,
and great ringing cheer, the boat was haul
ed high and dry. and we were safe
Ny first thought was of Madeline. / lifted
| her out in my strong arms, and carried her
fyaf< f5,ae hatf af he hraaf Heyf
and hands were cold as ice, and she was still
swooning. 1 called out for brandy: and,
thank God. man handed me full flask.
Supporting her head upon my shoulder.
moistened her lips with the raw spirit, and
once more, in my wild anxiety, breathed
her name.
Once more she opened her eyes and look
ed upon me: still there was no sign what
ever of recognition.
She looked wildly round heF. saw the rough
but kindly faces on every side. and muir
INJURED:
Where am I? Who calls mey'
You are quite safe / cried: safe, and
1 among friends
i Again she looked up into my face, as il
stupeted. held the flask to her lips. and
she seemed to swallow a little; then a shud-
der ran through her frame and she released
herself from my hold.
1 placed her on one OF the wooden seats,
4 and bent over her fenderiy watching her.
Gradually saw the color come back to her
checks. but very family.
.,Anitar' she marmnFea, and looked round
as If seeking some one.
The rough fellows, clustering in the boat
house, murmured ymnathizingIy; whispered
encomiums on her beauty passed from mouth
to mouth. And indee she looked strangely
=