The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-08-05

ing something over very deeply. fOl-
lowed the direction of his eyes, and did
not like the prospect. A CLEAN of sickly
yellow light lay low down to the water,
but above that were piled masses of
heavy gray clouds, without break save
in one place, where it was as though a
mighty hand had pushed them aside to
make a space for the tempest to break
through. All around this space was
hurry and confusion, while the rest of
the sky was sullen and quiet. Far out,
the sickly CLEAN ON the horizon was re-
peated on gray green sea; nearer, the
dark waves were beginning to show tops
of white.
did not like the prospect, nor did
like the notion of being out there on that
angry-lookiHg waste of waters at the
mercy of Edam Carr and his caprices.
Don't you think we should go back
now, Edam?" asked timidly; sit doesn't
look over well out yonder," and I pointed
to the far sea.
Leave that to me, Elsie, ma darlin' ~
He had no right to call me his darling,
but I was beginning to be very much
afraid, and so l said nothing about that
But all at once a rush, a whirl, and a
roar caused me to scream out, as a squat
struck our little craft and made it heel
over, wetting me to the skin at the same
time. AS a matter of fact, we fisher
Iassies are not at all brave upon the sea,
though it may be almost our native ele-
ment. There are very few Grace Darl-
ings amongst US. Indeed, we hardly
ever venture into a boat at all. So it is
not to be wondered at that my courage
should fail utterly when we began to ship
heavy seas.
"Oh, take me home, Edam, or know
Wen never win back at ALL"
But he took no notice, more than to
put things right and tight in skillful
way 1 could not but admire, however
angry began to feel towards him.
care you never going to turn, Edam
Carr ?" 1 broke out at last.
A suspicion which I had otter heard
breaUhed in the village came back to me
then, and trembled for our lives. They
said "Edam Carr was gettin' the same
queer look as his feythor had afore he
went out of his held and drowned his
self :" and remembering this and the few
words his mother had whispered, in
clined to think he was mad at times.
When L spoke he laughed out loud. 1t
was the first time had ever heard him
laugh, and it gave me an odd feeling.
$50 you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsie It's
n long time since you and were as much
alone together as we are now, nothing
but the boat that holds us two on all that
world O. water En-, but it's fine to have
you all to myself like this !"
Are you mad" exclaimed, my
thought taking words all unconsciously.
Edam laughed again, that horrible,
cruel laugh which had no mirth in it.
Maybe. Sometimes 1 think I am
myself, but if 1 am, it's for love O. you"
His eyes were SO bright and so wild 1
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 ye don mind we'll be both in the
water"
"An' what O that ? At any rate We'll
drown together, and yen never belong
to another man."
clasped my hands in an agony of
terror. Oh, what fool had been not
to have guessed what might happen l
thought of the poor BARNS at home wait
ing for me now to give them their sup
pers, and hear their prayers, and tuck
them up in their beds, and the tears
rolled down my checks at tie thought
of how long they might have to wait.
~Oh, Edam, 1 didn't think you could
be so cruel !" said between my sobs.
But even the tears failed to move him.
L. =.
it's my turn now !" he answered sullenly,
as he altered the sail.
By this time the lurid CLEAN had al
most died out from the sky, and all was
dark around us. The wind was blowing
strongly, and hurrying the masses of
clouds across the heavens at headlong
speed, and tearing at the water until the
air and the waves mingled in one wild
frey. How our little boat lived at all in
such storm is more than 1 can under
stand In the hands of a less expert
enced 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 Edam !"
"Ay, it is dear Edam now you're in my
power, but how long would it last if 1
let you win safe to land? Elsie, if you'll
say you'll be ma wife I'll make for shore
this minute-if not"
What then ?" 1 faltered.
"TH run us straight on to the Ribs O.
DEATH and therell be an end ont !"
What was to do? 1 tried to be
false to Willie for the sake of dear life;
but it was no use; couldn't get out the
words which would make me so! If /
must die 1 must, and there was no help
or it, but, oh it was hard, while the
7oung blood flowed quick and warm in
ny veins, to be plunged headlong into
eternity.
1 gave one loud despairing cry.
"Oh, Willie, Williei can you not hear
ne, my sweetheart, my darling! If you
we're only by know you could save me.
It's for your sake 1 die, Willie; but love
you so, love you so !"
Then die, Elsie, for ye shall never be
his wife!"
l sank down in the bottom of the boat
md closed my eyes. 1 could not look at
my death. though I knew now it must
come. A dull stupor crept over me, and
The agony of fear which held me before
was EOLSs w 10 ~ III NtAoOANAcAONA AAiASaco
nation which made me think something
had happened which sounds perfectly
incredible?
1t was getting too dark to distinguish
plainly, but, surely, that was Edam
Cars big form 1 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 assist
ance. 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 to wonder much. My faculties
seemed dulled, and 1 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 a miracle
now cOuld keen us