The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-11

world o. waterl Eh, but It's fine to hav
you all to myself like this"
"Are you mad |" I exclaimed, my thought
taking words all unconsciously.
| Edam laughed again, that horrible, crue
laugh which had no mirth in IL.
May be. Sometimes I think am my
self, but 8 am, it's for love o. you"
His eyes were so bright and no wild
hand, as he took hold Of mine, burned Will
fever.
"For mercy's sake, Edam. take care
ye don't mind we'll be both in the water.
AN what o. that! At any rate vel
drown together and you'll never belong T.
clasped my hands in agony OF terror
. what fool l had been not to hav,
| guessed what might happen! thought o
the poor BARNS at homo waiting for m,
now to give them their suppers, and hea
their prayers, and tuck them up in theil
beds, and the tears rolled down my cheek.
at the thought of how long they might hav,
20 Edam, I didn't think 70 could be SC
cruel!' said between my sobs. But even
the tears failed to move him.
"You have been cruel enough to me-it'i
my turn nowH he answered sullenly, a.
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 hurling 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
dear Edam!"
"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, IL you say
you'll be my wife I'll make for the shore
this minute-if not"
What thenw faltered.
'I!l run us straight on to the Ribs o.
Death, and there'll be an end on't!"
What was to do! 1 tried to be false to
Willie for the sake Of dear life, but 1t was
no use couldn't get out the words which
would make me SO! II must die must.
was hard, while the young blood flowed
quick and warm in my veins, to be 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
love you SO, love you son'
Then die, Elsie, for ye shall never be his
sank down in the bottom of the boat
and closed my eyes. could not look at
my death, though ! 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 imagina-
tion which made me think something had
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 a 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
sibiy have approached us while my ewes
were shut, certainly not without my hear
ing it.. Where, then, had this stranger
come from. All these thoughts flashed
through my mind, but at the time I
faculties seemed dulled, and could neither
suffer. nor fear any more simply
waited for the end. Icould see dimly the
sharp ridge of rocks we were nearing, and
from which nothing short of a miracle
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 q
sudden oath he started up and crept for
ward.
When he got to the figure standing with
its back toward him, l saw him raise his
arm to thrust it aside. Then slowly, slow
~ it turned and looked him straight in the
face.
He cried out wildly: "God help me. for
his arms, he leaped' overheard into the
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
for, clung there moment, only to be
swept back by the return Of the waves. I
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.
then, nor did feel afraid, but as those
eyes met mine thrill ran through me,
and l 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 boat safely
in Q dead faint.
After that came time Of dull, stupid
misery to me. could never answer CUES
tions, nor give any account of that dread
ful evening, save that Edam Carr had gone
mad and jumped overheard: and had been
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 atm strangely.
now as an ''uncanny" and shun me as
something they could not account for. Be-
sides, instead Of the sea claiming its victim,
as they expected 1t to do, l had been
miraculously saved from 1t! Ioften wonder
did not go mad myself during that dreary
clearly enough how it was. I should never
see my bonnie sweetheart more. I had not
q doubt that he was dead, and that my cry
for help had brought him In the spirit to
my assistance. For awhile / nursed my
sullen grief In silence but at last Miss Ash
and told her every thing. 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. a
Truly the there are strange mysteries We
she said solemnly. "sHast thou, which
art but air, q touch, a feeling of their
affiictionsp l would try not to think too
much about 1t, Elsie; and don't give way
to despair, above all Think how the little
ones need you" III.
honestly; but couldn't help thinking Of
nights, after the children had gone to bed,
and was left alone by the glimmering
freight. Then the tears would come, and,
oh it felt so lonely and life 90 sad wanting
him. was sitting thus one night, leaning
my cheek upon my hand, and the stocking
I was knitting for one of the BARNS had
fallen upon the floor while gazed into the
dying embers How long sat know not,
but suddenly the Goals Tell together and
fared up into a blaze, and there, ON the
other side Of the hearth stood Willie, my
Willie, laughing down at me. ] screamed