The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-10

the beach and me lying in it in dead faint.
After that came time of dull, stupid
misery to me. / could never answer ques-
tions, nor give any account of that dread
| full evening, save that Edam Carr had
gone mad and jumped overheard, and had
been dashed against the cribs of Death,
and that 1 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. The superstition made them
regard me now as "uncanny" and shun
me as something they could not account
for. Besides, instead of the sea claiming
its victim, as they expected it to do had
been miraculously saved from it
| often wonder l did not go mad myself
during that dreary time.
For ] settled in my own mind clearly
enough how it was. l should never see
my bonnie sweetheart more! l had not a
doubt that he was dead and that my cry
for help had brought him in the spirit to
my assistance. For while | nursed my
sullen grief in silence; but at last Miss
Ashford's kindness broke down the bar
rier and told her everything Only for
that and because she did not laugh at me,
but believed that | spoke the truth, |
should have lost my senses or my life, for
the secret was killing me.
"Truely there are strange mysteries we
cannot hope to be revealed in this life, )"
she said solemnly. "Hast thou, which
art but air, touch, feeling of
their Affections 1 would try not to
think too much about it, Elsie; and don't
give way to despair, above all. Think how
the little ones need you
1t was all very well to talk, and | did
try honestly but couldn't help thinking
of my boy during the long dreary winter
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 so sad
wanting him.
l was sitting thus one night, leaning my
cheek upon my hand, and the stocking l
was knitting for one of the BARNS had
fallen upon the floor, while L gazed into
the dying embers How long L sat know
not, but suddenly the Goals fell together
and fared up into blaze, and there on
the other side of the hearth, stood Willie,
my Willie, laughing down at me.
| screamed and covered my eyes. |
dared not look at what seemed confirma-
ton of my worst fears but in a moment
warm, living arms were round my neck,
and l was clasped to a strongly beating
heart.
''Why, what ails thee, sweetheart? One
would say you'd seen a ghost!
l did not tell him then that l 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
home
When did tell him at last what had
caused me so much misery he only laugh
ed and I must have let my imagination
run away with me. But he acknowledge
ed to having had troubled dream, in
in which called on him for help, though
he always declares he cannot remember
anything more about it.
[ never look at the cribs of Death :"
without shudder and a sigh for poor
Edams terrible death, and nothing will
persuade me that l was not saved from
sharing his fate by supernatural assistance,
But 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 am his wife.