Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-02-09
A Terrible Moment.

~ VI lNlS Will VI -
Yes. terrible, for such, indeed, it
was! l shall never forget it, even if |
should live to be hundred years old!
Many weighty events pass from the
memory, but certainly not the moment
which brings man to the very brink
of the grave, and in which he finds
himself face to face with a horrible
death.
had lived tor nearly five years in
Australia. where l had amassed quito
handsome fortune, when suddenly a
longing for home took possession of
me- doubtless intensified by the fact
that my afianced bride was about to
SAL for Europe, and 1 could not en-
dure the thought that the wide ocean
was to roll between us. So resolved
to accompany her and our marriage
was to be celebrated in our native land.
May Brodstone was the daughter of
o wealthy farmer, and the most beauti-
fui and attractive maiden for miles
around. Before / knew her. she had
been, perhaps, Il wee bit coquettis h
fact which was destined to cost me
dear.
Among her admirers was = certain
Albert Stren'er, With his dark COM
plexion, his black hair and eyes, he
belonged to that class of people who
feel everything most kecnly, and never
forget an injury. He worshipped tho
very ground May trod upon. and | fear
she d d not always resist the tempta-
zion to hirt with him. although she as
sured me. (and could not doubt it for
moment), that she had never given
him any real encouragement
About this time. 1 appeared on the
scene and from the first moment of
meeting. we felt that fate had destined
us for each other. She Immediately
turned her back upon all her former
admirers, became as staid and quiet as
an hda-rubber tree in calm day, and
finally whispered the little Eyes"
which was to seal my happiness for
ever.
Old Mr.. Brodstone was satisfied with
his daughters choice, and, as there
seemed to he no obstacle to our union,
the engagement was announced at
once. | CHANGED to be present when
Albert Strctler first heard the news.
With compressed lips and contracted
brows. he glared. first ut May and then
ut myself until l felt that he would
gladly have annihilated me, had ii been
possible.
Without uttering II word, he turned
and went away. His conduct impressed
me most unpleasantly, and May con-
fessed to me later that she involuntari-
ly shuddered when she met his look of
bitter hatred.
From this time, although business
often brought HIM TO our neighborhood,
we saw Slrclfer but seldom; yet this
man cast shadow Owes all our happi-
ness and we were not at all sorry when
we found ourselves on board the ship
which was TO bear us to our home.
We had not lost sight of land, however.
when, with n cry of surprise. May la d
her hand upon my shoulder. and, point
inc TO the lower deck exclaimed,
See, Alfred, there he is!'
And SO i'm very truth il was. Lean
lug quietly over the rail, apparently
watching the receding land, stood Al
fred Strelfer, u passenger upon the
same ship as ourselves! This discovery
was far from being an agreeable one
10 me. although could not help laugh
ing when May nestled closer to my
side and whispered anxiously:
Dear Alfred, don't know why it
is. but | am afraid of that man. l
cannot rid myself of the thought that
he has some evil design against us"
did my best TO dispel her fears and
in this attempt Streffcr's own conduct
assisted me materially, for except n
few words VIII ch we casually ex-
changed. he did not intrude upon us in
any way, and our voyage had been
most prosperous. when one night, n
violent hurr cane arose.
Our good ship battled bravoly with
the storm, but in vain. The masts fell
overheard with u terrific crash. drag
ging some of the sailors with them. and
before they could be cut away one of
them was hurled with such violence
against the vessel as to cause n danger
Gus leak. and on ali sides the fearful
crv was heard:
We are sinking! Lower the boatl
The pumps are useless
The captain admirable GOODNESS and
presence of mind could not fail to in
spire us with confidence. The boats
were quickly lowered and while the
passengers were taking their places, il
suddenly occurred To me- that in my
haste had left my mothers picture