Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-03
A Terrible Moment

Yes, terr BILE, for such. indeed, it
was! / shall never forget it, even if |
should live to he 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
Il mSef face TO face with horrible
death.
had lived for nearly five. years in
Australia, whore | had amassed quite
handsome fortune, when suddenly n
longing for home took possession of
me. doubtless intensified by the fact
that my aflianced bride was about to
sal for Europe. and | could not en-
dure the thought that the W de 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
a wealthy farmer, and the most beauti-
ful and attract We maiden for miles
around. Before knew her, she had
been, perhaps. wee BIT coquettiS IL
fact which was destined to cost me
dear.
Among her adm rers was n certain
Albert Slreller. With his dark COM
plexion, h : black hair and eyes, he
belonged to that class of people who
fool oX,orvtl, ',,r ,,,ot l-oopl,- onJ rovnr
forget an injury. He worshipped the
very ground MAY trod upon, and | fear
she d not always resist the tempta-
ton to flirt with him, although she as
sured me. (and could not doubt it for
momenD, that she had never given
him any real Encouragement.
About this time. | appeared on the
scene and from the first moment of
meeting, we felt that fate had destined
rs for each other She Immediately
turned her back upon all her former
admirers, became as staid and quiet as
an Inda-rubber tree in calm day, and
finally whispered the little yes"
which was to seal my happ ness for
ever.
Old Mr.. Brodstone was satisfied with
his daughters choice, and, rs there
seemed TO be no obstacle to our union,
the engagement was announced at
once. CHANGED TO be present when
Albert Strefler first heard the news.
With compressed ps and contracted
l.rnu+a h., all mol FIT n 4
at myself. until | felt that he would
gladly have annihlated me, had it been
poss BILE.
Without uttering word, he turned
and went away. His conduct impressed
me most unpleasantly. and May con-
fessed TO me later that she involuntari-
" shuddered when she met his look of
bitter hatred.
From this time. although business
often brought h IN to our ne ghborhood.
we saw SIrefler but seldom; yet this
man cast shadow ovei all our happi-
ness. and we were not ut all sorry when
we found ourselves on board the sh p
which was to bear US TO our home.
We had not lost ght of land, however
when. with CRY of surprise, May la q
her hand upon my shoulder and, point
ing 10 the lower deck exclaimed.
See. Alfred. there he sr'
And so in very truth it was. Lean
ing quietly over the rail. apparently
watching the receding land. stood Al
fred Streiler. passenger upon the
same ship rs ourselves! This discovery
was far from being an agreeable one
TO me. although could not help laugh.
inn ltun Muu nnaflaI nln5nr to
side and whispered anxiously:
Dear Alfred don't know why it
is. but | am afraid of that man. /
cannot rid myself of the thought that
he has some evil design against us"
did my best 10 dspel her fears and
in this attempt Streller's own conduct
assisted me materially. for except Il
few words Wh CHI we casually ex.
changed, he did mol intrude upon us in
any way, and our voyage had been
most prosperous. when one night. a
violent hurr cane arose.
Our gOod ship batticd bravcly with
the storm. but in vain. The masts fell
overheard with terrific crash, drag
ging some Of the sailors with them. and
before they could he cut away one of
them was hurled with such violence
against the vessel ~ To cause n danger
Gus leak, and on all sides the fearful
CRY was heard:
We are snkingl Lower the boat!
TIE pumps are usclessl
The captain admirable GOODNESS and
presence of mind could not fail to in
spira us W th confidence. The boats
were quickly lowered and while the
fol f.rr tl.fr ,.ln..s
suddenly occurred to me that in my
haste had left my mothers picture