The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-13

Go"H tatch WIN uuckS anu turn en- into
postmcn would hit on the longitude some.
how; and he doesn't pretend to l.e exact In
the latitude"
Upon this he ran northward 400 miles:
which took him three duys; for they stopped
at night.
No island.
lie than ran south 500 miles; stoppinr at
night.
No island.
Then lie took the vessel zigzag.
just hsore sunset, one lovely day, the
man mt the mast head sung OUT
'On.'lrrk thcre"
"llulo!''
SSas'iing .:w,, ;.. in sight on our weathcrbow"
"looks like mast. No. Don't know
what il is.
Point"
The sailor pointed with his finger.
Captain Morclantl ordered the ships course
to he altered accordingly. by this time
General lnlleston was on deck. The shin
ran two miles ON the new course: and all this
time the topmau's glass was leveled, and
'hccrcw climbed about tho rigging all eyes
and ears.
Al lust the clear hail came down.
~ r,n make it out now, SIR"
"Whnt Is it,"
ut is II palm.trce.'
The captain jumped on n gun, and waved
his hat grandIy, and instantly tho vessel
rang with II luhty cheer; ant, far uncc, sail.
ors gabhle'l like wasl.cr.womer.
They ran till they saw the island in the
moonlight. and the ginnt Palm. blnrk, an,l
Scnlptured out of the vinet sky; then they
set HE lead going md it warned them not
to come too close. They anchored OIL the
west coust.
At daybrcak they moved slowly on. still
sounding as they wcnt and rounding tho
West Point, General Rollcston saw written
OH the gunnocd rocks in large letters:
AN ENGLISH LADY WRECKED HERE.
HASTE To HER RESCUE.
lie and Morcland shook hands; and how
their eyes glstcnel.
Presently there was stranger inscription
still upon the rOrks-u rough outline Of the
island on an enormous scale, showing the
const line. The REEFS the shallow water, und
the deep water.
Ease her. Stop her!'
The captain stuiliel this original chart
with his glass. and crcpt slowly on for the
west Gissagp.
But, warned by the soun,iinus marked on
the rock. he did not attempt tu 70 through
thu lass;lne. but came to an anchor undlnw.
cred his hnat,
Tho sailors were all on the qui vivet O nn,l,
hut the captain, to their infinite surprise,
told them only three persons would land That
mornin=-himsclf, his son, and General Roll
eston.
The fact is. this honest captnin had got n
misgiving. founded on two or three sailors,
0nr Or them united to lIcr by some nautical
ceremony, duly witnessed. but such as a mil.
itary officer Of distinction could hnrlly l,c
expected to ~ prove. lie got INTO the hoat
in a curious state o' delight, dashed with un.
cominrtnile suspense; and they rowcd gently
for hc west passage.
As for General ROleston, now it was he
needed all his fortituhr. Suppose I he lady was
not Helen! After all. tlecllnnres were against
her lming there. suppose she wis dead nnd
hurried in That islan.l! Suppose that fatnl
disease, with which she had sailrd, had been
nreclrratcl by harlshlps. and Pro, idrnce
permitted him only to receive her last sigh
All these misgvings crowded on him tho
moment he drew so near the object which had
looked all brightness M long ns it WIS uirat.
tnnal,le. lie sat ralr;,nd brave, in the bnnt;
but his doubts and fears were greater thun
his hope.
They rounded Telegraph Point, aud in n
moment Paradise I'av burst on them. 1t
WAS hnlfti,le. They heaclici he boat. nu,i
General Rollcstnn landed. Captain M0relnnd
grasprl his hand, and said, Gull us if it 10
all right
General Rollcst OIL returned the pressure of
that honest hand. aud marched up the beach
just us II he wils going into action.
He came to the boat. 1t was an awning,
over the stern. aud was clearly used ns n
slice ing place. 4 series of wooded lines send.
Ing OH uprights led from this up To the cliff.
The pipes were in fact mere sections OF thcsn.
go-tre with tleso pith driven out. Az this
w;is mnnes,ly IL tube of communication,
General Eolcston followed it until he came
to sort of Ofrcralln with II cave uIrning ON
i; he entered the cnv", md was dazzlrl bI
its most unexpected beauty. He seemed III
elm y gighntis nautilus. Root aud sides,
and the very chimney, were one blaze Of
mnther Of pearl But. alter the first start,
brighter 10 him WIS an old shawl hs snw on
II nail: !or that showed IL womun's abode.
He tore down tie shawl and carried il to the
light. lie r"rugnizc,it ny lielcn's. Her rugs
were in II corner he rushed in nnd felt them
all over with trembling hands. They welr
still warm, though she had lei. her bed some
time He came out with joy, nn,l shouted q,
Mnorrlnnl. She is alive! SEs is nlive!"
Th"n fell on lls k...c. and thanked God.
a cry cam" down to him from above: hn
looked up ar he l;nrlt. and there wusa
;rmale ii-,lr" dressed in white. stretching out
its I'nnds az il it would fly down to him. Its
Owes t.lelme,l; he knew them all that way off,
u" stretched out his hands rs cloqucntlv,
aud then h" got up to meet her; but tiit stout
sol!i"rs limbs were stiiier than of old; nnl
lie got up so slowly. thut. crehc could take II
step. there c:lme flying to lin, with little
screams and inarticulate cries, no living
skeleton, nor consumptiye yonis l9dy. III;
u grand creature, tanilS! here and there,
rosy us the maY,n. nnd fill "f lu.,y vig"r II
soul all love- She flung herself all over him
in n moment. with cries of love unspcaknblr;
aud then it wa4 80. my .lnrlhrg. my darling!
o. my own, "wn IIn, ha. L;l In! o, O,O,
q! lsit ,y"u' is it? can it, Papa. papa
then little convulsive hands pntting him, and
feeling his lenr.l and shoulders: then n sud
den hail OF violent kisses on his hcnd, lis
eyes, his arms. his hands. his Knees Then IL
stout soldier broken down l,y this, aud snh..
hing !or joy. 30, my child! My flesh and
blood o. o. o." Then all manhood melted
away except pntornity: aud IL fnthrr turned
mother. and rlinging. kissing. and rocking
I" and fro with his child. nnl both CRYING
Tor joy MS if their rnrts would hurst.
sight for angels to look down at ui.d ,e.
jo;cc.
But what mortal pen could paint il?
TO BE CONTINUED