The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-30


not seen him since the morning that
followed that night; they hoped never
again to see him or hear of him.
Poor Helen Willis lived and still
hoped under the cloud of her own over
shadowing grief. Not a word had
reached her directly from Henry Craw-
ford since the letter that told her he
had Joined Lopez. The dreary list of
Crittenden's men, slaughtered ry
Spanish volleys after their surrender,
was published in the papers; her
lovers name was not in it. Other
lists followed, of captive filibusters de-
ported to Spain in irons, for whom the
American Government was making in
tercession, but he was not named
among them. She was heavy hearted,
and yet hopeful. His cruel silence
seemed like the silence of the grave.
yet she had no positive intelligence of
either his death OF his captivity, and
hope with her was beacon that never
expired.
The days went on till October was
well-nigh spent. On one of those gold
en- afternoons, Helen sat in her room
alone. She had been reading for the
thousandth time that last letter of her
beloved; she had kissed it again, and
cried over it. The strong, passionate
yearning of her heart went out to him
over seas and lands; she could not,
would not, think him dead.
Her aunt raped at her door, and
entered.
"Helen," she said, there's poor
vagabond-looking fellow down below
in the parlor who insists on seeing
you. He looks as if he wanted charity;
but l couldn't get rid of him by Offer
ing him half dollar. He was so ear
nest about it that 1 finally let him i'm
Il suppose it's one of my Province
town sailor-friends, Helen replied.
''I'll 60 down.
The stranger attempted to rise as
she entered the parlor. He walked
with two canes, but seemed so feeble
that they could not support him in his
attempt.
pray. don't rise," Helen said.
''What do you wish?"
II have walked too far" the man
said. His voice was weak, his face
was wan and hollow; but there was a
fire in his eye that spoke of the inva-
lids ambition to be away from the
sick-room. Il am not long out of the
hospital; the doctor says I should not
be out yet"
what do you wish?'' she asked
again. touched by his appearance and
manner.
81 was directed to Miss Helen
Willis" he said. ''You are the lady,
suppose? Well, miss, I've been in
Cuba: I've seen rough times there with
the tilibusters; there were not many of
us got away. Not knowing from one
day to another if we should ever see
home again, we used to give each
other messages to carry for us. There
was one fellow gave me some word for
you; and now it is curious I can't think
which one it was.''
''Crawford?" was her breathless
question.
80, yes; Henry Crawford; I remem-
Der now. An ordinary kind of fell
low
"Sir, you must speak respectfully of
him, fyou talk to me! Where is hep'
Crawford Crawford-le me see,"
the man unused. ''The fact is, miss, it
is not easy to remember names among
several hundreds. hope he escaped,
as did. Haven't you heard from him
lately?"
"No-not word. You have some
thing to tell me of him; why don't you
tell itP If he is dead, say SO, and end
my misery"
mo, miss; he's not dead"
s'Where is he?''
1.-The last l saw of him he was walk
ing along the streets of Boston inquir-
ing for an address that he got at
Provincetown. so he could find Helen
Willis
She came up close to him and looked
into his face. How could she know
him? how tell that the poor, wasted
creature before her was the strong,
handsome lover who had hidden her
farewell here less than three months
beforeP
sis it you, Henryp" she asked, amid
her tears.
II must be sadly changed, Helen,
when your eyes don't recognize me.
But every thing seems changed to me
of late; I hardly knew the house where
we parted
She took him in her arms; she wept
over him tears of mingled sorrow and
joy. Sorrow for his sufferings, JOY that
he had returned to her.
An hour later they were sitting there
together. Her mother and aunt had
been with them; they had brought him
refreshment and cheered him with
their sympathy and kindness. He had
briefly told them of the fate of the bark
and its Captain, and his own rescue
from the burning deck by the boat of
an English ship; of his being carried
into Nassau and being placed in the
hospital, from whence, barely conva-
lescent, he had come to New York,
against the advice of the doctors. At
Provincetown he had learned of the
events that had caused Mrs. Willis and
her daughter to leave it; and impatient