Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-01

have given my life for hem. 5slnge
that the presence Of . woman can so up
set usl Is 1t the power Of beauty witch
envelopes usS the allurements Of youth
that like wine makes US drunk? Or is it
q touch Of Love. the mysterious, who
tries without cessation to unite two
peoplei that tries his power as soon as
he has brought man and woman together
and penetrates them with an emotion,
subtle and profound, as ono moistens the
earth TO make flowers grow2
The silence of the darkness became
frightful, and the silence of the heavens,
for we heard around us the monotonous
wash Of the sea against the side Of the
ship After awhile heard q sob. The
smallest Of the girls was crying and her
father tried to console They spoke in
English. / turned to my neighbor
care you coldY' Eyes, very" want
ed her TO take my cloak. She refused,
but l had taken it of, and wrapped it
around her against her wish. In the
slight struggle her hand touched mine
and sent delightful thrill through me.
The wind had become sharper and the
waves now broke with greater force
against the sides of the ship. raised
myself up and felt rush of air against
my face. The wind was rising!
The Englishman noticed it at the same
time and remarked, THAT is bad"
1t certainly was bad; it meant certain
death if the waves, no matter how small,
struck and shook the wreck, already SO
broken and disjointed that tho first large
one would demolish it.
Then our agony increased from second
to second with the rise of the wind.
Now the waves broke and l saw in the
darkness tho white line of foam appear
and disappear, while every wave shook
the frame of the Marie Joseph with
shudder that reached us.
felt the English girl tremble against
me. Iwas cSAscious Of a wild impulse
to take her In nay arms.
Before ~, to right, TO left, behind US
the lighthouses were shining on the
coasts-whits, red, yellow; revolving,
like eyes Of gianss looking at us, watch
ing eagerly for our destruction. One of
them IN particular irritated me. That
one was perfse. eye, opening and shut
ting its hery Furl.
From tiHAs 10 time the Englishman
struck match 10 look at the hour; then
he weuM replace his watch in bis pocket.
Suddenly he said alsud and with per-
feet seriousness, "Sr, / wish yea
hannv EesU YanpFs
1t was midnight. offered my hand,
which he shock; then he said something
in English 10 the 'giris, who began ta sing
"God Save the Queen" At first felt
like laughing; then l was seized by
strong, q~aint enaOtien. There was some
thing superb AaA sinister about this song
of these wrecked people; something Of
prayer and alss greater and comparable to
the "Ave Cesar, morituri to salutamus.n
When the song was ended I asked my
neighbor 10 GRg alone, ballad, any ytaing
she pleased, 70 help US forget our atua-
ton. She censsated. Her fresh, pure
voice rose upcn the night. It was doubt
less something sad as tho notes fingered
and rose kowiy, like wounded birds,
above the waves.
The sea had risen and now struck
against the wreck. thought of nothing
but the voice and Of the sirens. NV tor
tured spirit was lost in dreams. Was she
not siren, this girl who had kept me on
this rotten boat, and who in minute
would be ingulfed with me2
We all now rolled violently upon the
deck. The Marie Joseph has turned upon
the other side. The English girl fell on
me, and seiEing her in my arms, madly
and without knowing it, without under
standing, believing this was our last sec
end of life, kissed her lips, her temples,
her hair. The vessel no longer moved,
nor did we.
Her father called Kate, and she an
swered yes, and tried to free herself from
my arms. WANTED the boat to open; /
wanted to die with her.
I rose dowiy and perceived light near
us. I called out and was answered. It
was boat hNnting for us, the proprietor
of the hotel having guessed our predica-
ment.
We were saved. was in despair. We
left the wreck and returned to st. Mar
tin. The Enghshman rubbed his hands
and exclaimed, What supper we will
eat" And we did. Twas not gay. I
regretted the Marie Joseph.
The next morning we separated, with |
many regrets and promises to write.
They returned to Biarritz and came |
very near following them.
I was hard hit and was near asking |
Kate In marriage. IF we had remained |
longer together certainly would have |
done 80. How weak and incomprehensi-
bic man is at times.
Two years passed without my hearing
Of them; then received let
Ter from New York. She was married,
and wrote 10 tel me. And since then
We write to each other once year, on
,he 1st Of January. She speaks to me of
1er life, her children, her sisters, never
If her husband. And speak to her of
he Marie Joseph. She is perhaps the
'nly woman / ever loved-no-that I
night have loved. Voila-does one ever
Know? Events carry us along And
hen - then - everything fades She
must be old now would not know
ler-her OF other days - her of the
wreck She writes me her hair is
white. Mon dieu! that hurts me terri
,1ny %hok 111-lo hcs, Ill., =. |