River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-07-07
IN THE TIDE.
The Tragic Fate That BefeH Two
Lovers

This is the story Of the fate that be
fell Lieut.. Henry Crewe and Margaret
Neville. his betrothed, who disappeared
from the infant city OF Halifax on the
afternoon of September Is. I1F9. The
facts were gathered by one Nicholas
PinsOn from the mouths of Indians
more or less concerned, from the mem
bers Of the Neville family and from
much saEaciOus conjecture, and woven
with an infinite deal of irrelevant de-
tail into "a narrative which has been
vigorously condensed in the present
rendering.
There was a faint, opaline haze in
the afternoon AIR. and in the still waters
of the harbOr the low hills, with their
foliage lixhtlv touched in bronze and
amethyst and amber, were faithfully
reproduced. Into a hollow between
two knobs wooded with beech trees
ran a shallow cove, its clear waters
edged with sand of a tender, greenish
gray. Close to the waters edge stood
the lovers. and across the silence they
could hear pulsating dimly the ham
mers OF them that were building the
city.
Listen" said the man, as he drew
the girl closely to him and kissed her
ON the forehead; those are the strokes
that are making home for us"
The girl lifted her lips for kiss that
never reached them The man was
seized from behind, a dark hand COW
cred his mouth; and Lieut.. Henri
Crewe. his sword unstirred in his scab-
bard. found himself piniOned hand and
foot, ere he had time 10 realize that
other arms were about him than these
of the woman he loved. With her it
Jared in like fashion; save that before
they covered her mouth she found time
for one long piercing cry. IL was heard
by those who were working on the city
palisades: but no man could tell the
direction whence ft came. Presently a
search party set out for the thick woods.
living little north of west from the
city; but in the meantime the Indians
had carried their captives northeast
ward 10 the lakes. and were making all
speed on the Funday coast by way of
the Shubenacadie trail.
Henry Crewe was a tall man, and
well sinewed. and for brief space he
strove SO fiercely with his bonds that
his fair skin flushed well-n nigh purple.
and his lips, under the yellow mus
tache. curled apart terribly, like those
of beast at bay. Unable To endure
the anguish If his effort. Margaret
avcrted her eyes. FOR she knew the hope
Iessuess of it. Like all the Nevilles of
Nova Scotia - this day. the girl was
somewhat spare of form and feature,
with dark hair. a clear dark skin and
eyes Of deep color that might be either
gray or green. Her terrible cry had
been far less the utterance Of blind
terror than a deliberate signal To the
garrison at the fort, and 50 complete
was Ter self-cOutrol that when Crewe
presently met her gaze his brain grew
clearer, he forgot the derisiOn in the
Indians painted faces. ceased his vain
struggles. and bent all his thought to
the task Of finding means Of deliver
an,
captives were thrown into canoes
n ,ddled swiftly 10 the head Of the
], siI. wh'-h runs inland for miles
head Of the harbor. At the
of the portage their feet
Nund and their mouths set free
fr,..- ufocating gags.
.'Oh. Margaret. Margaret, To think
! should have brought you TO this" ex-
claimed Crewe in harsh voice the mo-
ment his lips were free.
The girl had confidence in her lovers
power to find some way of protecting
her in case no help should come from
the city. Her sole thought now was TO
show herself brave and in no Way en-
barrass his Judgment. Before she could
answer. however. the leader of the band
struck Crewe across the mouth with
the flat Of his Ratchet. as hint that he
should keep silence Had Crewe been
alone, bound as he was, he would have
felled his assailant with a blow OF the
foot; but for Margaret's sake he forced
himself 70 endure the indignity tamely.
though his blue ewes famed with so
dangerous a light that the Indian raised
his Ratchet again in menace. The girls
heart BLEED under the stroke and At sight
of the wounded mouth. but she pru-
IDENTIFY abstained from speech. Only
she spoke one word in a low voice that
said all things 10 her lovers ear. the
one word; Beloved
40 the chief now spoke one of the
band in the Micmae tongue;
why not let the paleface talk To his
young squaw? II will be the more bit
ter for them at the last"
Me- said the chief, grinning; 1t Is
as death to the palefaces TO keep
silence But they shall have time 70
talk at the last.
Thr Ighout the long journey. which
was continued till midnight under the
strong light of a moon just at the full,
the lovers held M converse save in the
1t0:e language of eye and gesture, and
that only during the rough marches
from one lake 10 another. The greater
part of the journey was by canoe. At
night they were dashed 10 trees some
way apart and separated by the camp