The morning call., 1892-10-20
4 STRANGE STORY.

Poor Maryl AS l watched her sitting by
the window day after day, careful never to
20 where q CLEAN from the water could
catch her eye, as / saw her pale face bend
over her work and heard her subdued tones
to the children, l knew that the past was
ever with her aud that she was hourly living
over her dreadful sorrow.
A few friends Of US had found little
nook on the lake shore that exactly suited
u Far from the gay, madding crowds
which Wahder MP and down the country and
are last sponins the natural beauties OF
our land, this lovely spot seemed TO have
waited fol our coming.
We soon built number of coy cottages
sDd came down from the city to take pos
session. installing our household diyinities.
the babies. the nurses and children of all
serts and sizes. and before long were as
much at home a. the birds and squirrels
whose quiet we invaded
Mary and Frank Hunter were the young
married people of our part. Not exactly
bride and bridegroom. however, for they
brought with them a rollicking baby boy.
Never were there two gayer, livelier NOR
tails. and so devoted to each other; SO well
satisfied with life were they, that 1t was
Ike enjoying perpetual sunshine merely to
udNc hnNIl WAN US OlA VI AOht ohN HANH
as many projects as a pair OF sehOOlboys, it
was not long until the two were at the head
and front OF all cur arrangements.
Oh. what gay times we used to have!
Especially when our small feet of canoes
were scattered over the lake, and fitting
like white winged birds over the smooth
ard shining surface.
But one night the placid water turned
into a mighty caldron. fun of seething foam
4. III. B. -. 18th
less depths of Inferno. Out on the shore
We huddled together, all our little fair
weather community, eagerly watching IL.
perchance, we might catch some glimpse of
the laggsrd boats. One by one they slowly
came TO port, and all the while the wind
moaned and the waves dashed up against
the murky sky.
Hurrying up and down the shore poor
Marv few, wTinglng her hands in agony,
her clothes dTenched with the spray, her
pale face and cleaning eyes turned TO the
daTBeDing water. In vain she cried and
called her husband by name. All the other
boats had by this time reached the shore,
but no tldings came from Frank. All night
We waited, theJmen and the fisher people
working hard to find some clew to his
whereabouts. At last Just when the cold
light Of early morning lifted a portion Of
the nights black pail, broken boat came
floating up and was thrown upon the shore,
right at her feet, as the poor wife stood
waiting. She had ceased her waiing and
stood silent as one In dream.
When daylight came We gathered round
her and tried to draw her from the scene,
but she gaZed at US as one who hears not a
single word. fearless now, and overcome
with grief, she seemed a pale image OF de-
slialr. We tried 10 cheer her with the hope
that oVeTtakeu by the storm. her husband
had found refuge ia some neighbOrlng port
but as the next day passed, and no tidings
came in response to all our inquiries, even
that belief no longer remained TO Us.
All through the second day and the long.
long night poor Mary waited, while plying
neighb0rs searched in vain for the missing
one. Her self-control was wonderful as the
hours passed by. 0uly her compressed lips
sDd the wild agony 10 her lovely eyes re-
vealed the depths of her despair. DAYS
passed and still the search went on, until at
length all hope persisted save in the bosom
Of the stricken wife. She could nOt-she
would nOt-give him up, although the boat
men who spent their lives on the lake as
suTed her that il was useless to fancy any
man could have escaped alive from the fury
OF such dreadful storm.
Weeks went by, and no tidings came to
cheer ner or 10 settle the question of his
fate.
In the early autumn our summer party
was scattered, and the cottages on the lake
shore were left deserted. Oh, how hard
poor Mary begged that she might be left
there 10 await her husbands cOmingi Poor
young creature, Of course we could not
leave her there alone in that wild spot Ii
was the brightest, gayest place in the sum-
meT-tlme, but uuspeakably dreary when
the gloom OF winter settled down upon il.
We urged her TO come with us, but she
was as immovable as a rock until, at last,
my husband laid on her his command as her
pastor and the guardian of her boy. He
urged her, for the sake OF the poor child
now left to her alone, to come with US to
our own home, and there wait in patience
the will OF God, and after long persuasion
she yielded. Very sadly our little party
turned back TO our home, and poor Mary
moved as if in a waking dream.
As time passed by she faded into mere
shadow OF her once bright cheerful self
Patient and subdued, she seemed almost to
forget her own identity, and TO live only In
her sorrow and her child. We could mo-
allow her-she did not seem to think Of do
ing SOTO go back to that home now sc
sadly desolate. So for nearly two years she
lived with US, loving sister to the elders, q
tender teacher to the little ones.
Accustomed as / was to her calm de.
meanar, was surprised one morning to see
her enter the breakfast-room with a hol
flush on her cheek, and in her eyes a rest.
less glitter that told of troubled mind and
swoLefH; sight. l asked no questions, how
ever, put waited until the children left the
room, when suddenly she came hurryine
toward me, threw herself upon my foot
stool and buried her tears In the folds OF
nv dress.
"Mary, darling Mary, what is itP" said /,
teDderly smoothing her hair
Oh. Mrs. Gray, do not think me Wild, .
she cried, do not reprove me for nv folly
but | know that Frank Is still alive. AL
night heard his voice, calling, Wife
wife! He is not dead! / have never be.
heved he could die and leave me. What
will become Of me IL i do not find my poor
Frank, who needs me so much, and calls fol
me with so much lODQing?"
She seemed so excited, and so unlike hel
usual quiet self, that l was half afraid 70
dispute her. although / pitied her for the
sad delusion.
MY dear little sister," said ], soothinely.
you are broken down with care and grief,
and dreams have troubled your poor tired
brain. Strange fancies come to us all when
We are out OF sorts. you know. VIII Won
not rest to-day and try to overcome this
She raised her face toward mine and
YEARLY sighed.
1T was no fancy, dear friend, cannot
prove It, but / know 1t is true Frank 1.
alive and called for me last night"
Then, with a look of patient grief she
arose and left me- All day she seemed t.
be thinking deeply, and to avoid the pres.
ence of the family, even Of her baby boy.
Next morning / was shocked to see the
drawn lines about her mouth. and the bag
$500 syes that told of another slice lesI
night. She came down to breakfast will
that strange air Of excitement about her
and all through the day she moved about a;
one who hears a far off voice, unheard BY
other ears.
At sunset we sat together, after the little
ones bad gone to sleep. when suddenly thf
peal OF the door-bsll rang through the silenI
house.
Mary sprang to her feet, her slender figure
drawn to its full height her face set and In.
tense In the rays of the fading sun; indeed
she seemed TO me as the embodiment of az
expectant hearer. 1t was but moment
before the door OF our room was opened and
srongh but kindly voice spoke to us:
Does Mrs. Frank Hunter live here? Car
speak to her7"
=, She sprang past me with cry, to NEE
the man who stood there, ali travel-stainec