The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-01-18
A STRANGE STORY.

a STRANGE STORY.
Poor Mary AsI watched her sitting
by the window Gay after day careful
never to 90 whore 3 gleam from the wat
er could catch her eye, as I saw her pale
face bend over her work and heard her
subdued tones TO the children, | knew
that the past was ever with her, and that
she was hourly living over her dreadful
soTroE.
A few friends of US had found little
nook on the lake shore that exactly
suited US Far from the gay, maddening
crowds which wander up and down the
country and are fast spelling the natural
beauties of our land, this lovely spot
seemed to have waited for cur coming.
We soon builta number Of cosy cot
tages and came down from the city to
take possession, installing our household
divinities, the babies, the nurses and
children of ali sorts and sizes, and before
long were as much at home as the birds
and squirrels whose quiet we invaded.
Mary and Frank Hunter were the
yolng married couple Of our party. Not
exactly bride and bridegroom, however,
lor they brought with them 3 rollicking
baby boy. Never we.e there two gayer,
liyelier mortals, and 50 devoted to each
other; 50 well satisfied with life were
they, that it was ike enjoying perpetual
sunshine merely to have them with US.
Fall Of fun, and with as many projects
asa pair Of school boys, it was not long
until the two we're at the head and front
Of all our arrangements.
Oh, what gay times We used to have
Especially when our small fleet OF canoes
were scattered over the lake, and fitting
like white-winged birds over the smooth
and shining surface.
But one night the placid waters turn
ed into a mighty cauldron, full of seeih-
ing foam that bubbled and tossed as
from the fathomless depths Of Inferno.
Oat on the shore We huddled together.
ali our little fair weather community, ca
gerly watching il, peFchance, We might
catch some glimpse Of the laggard boats.
One By one they slowly came to port,
and all the time the Eind moaned, and
the waves dashed up against the murky
sky.
Hurrying up and down the shore poor
Mary flew, wringing Ler hands in agony
her clothes orenched with spray, her
pale face and cleaning eyes turned to
the dGkening water. In vain she cried
and called her husband by name. All
the other boats had by this time reached
the shore, but no tidings came from
Frank. All night We waited, the men
and the fisher people working hard to
find some elew 10 his Ehere&bouts. 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 wailing
and TODD 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 rs one who
hears not single word fearless now,
and overcome with grief, she seemed
pale image Of despair. We tried to cheer
her with he hope that oyertsken with
the storm, her husband had found refuge
in some neighboring port; but as the
next day passed, and no tidings came in
response to all her inquiries, even that
belief no longer remained TO "a
All through the second da. and the
long, night poor Mary waited, While pity
ing neig lbors searched in vain for the
missing one. Her self control was won
derfal as the hours passed by. Only her
compressed lips and the wild agony in
her lovely eyes revealed the depths of
her despair. Days passed and still the
search went on, until at length all hope
perished save in the bosom Of the strick-
en- wife. She conld-she would not
give him up, although the boatmen who
spent their lives on the lake assured her
it was useless to fancy any man could
have escaped alive from the fury of such
g dreadful storm.
Weeks went by, and no tidings came
TO cheer her or settle the question ofhis
fate.
In the early autumn our party was
scattered, and the cottages on the lake
shore were left deserted. On, how hard
poor Mary begged that she might be
left there TO await her husbands CON-
ing. Poor young creature, OF course we
could not leave her alone in that wild
spot. 1t was the brightest, gayest place
in the summer time, but unspeakably
dreary when the gloom Of winter settled
down upon it.
We urged her to come with Us, but
she was as imnovab.e As a rock, until,
at last, my husband laid on her his com
mand 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 home, and there wait
in patience the viii Of God. and after
long persuasion she yielded. Very sadly
our little arty turned back to our home.
and poor Mary moved as in walking
dream.
AS time passed by she faded into a