The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-04-13

past ON which he was gazing with the
eyes OF his soul lie looked up and
saw before him only the pillows OF the
ocean, over which lay the blue dome
81 the sky, and stan from which flnt-
Tered streamer Of scarlet fannel-n
signal Of distress that the wind had
striven many "A night TO rend to tattcrs
How long II seemed since he, with
two sailors, had been flung ashore like
80 much scawccd. and in the dawn had
crouchcd miserably on the shore
watching the ocean as itswallowed the
fragments Of the wrecked steamer. and
ignorant Of the fate OF the crowded
boats that vanished from their sight in
the stormy midnight.
a box and a caslS or so were washed
ashore. The island was not quite bar
rem But could not tell you how they
lived unless ] had the space TO write a
new Robinson Crusoe"
One Of the sailors had died within
two weeks. and the other Douglas
Deane had lately buried in the sea.
lie was alone now, no human eye 10
meet his own, no human voice 10 an
swcr his.
DO you ask what kept the flame OF
life and hope alive within him? | will
tell you. Dora Darling's las, words:
"lwill be true TO you forever. Douglas.
How can you doubt me?"
Looking at him, anyone would have
said il would be over soon. lie was a
mere s'seleton-a thing as terrible 10
look upon as any specter.
The fatal drowsincss, against which
! hc constantly fought. was stealing over
him again even now. and he longed to
lapse back into his dreams. Bat with
"A struggle be shook il off. stood up,
looked % the eastand saw only the sun.
u ball OF lire low upon the horizon:
looked To the west and north and saw
only sky meeting water: turned 10 the
south and noted thin black cloud.
Was il cloud? His heart began 70
beat as though it would rend his body
in twain as he began t. understand
that IL was no cloud at all. but the drift
of black smoke from the tall pipes of a
steamer that even as he gazed came up
from that under world were ships hide
themselves in midocean.
lie grew blind, giddy. The JOY al
most killed him as he understood that
they saw him-that a boat had been
sent out, that friendly hands grasped
his and that kind voices uttered words
of comfort. A terror came upon him
( lest all this should be but the vision OF
a dream. and he only quite believed il
true when actually on board the Nancy
Hopper.
Ills face washed, dressed in a suit of
+, clothes, world too wide To be sure,
but still wholesome. decent garments.
he sat a guest at the captains IL BILE,
drinking cofiee-oh. wonderful. deli
ciou- b-verage-eating like a Christian
with knife and fork. spinning his yarn
to sympathizing ears--he To whose la
ments only the moaning ocean had re-
piled for So many days. In the midst
of the Ia Of how the ship went down
he suddenly paused. his eyes fixed on
something that he alone could see.
And she" he said aloud, she said: i
will be true To you forever. Douglas.
How can You doubt meg" Then he
flushed scarlet. i've got a habit OF
talking to myself, I'm afraid" he fal.
tered. But every sailor man who
heard him understood that he was
thinking Of his sweetheart And he
saw il in their eyes and was ashamed
no longer. lie had shock. though, in
the morning when waking in his berth,
with white linen against his cheek in
stead Of the roughness of rock. and
limbs at ease that had wont to be
cramped and chilled and aching. He
lifted himself on his elbow and saw "A
strange. wild creature staring at him
1t was like skeleton. and the skin
upon its bones was DARK as that of an
old negro. From the deep hollows of
the cye-sockets glared redrirnmed eyes.
and wild masses OF hair fell over his
shoulders and mingled with beard
that reached to his waist Was the
strange being some n adman? Did il
mean him harm? Then. With a groan.
lac sank back upon his pillow. He was
only looking at himself in mirror let
into the cabin wall Three years o.
such life as he had led had changed a
full-checked. bright-cyed. well-groomed
young man to this wild creature.
gor little while he despaired; but
there were scissors and razors TO be
had The ships barber took him in
hand. and three meals a day did Won
dcrs. lie got back his own looks won
deriully during the voyage.
But how long those few weeks seemed
that yet kept him from his Dora Oar
ling And still as he leaned over the
side OF the ship, sending his heart
homeward. he whispered to himself:
IN lie true TO you forever. Douglas
How can you doubt me?"
At last the voyage was over, his
thanks and adieus to his prescrvers ut
tered. lie had even reached the sea.
side village and the gate OF the garden
that surrounded Capt Darling's house.
! twas evening There was no moon.
but the sky was studded with stars.
and through the windows Of the cot.
tagc fell the iamplight His heart was
beating again AS il had when he first
caught sight Of the smoke-drist upon
the horizon. and instead Of ringing the
bell he stepped softly across the porch
and looked through "A parlor window.