Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-07-20

safety land after refreshing nights
Irepose, arose early in order to take
walk before the breakfast hour. On
my return, entered the dining room,
and was somewhat surprised to see
father chatting Familiarity with several
gentlemen, for did not know of any
lone at c. that we knew. Father
perceiving my entrance. said. Come
| Fife. here is my friend. Mr.. Ellston
and Roy, and in a moment | found
myself greeting a pleasant, elderly
gentleman and Roy Ellston, the play
mate of my childhood, whom | had
not seen for years.
"Of course we were delighted with
our friends, and found Roy to be a
congenial, interesting companion, cul
tured. polished in manner. with a
mind richly stored with true, useful
knowledge, for his chosen profession
was the ministry. Those were happy
days we spent, sitting in some shady
grassy nook, or on rocky ledge. with
the white spray at our feet, watching
the ships sail slowly by or listening
to the monotonous screech of the hun
cry sea birds. How we loved to gaze
far out upon the great ocean, whose
| throbbing, heaving bosom, seemed
ever in motion, and away where the
| blue sky looked as though it were
melting into the sea, Roy would say,
| Fife, there is where my work lies
over the sea.
| "Our nuptials were planned to take
place the next spring, and we'll | re-
member how fondly his eyes rested
upon me, as he said, Il hope then 10
have as pleasant home for my bonny
bride as the one which she will leave
"As We walked back to the hotel
one evening several days afterwards,
Roy told me some friends of his had
invited him to accompany them on a
boating excursion. They wished to
visit an island several miles off, and
thought to have a jolly time camping
out. My face must have betrayed the
sudden throb of my heart, and disap-
pointnent therein, for looking at me,
he quickly added, 4 shall not be alb
sent long. Effie, only three days.
| All the way back, my heart kept re-
peating, only three days. for l
thought of the loneliness that would
inevitably follow his departure The
next day was glorious in soft, sum-
mer beauty. He babe me good-by on
the beach, and soon he and his COM
panions were skimming the waves,
and my last adieu was heralded from
their limpid midst
with slow, lettering steps, l re-
turned. The gay, chattering group
on the veranda heartily invited NE to
join them. Saying l would be down
later, passed on to my room, and
throwing open the window, | sat
down, with book in my hand, but
could not read lay back in my chair,
and was soon engaged in watching a
| bank of fleecy clouds that assumed all
kinds of pretty forms. Soon l fell
asleep. and in my dream, l thought
| Roy and l were in little boat, some
time in clear, smooth water, then
again half submerged in tossing bill
! lows. was awakened by gust of
wind in my face, and looking from
the window, l perceived storm APP
preaching. 1t was then my heart
| quailed with fear and dread, as l
thought of that frail boat and its oo-
cupants tossed and dashed by the mer-
! CHESS waves. The storm came rapid
ly on. The wind blew fiercely, and
the rain fell kissing into the sea. My
heart sent forth a petition that they
might reach their destination, or find
a sheltering harbor. where the bitter
ness of the storm would be less severe.
THE morning dawned bright and
beautiful, with scarcely any traces of
the storm. With all aching heart,
l watched the shore all day long, with
a fond hope they might return, but all
in vain. Day by day passed away,
but the boat never came in-never was
! seen again. Then | knew that Roy,
SO good, so noble had persisted in the
waves. Oh, it was bitter thought!
And in the agony of my soul, l cried
out, why am called upon to bear so
| much. >"
| Aunt Mary paused, as memory came
too wildly before her Just then the
merry jingle of sleigh bells was
heard, and Fife, hastily brushing the
tears from her eyes, gently kissed her
aunt's cheek, and rose to welcome her
| f-;a,,Je