Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-23

IL was uOG easy TO OlSC1ngulSn any
thing, for my eyes were full of salt wa.
ter, but after bit managed to make
out Holdings boat, with three men on
board of her, being driven before the
gale. 1t was madness ON his part not to
have put back hours ago. for he knew
well enough how little the Mermaid was
fitted to encounter such sea as this
For few minutes the wind lulled, and
we came within speaking distance.
George, Holding shouted as soon
as he could make himself heard, "Mead.
ows knew what he was about last night,
eh? was fool not to take his advice
shall never set foot on shore again, "
Ford stood up, rope in his hand, and
called to him to come on board the Vix-
en-. But Holding shook his head He
was seaman enough to know that to at
tempt such a thing would in all prob
ability swamp US all, and he would not
risk it.
''Tell the folks you saw us. Z" he said
calmly, though his face was white as
death. ''Bid them goodby. 1 know
Meadows will look after my little girl
God bless herl And you, George-Liz-
zie''-
His voice was lost in the roar of the
waves. and indeed my heart beat SO fast
should hardly have made out his words
in any case. A flash of lightning, more
vivid than any we had had yet, half
blinded me, and at the same moment
we shipped sea that nearly washed US
from our seats. When we had succeed
ed in bailing out the water and were
able to look about US, I sought in all di-
rections for the Mermaid, but she was
nowhere to be seen. l cast myself down
at the bottom of the boat, overcome with
horror. To have my rival thus suddenly
swept from my path was more than I
could bear. Last night would have
hailed with joy anything that severed
murderer. 1t was who had lured him
to his doom and wrecked the life of the
girl loved. l tried to pray for Gods
forgiveness, but no words would come.
In my misery would have thrown my
self into the water, but had no strength
to move Ford called to me, but his
voice fell on deaf ears. l lay stunned
and motionless
| must have remained in that state for
some time. Ford thought had been
struck by lightning, but it was out of
his power to help me. 1t was all he could
do, single handed, to guide our little
craft. Fortunately for US both, the storm
began to abate, Or we should never have
reached the shore
1t was dusk when we landed, and the
harbor lights flashing into my eyes
reused me from the lethargy into which
had fallen. A crowd was assembled on
the beach, eager to welcome the friends
they had given up for lost. l soon made
out the tall figure Of Meadows, with his
granddaughter clinging to him as if for
support, and l bowed my head in agony
at the thought of the fatal news had
to give her. Suddenly a voice sounded
in my ear, clear and sharp above the
rest, and started. 1t was voice I had
never expected to hear again in this
world
'sHere they are at last!" Ben Holding
cried joyfully. Lizzie, look up. Howell
is safe, thank God! He is herel"
l staggered toward them, dizzy and
faint. The joy was overpowering. By
what miracle had Holding escaped with
his life? He seized me by the hand and
drew me forward. Lizzie said something
could not hear and would have fallen
to the ground had not some one caught
her and laid her, white as lily, in her
grandfather S arms. Then ensued babel
of voices All the fishermen in the viii
lage seemed thronging to shake hands
with me and Ford | gathered from
their talk that great anxiety had been
felt ON our account; that lifeboat had
been sent to our aid and had fallen in
with the Mermaid only just in time to
save the lives of those on board, for she
had capsized and left them struggling
in the water By the time this was ef-
fected the wind went down, and finding
the Vixen was not in pressing need Of
assistance the lifeboat made for shore,
where she arrived long before we did.
was borne on the shoulders of my
comrades to Meadows house, where
good glass of g1oy helpe: t. steady my
nerves. But as soon as was able to
walk insisted on going home, giving
as an excuse that wanted to turn in.
To remain under Meadows roof was in
3olerable.
"Well, if 60 you must" Luke ex-
claimed, when he found would stay no
longer, Il will see you to your door.
Don't cry, my girl. He will be all right
in the morning Ben and I will look aft
er him.
"Powell," Holding began as soon as
Ihad reached my room, you and have
a little matter to settle, and the sooner
it is done the better. know what's
troubling you. knew it last night, and
would have set you right then if you
would have listened to me. Idon't deny
was put out by what you said, but
we'll, l have been very near death to-
day, and such things seem of no impor-
tance. You think Lizzie and are low
ers, don t you? All the village thinks so.
Because have taken little house of
my own, am going to take wife, they
say. And so 1 am. Mary Blake and
hope to come together at Christmas. She
lives at the place where I've been work
ing all summer AS I haven't creature
belonging to me, l came to Lizzie for
help, for what do know of how things
ought to look or what a girl likes to
have about her? But you've no call to
be jealous, my friend. Lizzie is yours
heart and soul. I've thought so many a
day, and now I'm sure of it. l confess
/ pretended to make love to her last
night, but it was only bit of fun. Will
you forgive and forget?'
What relief those words were to me!
I tried to tell him of all the wicked
thoughts that had filed my brain and
to ask his pardon for them, but he would
not let me speak and presently went
away, leaving me alone with Luke
Meadows.
1 could do no less than confess the
state of my heart to the old man, though
I was scarcely in a condition to talk CO.
herently. But Lizzie's grief and terror
during the storm had softened him, and
instead of repelling me, as feared he
would do, he smiled as he said it was
true he had vowed never to part with
his little girl, but if liked to come and
1iua of fl,o ooftooo 7 r,,iyht ~, 1.rxy ho,