Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-04


sadly disguised at my lack of appreciation
of subjects in which he found so much to
enjoy. Strange to say he made no adj
verse criticism on my style of dress 1t is
true l was always consummately clothed
NOT alone by my own taste, but because
was allowed to go to the best dressmak.
ers without regard to expense.
Jerome told me frankly that be admired
the air of elegance in my slender figure,
the slight droop of the head, the swanlihe
throat, the small Greek nose and delicate
chin. The type was patrician.
The chin had receding slope, however.
| He was little afraid Of that He feared
It meant weakness of character. knew
his diagnosis was correct there, beyond
| question The winter passed and the
spring. twas arranged that our marriage
should take place the coming October.
Ar now ! began to lose my appetite and
ctr myth. My parents were much alarmed,
and jerome especially so. A European
voyage was discussed by the three most
sOlicitous for my welfare and finally de-
cidCd upon, but for some reason which
could not myself understand my will in
this matter asserted itself. SO violently
opposed the plan that it was given up,
though most reluctantly
] had it in mind that was sinking into
n decline, and l wanted to die in my own
Gountry. In a dim sort of way | felt that
great change was in store for me in the
coming Summer-somo crisis in my life
and my languur and depression of spirits
caused me to picture my own death. |
had even mentally arranged the dcathbcd
scene and the probable time Of my demise,
which thought would be either in July
or August. ! was, in fact, in a deplorably
morbid state Of mind.
My reading and music were of course
given up. l had tainted while at the
piano, and the physician whom we had
known since my childhood issued his man
date that | was to do nothing in music
during the summer, and that my reading
If | read at all. must be of the lightGSt and
most trashy nature. The LIST of July found
us again at the seaShOrC--at the place
where we had first met the year before.
Jcrones passion for the ocean was, if
possible, greater than ever. He seemed
really satisfied and at ease only when he
was near the water or on it, a liking which
l did not share though was usually his
companion when he went on his sailing
excursions. One evening l had started
alone for a stroll on the beach, leaving
Jerome on the hotel piazza talking bust
ness with friend The sun was setting
when he joined me, and we stood in silence
watching its disappearance below the hori-
ION line.
Let us walk down to the little cove
and take boat and 20 for short row."
My heart grew sick with apprehension.
at is too late" urged. at would be
dark long before we could get back"
Not at ALL The moon will beup, and,
see, there are others starting out. We shall
have company about us, even if we do not
know them"
Il feel somehow, lnsi.ted, "as if l
cannot go on the water tonight"
Because" he queried.
81 cannot tell why, but you know, ,Jer-
ONE, l never oppose you-just now, how
ever
Nor must you now" he said, taking
my hands and looking into my eyes with
his kindly, searching gaze.
But the ocean is so large and our boat
so small"
Yes, but know the ocean and love it.
We are on the best of terms. You know,
too, that | handle the oars with the skill
of a professional OaTsman."
BY this time we had reached the cove,
and the man in charge of the boats had
one in readiness for us
The strong will made me obey, as it al
ways did, and | stepped into the boat. AS
we pushed off l saw ii small cloud coming
up out of the west. A sick fear came over
me, and the certainty crcpt Into my brain
lut h, 81. I -,
hanging over me.
But / said nothing. jerome had no
sympathy with frightened women. The /
cloud grew larger and blackor. 1t was in (
to me that a man with .
such cool judgment and so large an .
amount of caution as jerome possessed did .
not at once turn back. The other boats .
were all coming in, but still we went on. /
1t grew darker. The whole appearance of .
the night seemed CHASTITY to me- The |
ocean lay very black, the brCathingS of tho |
wind just ripping the water. A thin, .
vapor came and hid the moon .
Now the breeze died out, and the atnIus-
phcre grew hot.
In the extreme west the shade of the
heavens was of dismal state, and the
was winking like stars, dancing
madly in among the gloom. l sat motion
less in the middle of the boat, strangely
and unnaturally calm, watching the
growth of the storm. The gloom stole
into darkness, as though giant
hand was warily drawing a sable curtain
about us. Twice l tried to ask if he were
trying to row hUmeward, but / could not
articulate "A word. And now came vivid
flash of forkcd lightning. 1t showed me
Jerome's handsome face, pale rs DEATH the
features set and rigid. The crash of thun-
der that followed was terrific.
When the peal had died away, some
thing came to my crippled consciousness
as decisive and hopeless as a sentence of
death to "a criminal. 1--WE are doomed, my
dear child but at least we can die together.
| could not have gone without you" The
wind rose, and our boat began dancing on
the crests of the waves as lightly as bird
on clover top. 1 thought l saw not far
oil boat larger than ours with some one
in it, but was not sure that it was not a
fancy Of mine, born of a dim hope that we
might be saved. A thousand lights danced
before my eyes; my senses were leaving
me; my feet grew icy cold and felt as if
they were in water, which was indeed the
case
All at once the boat gave whirl and
plunge, and knew no more When the
dawned, clear and cool, l found
myself lying in the boathouse, banketed
and shawled, with my mother and other