Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-03-25
MiRIAM'S DREAM.

"You won't really 20 at this time Of
the year. will youY''
Rather I'd 20 in December if Dick
We're NJ the end of the Journey.
well, ! would not cross the Atlantic
in the middle of November for u dozen
swcethrarts.
Miriam laughed glccfully She and
her Dick had been separated for three
years. and now he had fallen into
good berth at Toronto and had written
to her Ia decide whether they should
both spend their winter in loneliness or
whether she would 20 to him and set
tie down M once as his wife.
Miriam did not hesitate moment.
She s"t aside the shortest time possible
for winding up her affairs in England
and arranged To sail in tho Si,onian
from Livorpuol Ia Halifax.
But you u have u dreadful overland
journey after that II must hc II long
way 10 Toronto. said her fri. nj Nora
II don't know how you'll get through
all by yours, lf
"Ah hu. I'm not going To. Dick has
been sent by his firm To- New York IN
berth in the Mcldrui. = {, asting
steamcr which will hrin:; linn Ia Hall
fax an0ut the same time that get
there
Miriam WAS ina fever of iay atd was
altos, ihcr ollivioua cf Srch small mat
tcrs rs int MS" cold. Il pitching. rolling
ship and blttCned down hai,hrS The
good ship fou HI :@N.v :hren"h al
stormy ice throat, ND sca anl ~ hast
n morning iyoi;r WREN III adn shcne
fair and the waves sank into corl-
parativr calm. p. n':trs swarme,i on
deck. consr&tuat in's c2ch other an their
escape fr"rl prison. ard the anxious
captain si.,hc,i with reliCf 10 think that
the worst was ever He was upon his
bridge stamr;ng rp and down to krepl
the blood circulating in his feet. when
ahead of them he saw strange sp,ck
dancing on the ways.
As h drew nearer he found il IN ap-
par,ntiy cIlpty boat. and he sent of
one of his hoats to tow the stranger to
the steamer When il rca, he'd the side. |
however. the liap form of sailor was
lifted from it. ndcr care and good
treatment IA" blood hogan to run again
through his aiif veins. and he was allie |
to tell wha: had hefallcn him. Bu; he
fore that happened his hoat had hccn
landed 81 dcck. and the name upon it
Meidrum made known.
''I'ow funny" cried Miriam. "A
steamer hin. from New York To Hal |
flax is named Neldrum
Ave. missile said Il sailor omi
nously. ''and this Is une of her boats.
''But how cen it be- How could it
have got loose ont k.rc
IF that poor hap lives II" can tell
MS that. and no enc else perhaps.
After soGc time the sailor words |
began to beat into Miriam's stupciicd
brain She tried to speak to some one
standing near. but her tongue would
not move. only her knees shook 50 much
that she nearly fell Her ncighbor drew
her - II seat.
lis the Meldrum wrecked" Miriam
asked with tragic eyes.
II do not know. but hope not That
poor fellow will tell MS. if he lives =
That evening il was known that the
Meldrum had collidcd with another
vessel i'll the STERN. and that. although
all the boats had been lowered. they
had one after another been swamred
The rescued sailor had Just jumped into
one when its ropes snapped. and he
was therefore the only person saved.
The stewardess took the tidings with
a cup of tea Ia Miriam as she lay inert
and dcspairin- on her sofa. and She Let
the woman gossip out her news without
uttering IL sound Al last the stewardesa
went away. and Miriam lay still. not
thinking only suffering
Later she crawi,i into her bed
where. through the night. visions of
Dick, as Il hoy. as Il youth. as Il man.
rushed thrnu.h her mind Sometimes
she saw his face shining through the
darkness. hrt wh u size o,.4sped him
round the neck i" y.as cuid as ice and
wet With salt wat.r
Then she WAS out IN tn" upper deci;
and M. alcn". i'v h'r side stood some
one Il huge man. Il giant, VII" seemed
to reach Ia thr sRy. liisci"th, 4 changed
their coior from lignt "a dark. from
black iu il,wn Is great hcGy undu-
lated ali the 'iac. and WHOM he rut his
lrn rcUni - he scericd Ia bc sur
rounded with dry. sntiO, ating warmth.
Then hc icirtsd long arm To the
northeast and sc.lrpd Ia slip farther
lni farther away, thuugh h. still stood
by h.r side the monStcr lcnSt.lened
into mil,S. Miriam followed him with
-'raining ewes. whn Il flash of light
ninS lit ~ tie sly and sea. 1t played
for nriurrt round Il distant spot.
which II. -iaut was touching. and in
thar i.niucrf hr saw picture which
she never fur:ot
In The li.tlt Cirt !" e hyht y hnat rock
Cd helpic:,Sly nIuu the waters Under
sail were croachei some dozen people.
trying, ly huddln,: together. to keep
.he warmth in thv,r bodies. she knew
hat Dick was there. and called his
name shrilly. There was a sudden
movement in the human heap, white
f.utr /, -.-i oU: End then the vision
passed
Miriam lay in her hcrth the new
dawn already li.hlcuimg the -. Then
fcvcrishly she .ut ~ ami went n deck. |
to see nothing hut the ,.tav sky and |
eraycr sca. Ia hear nnth!n.- bat th@
throhhn., # the engines aui the Snu-h /
of the wind and waves Breakfast time
came but she needed il npt For hours
she stood inlnovahlc. gazing to til"
northeast over the bulwarks What did /
that dream of hers mean! Was Dick |
floating somewhere hclplcsSly. with 9th
er pasScngcrSl
II was noon when the wind. vecring. |
scnt Il cloud of smoke over her head
ami Il shower If black smud.rs upon
lrr hands With them came a passing |
sensation of warmth This slight Incl
d nj awukc some vague memory con
n"ctcd with her dream The black col |
umn 81 smoke, changing Il; its edges To
brown. thinnina out until she could see
the gray sky through il. starting ever
from her side and yet reaching far into
the distance. caugh: her eye.
Inspiration followed quickly. The
smoke was the giant Of the night he
fore. and where ID pointed lay Dick and
l;s ,..,u,,,opiopSi SiUht danced into ler !