The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-12-22
Written BY SMiss
Jimmie Worthington
for The Times.

Ups again rang In her ears, and sh
saw theevuanquishing sails of the Ill
omened ship. The voice of the old vi
Gle arising suddenly above the merr,
DIN aroused her from her sad reverie.
How the wind howls," he said:'
Just like 1t did tonight five years ago
when the India merchantmen came Ii
the bay for shelter. Is there storm
arislng" Rachel sank back, pale and
faint, in her chair. The merry laugh
on Rose Winslow's lips was hushed, and
rising from her seat she crossed the
room to Rachel and put her arms about
her neck Mrs. Winslow, with tears
slowly stealing down her withered
cheek, touched her brother-in-law's
hand, but, needing not her warning, he
continued:
THE voices of the spirits are abroad
tonight again. There is ship off the
point, | know. Haven't you boys seen
it today" No one answered him, and
he said pevishly: "It's no use keeping
1t from me. Something is going to
happen. Who has seen that ship
say! And he struck his staff angrily
against the floor. Rose leaving Ra-
chefs side, went to him, put her hand
on his shoulder and said in low tone:
Uncle Ben, hush! Remember Ra-
chel and mother, and don't mar our
happiness tonight" Your mother
said that five years ago to me but it
did not stop black Sorrow from stand
ing in the doorway the next day. Ra-
chel, y raising his voice: "come here.
You will tell me the truth. Is there a
sail in sight?"
AS he asked the question, suddenly
there broke on the ear the sound, so
familiar, yet SO terrible, to the jewellers
on the rock-bound coast, of a signal
gun from ship in distress. All start
ed to their feet, and the old sailor, with
a look almost of exultation exclaimed:
"You will believe me now; the ship has
come"
There was rush for the windows
looking seward. The moon lit up the
waste of snow and silvered the wind
dashed waters, but no ship hove in
sight, and as they listened for the min
ute guns, there was brought to them
instead the joyous peal of bells ringing |
in the newborn Christmas day.
The remainder Of the. night Rachel
by her window, for the bell,
as the sounds foated to her on the
midnight air, had stirred her heart |
with faint hope. A vague un-
rest seized upon her, and as the rising
sun flooded the sea with its rosy light,
her shawl abouther and, steal
ng down the stairway, opened the hall
loor and made her way along the beach
20 where the Water Witch had lain at
lnchor on the fatal day that blighted |
her youth.
AS she reached the point, again the
bell from the little church by the cliff |
'ang forth merry Christmas chime.
A sob broke from her lips. "David,
David" she moaned, burying her face
n her hands. "The Christmas bell
hat rang in our wedding day brought
tut woe to u.s."
''But henceforth will only bring hap
'iness complete, my own" a we'll
Known voice replied, and she found
herself, lying faint with sudden happi-
less, in her husbands arms. 1.-THE
ca has given up its dead, dear wife,"
nd holding her close to his heart in a
'oice broken with emotion and thank
illness, he told her of the struggle
With the press gang from the Indiaman,
# the five years endeavor to find
lomeward-bound ship, and of the
wreck off the coast last night, in sight
f his nome.
Wondering where Rachel could be,
he family collected around the break
asst table. "Rachel is not here, nor in
Ier ROOM" exclaimed the old captain.
Go look for her; go look for her.
has happened" and, arising
astily, he felt for his staff.
"You are right, Uncle Ben; some
hing has happened" merry voice
'Rachel found a Christ
las present on the beach this morning,
nd my prophecy will also come true
hat:
" The wedding bell that at Chris
mas rings
" Joy and happiness truly brings +"
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