Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-23

my shoulder 20 look ut II. sos
At that moment q crash OF thunder
sounded. and q brilliant fash OF light
ming illuminated the ship. looked ND.
The sky had grown black A night.
The sea. with It's inky waves, seemed
TO bound toward as. II hissed under
the sing OF the wind. The vessel rock
cd from side TO side, and the water
splashed upon the deck. I sprang 70
my feet and. thrusting the picture into
my bosom. seized my companion's
hand
Another and stfil another clap peaied
through the air. In q few moments
we were almost In complete darkness
save when the lightning shot In fash
ing lines across the sky. The fury of
the storm was indescribable. The
wind seemed to have gone mad. Salt
spray dashed ON my face. cutting like
knife. In the darkness turned and
threw my arms about the girl. As my
lips sought hers there came suddenly
q cry-e CRY that rushed upon me like
q resurrection. I felt my companion
slip from my arms. BY vivid nash OF
lightning I caught a glimpse OF her
face II was like a shadow, but wear
ing still that sad smile upon the lips.
The next instant light flashed be
fore my eyes. The storm had abated-
had ceased All was calm Beside me
stood tall man In unlforUa Hia ap-
pesrance seemed strange - uA he
suggested that which I had fesnD1ten.
he had his arm thrown about ma and
he seemed to be supporting me-
Feel better nowr He spoke IN n
loud. gruff voice, and II was TO me like
the memory OF q dream.
he held something to my lips. II
was like liquid fire. 1 gasOed and
turned from him.
"PSycher' 1 cried
The ship. the crew. my beloved, alI
were gone. I stood alone upon the
ruins OF the Fleur-de-lis. The sea
was calm and placid, the sky blue. The
rotten planks were beneath my feet.
Come, hurry" said my cor19anion.
This won't last much longer" And
he dragged me 10 the side OF the veg
sci. where there was q boat Just be-
yond I raw the masts OF an English
frigate. 1 felt myself being transport
ed TO the boat and. though I shrieked
and struggled. begging that. those
had been with on the FIour-de-lis
might be saved or at least that I
might remain there also. It was OF no
avail
He Is rAvinK." i heard the ofiser
mutter. The strain has caused insani-
", not unusual In such cases."
thought OF Psyche. OF my love, and
with the despair OF the thought I
swooned away.
remained unconscious. III. fer many
days. and when / was myself again
we were nearing the shores OF Eng
land. As tottered weakly upon the
deck and. wrapped IN a heavy cloak,
reclined In my easy chair suddenly
bethought me OF my portrait. / put
my hand in my bosom. There, close to
my heart, felt It. T1embnnEiy I
drew 1t forth. Eazed with a sense OF
Joy and relief upon IT. lust As IL had
been completed IL was now-the beau
tiful. perfect features. the exquisite
turn OF the head. the sweet. melan-
choly smile.
1 pressed 1t TO my lips In a delirIum
OF Joy. I spent myself upon IL. At
least 1 had this tangible proof OF the
past. II was more than I had dreamed
possible, treasure. For when re-
lated my experience TO those on board
I saw from their Incredulous- faces
that they regarded my words but M
the incoherent wanderings OF q dis
trAught brain.
The captain told me that he had e.
pied q floating wreck. that with his
glass It had appeared TO him that some
one was signaling, and he had sent to
investigate. This story. and not mine.
was everywhere received among my
friends. and as I noted their plying
Glances when eagerly related my mar
rative, ceased finally to make any
mention OF It
But In the solitude Of my chamber
kissed the loved face which 1 carried
against my heart and heaped every
dear and endearing name up0a Il. /
had case OF chased gold ma6s and
ntted the picture to 1t. A fine, alRsest
Invisible gold thread was fastened to
this. and 1t never left my pers0c. As
often as I gazed upon the sweet eAce
which looked back at me longeA with
an intense longing for the original Ny
ingly would I have spent all my days
upon that ghastly wreck to have pos-
sessed the Joy OF her presence.
mingled but little in society, for II
held no attraction for me. / was con-
adhered woman hater and looked
upon with curiosity. But / was pros
porous In my business. Fortune smiled
upon me. I made rapid strides and all
that / touched seemed to yield ten
fold But whatever art had In paint
ing was lost, gone from me forever.
Vainly / strove to restore my talent. I
could accomplish nothing. Since the
painting OF that one perfect picture all
else was Of no avail Finally sban-
doned the effort In despair.
80 time passed. Years came and
went watched the gray hairs come
about my temples. and In my unevent-
ful Life counted time by the figures on
G dial"
Eighteen years went by. II was the
Summer Of 1889. We all remember the
great heat OF that year. took little