The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-25
(continued)
& THE NARRATIVE OF WALTER
HARTRIGHT

& THE NARRATIVE OF WALTER
HARTRIGHT
Early An the summer of 1850 I and my
survfving companions left the wilds and
forests of Central America for nome
Arrived at the coast. we took ship there
for England. The vessel was wrecked
IN the Gulf OF Mexico; ! was among tne
few saved from the sea. IL was my
third escape from peril OF death. Death
by disease, death by the Indians. death
py drowning--ail three had approached
me: all three had passed me by
The survivors OF the wreck were res
cued by an American vessel, bound TOT
Liverpool The ship reached her port
on the thirteenth day OF October, looV
We landed late in the afternoon, and
arrived IN London the same night
These pages are not the record OF my
wanderings and my dangers away from
home The motives which led me from
nv country and my friends to new
world OF adventure and peril are known
From that self-imposesi exile came
hack. as I had hoped. prayed, believed
/ should come back. a changed man. IN
the waters OF a new life / had tempered
my nature afresh. In the stern schooi
OF extremity and danger my VIII had
learned TO be strong, my heart 10 De
had gone out 10 fly from my own future
] came back to face It, as man should
To face n with that inevitable suppress
siao of myself which / knew IL would
temand from me. / hah parted win
the worst bitterness OF the past, but not
with my hearts remembrance OF the sor-
row and the tenderness OF that memor-
shIe time. / had not ceased to feel the
one irreparsble disappointment or my
ufe--I had only learned TO bear IL. Laura
Fairlie, was I'm all my thoughts when tne
shin bore me away and looked my last
at England. Laura Faarie was In all
nv thoughts when the ship brought me
back and the morning light showed the
friendly shore In view
heart goes back TO the old love. ] write
of her as Laura Fairlie still 1t Is hard
20 think OF her. II is hard TO speak or
her. b, her husbands name.
There are no more words OF explana-
zion to add, on my appearing for the
second time in these pages. This mar
rat.ve, II have the strength and the
courage to write II, may now go on.
NV nrst anxieties and my first hopes.
when the morning came centered In my
mother and my sister. l felt the nee
essity OF preparing them for the JOY and
surprise OF my return, after an absence
during which II had been impossible for
them TO receive any tidings OF me Tor
months past Early In the morning
sent a letter to the Hampstead Cottage'
and followed II myself in an hours time
when the flrst meeting was over, when
our ouiet and composure OF other days
bexar gradually to return to US, l saw
something in my mothers face wnlcn
told me that secret oppression lay
heavy on her heart. There was more
than love, there was sorrow In the an
xluus eyes that looked on me so tender
ly: there was pity in the kind hand tha'
slowiy and fondly strengthened Its nolc
on mine We had no concealment'
from each other. She knew how TIT
hope of my life had been wrecked-sn'
knew why had left her. IT was M,
lips 70 ask, as composedly as l couln
n any letter had come for me from Miss
Haicombe--if there was any news or nel
sister that l might hear. But when
looked I'm my mothers face l lost cour
age to put the question even In tina
guarded form, ] could only say, DOUBT
ingiy and restrainedly.
.sYou have something to tell me.
Nv sister. who had been sitting op
posite to US, rose suddenly. without
word OF explanation-roee. and lett th'
room. .
NV mother moved closer to me on th'
sofa. and put her arms round my neck
Those fond arms trembled; the tears
flowed fast over the faithful loving face
walter she whispered-"my owi
darling. my heart Is heavy for you. on
my son. my son. try to remember tina
/ am still left!'
NY head sunk on her bosom She ha'
said all, in saying those words
II was the morning OF the third da,
since my return-the morning or tn
sixteenth OF October.
/ had remained with them at the cot
tare: I had tried hard not to imbitte
the happiness of my return, TO them, a
II was imbittered to me.
had done all man could to rise afte
the shock, and accept my life resigned
to let my great sorrow come In tender
ness to my heart, and not In despair