The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-11-13

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4 a thrown helpless at the
T0~ mercy OF wind and wave
into the trough Of the sea by the break
ing OF n part OF the machinery. and il
was feared by the panic-strlcken pas
sengers-and with just reason-that
the hour of doom approached. They
crowded the deck and impedcd the
action OF the crew. They screamed
and sobbed and prayed. One man who
stood apart from the others prayed 81
lently with n hopeless agony on his
face A friend with him touched him
on the shoulder.
"Cheer up, Edgar, we are not lost
yet Che had sudden contempt for the
cowardice Of the Occasion) "at least
let us die--if die we must--lile men"
at is not for myself | fear Walter,
but for Miriam; she is so sensitive. so
loyal to those she loves; it would brcal,
her heart to have her lover drowned
like this on the eve Of her wedding.
She could never outlivc such a trag-
edy"
"Shc would not be the only one left
to suffer. If we go down all these
others perish with us. Think you. they
will leave none 10 mourn their lossY"
his friend, Walter Dickson, responded.
Theirs are not parallel cases.
Miriam will be widow, yet no wife.
Ii will be n cruel disappointment of
her plans for our happy lives. Walter.
IL you alone are saved tell her that she
must learn to forget me. Her sweet
young life must not be darkencd by un-
happy memories. Promise me-"
Something like sneer distorted Wal
ter Dicks0n's face; he said with bitter
emphasis
"You have been blind, Edgar blind
as a mole. With eternity in view |
must tell you the truth. Come below
with me. If we are TO die I'm this
storm ! shall ease your soul Of its last
fear. II we live you can prove the
truth Of my words"
He led his daZed and distracted
friend through the tempest and confus.
ion, dragging him by main force to the
uncertain shelter of the deserted cabin,
and God alone knows whether his mo-
tive was that OF smccr'r friend or
the madness and triumph OF n sinister
nature. But what he told had Mt least
the awful merit of truth.
On the same night on which the
steamer with her precious human
freight was tcmpCst-tossed in the mid
night blackncSs of the lake. 4 young
woman was walking the floor OF her
room, wrlnging her hands in impotcnt
anguish as she listened TO the storm
without Her face was pale and worn,
ber eyes glittered with a feverlsh ex-
element. Every muscle was tense.
and at last the strain became unbcar-
able. and she rushed from her own
room and sought that of an older sis.
ter. who was sleeping calmly and pro.
foundly.
Margaret" she called. and shook
the sleeper lightly.
Miriam? What is It? Not time TO
rise, surely? Have you not slcptT'
"No. no, how could /? DO you not
hear the storm? 1t is awful! | cannot
sleep"
The elder sister sat Up and scanned
the white face bending over her.
"You have not slept, and tomorrow
Is your wedding day! Miriam, you
will look like n ghost"
'Do you hear the stormT cried
Miriam wildly. "If Il RACES so on land.
how much worse it must he on the
water. and Edgar is crossing tonight
in the face OF this storm"
Miriam" said Margaret gently
'kneel here and let us say prayer"
81 have been praying-prayed every
=. minute this night. hope God will
hear me and send the boat on which
Edgar is coming to the bottom of the
lakew
"Miriaml Sister. you are crazed. Dc
you know what you are saying? Tha
you are asking God TO destroy the boa
that is bringing your lover TO you?'
''Yes, yes-that is what I mean.
would be glad IL they came and tol,
me that he had gone down, and wa
free-free-frce"'
Her voice rose 20 n pathetic shric
that blended with the wailng win
and died out i'm n moan.
"Then II Is truc-I did not. woul
not, believe Il! You did not love Et
gar Ryerson. and you DO love hI
friend. Walter DicksonT
But Miriam turned away. "Slec
again. my sister. l am sorry I dl
turbed you. Ny wedding day Is dawi
ing. and we shall soon know wheth,
God has answered my prayer"
A brief line i'm the morning paper to-
The story. The boat had gone down
midlake with all on board.
Years had passed. Margaret hf
married a wealthy suitor. and Mira