Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-22


How the scene in the old house in
Quebec came back to her as she saw
him lying helpless before her thus
again!
MY ship" he murmured. "My
ship! She strilies. Ia. She's going
down! lie These, My God, my wife
my wife-havc mercy on me! MY
ship--my wife-pity, o God, my wife
my wife,
Hes been sayin' them words for
three days. 'Tis his wife an the ship
all the time" whispered the old sailor
TO Hatfield
Anne stared at Grafton in strained
silence. He did not know her. Would
he ever do so? She thought, if he did
not recover consciousness. If he did
not cease that unwearying murmur of
ship and wife, she would die there
before him. She was petrlied, APP
palled, shocked by the cumulative
events Of the week--tried beyond en-
durance. She stared longer, growing
whittier as she did. Was she dying.
too? Well. what mattered it? They
would so together. Hatfield saw her
sway and not with the motion of the
ship. He sprang TO her side and caught
her by the shoulder. Old Socum took
her by the hands.
"Ma'am," he said in his rude way,
tears filing his evs. II kncwed him
wen he was a baby. | sailed with
his father. Pull yourself together an
speak to him. If YOU don't call him
back again he's gone. The doctor says
he cant do nuthin' more fer him.
Speak to him. fer Gods sake. ma am"
Anne reused herself with a last des-
porate effort -summoned The vestiges
Of her resolution once more. and. as
she thou~ht for the last timo-steDped
nearer to Grafton laid her hand Upon
his brow. and bent her lips low toward
him
philip" she wNisncred philip, 0
Philip' Nv husband"
He heard the unfamiliar sound.
His babhlinr ceased He oponed his
ewes and lay STRANGELY still. looking
at her
little Franco" he whispered, "is
It thou"
81. indeed, Philp'" cried the girl
'Ny wife," he murmurcd
eyes, yes. now and forever! o
Philip, Philip, I called to God ont Of
the deep and He heard me- We will
never be parted
you have called me back to life
ne murmurod.
She laid her head upon his breast,
as she had done many times before III
Canada. He closed his eyes Had he
tainted? But. no. she felt the pres
sure of his hand lie would recover
now. 1t needed 10 other skill than
that supplied by her loving heart to
assure her of tina He had grown
strangely calm in her presence. Her
own strength cam back TO her before
his weakness 81. seemed TO lift him
ND to life and love cain The silence
in the cabin was oxen only by the
sound of the wayo4 rushing along the
side, the creakine and eroaning of the
timbers from the .aeasy pitching or
the ship.
Hatfield bechoned d Slocum. and
the tro men slippcd oi o'essly out.
Il guess he dom van me no more,
sir" said the Old sailo -adly, as he
stepped out OF the cab. an took
keor on him wen he a babby.'
"And lost my ship ding" whis-
pered Philip at last hn sorrow Of
sailor and ca1rain his voice.
Yes. but the admira said YOU had
done nobly and you W not to mind.
He would see
"AE. ha is a Kindly MANN
ole was KIND to ~ 90. And l
am grateful
AND /, too
"Philip do you know r'a' am alone
now bul for You" con I'd the girl
sadly "Grandfathor t.euds. country
all seem to have gone down in that
terrible ship
Twas not my ship that sunk her
dear protested her hu and. Gods
hand dealt the blow e saved you.
He brought us together ain shall
be all things TO you %, lis help.
promise Him. promis on.
And / believe sou al trust you.
always L-dcycd 80 anG trusted
you, even as child. ~ Phil p
"And YOU vii DO ST d?
'To the very end.
THAT picture, Anne. darling whis-
pcred Grafton at last, hat YOU gave
me, twas broken by the ilow that
struck me down
let it be.' cried the prl "You
have NE now, is not tina eaoush?'
And that slipper" be- nurmured
that l took from your room in the
tower"
Did you take it," she cried, family
smiling through her tears i missed
it and wondered"
otis gone too" he said, lost with
the Torbay'
philip she said, suddenly, that
other locket? All, you war it still!
she added, lifting the chain with her
hand
In spite of herself her eyes looked
the desire she did not express.
There can be no secret between us
now, sweet Anne said Grafton
"Open it,"
She drew back. His willingness was
all she wished
NAY. trust you in all. have
you. You are mine, No pictured
woman may rise to claim YOU now
net a 1nGWnTn1