The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-12-29
A Christmas Wedding

~ o"SnSeo uuiuhS tue autumn 10 II
seaport town. One day while waiting,
in order to kill time, I visited the life
saving station. Just before reaching It
passed boxlike affair built on "a
dune, measuring about six feet by four.
Facing the ocean was low door and
beside 1t window. through which
pcered the saddest face ever saw-the
face of woman. She was still young
and attractive in appearance, though
her hair was white as snow. Sitting
by the window, her arm resting on the
sill, she was peering out to sea as
though looking for ship.
at the life saving station was told
that her name was Caroline Owens.
Ten years before her lover, John IRE
vor, sailor, had started in September
on tho schooner Mary Deane to make
short voyage from which he was to
have returned for Christmas and their
wedding. Caroline prepared her we'd
ding OUTFIT could scarcely be dig
nilicd by the name Of trousseau-and
Christmas festivities were also arrang-
| cd for, but on Christmas eve ship
| came in with the news that the Mary
, Deanc had gone ashore in Il storm and
every man Oh board had perished.
1t was sad Christmas for every one
i'll the ncighborhood. Caroline was
stunned. She did not weep. She SIM
| ply looked out Of her eyes at vacancy
and said nothing. Every day she would
| so to the beach, and, standing OH
dune just above the life saving station,
peer out to sea. In storm aud sunshine
she was there Mt least once day, and
when the spring came on and the
weather was pleasant she would spend
most Of the day there. Then the kind
hearted life savers built her the little
| shelter and Invited her to take posses
sion Of it.
Some Of the men considered her as
having gone daft at the death OF her
lover, while others thought her mental
ly sound. l was told by one OF them.
Markham by name. who In confidence
confessed to Inc that he had fallen in
love with her and would gladly marry
her, though he had never mentioned
the subject to her, that every Dccem-
Der she became possessed with the idea
that her lover would return Oh Christ.
| mas eve. She had told him there was q
feeling within her too strong to be re-
sisted thnt Trevor was alive, wander
ing here and there, mostly on the sea; :;
that there was some reason why lie
could not return to her. but this reason
would in time be removed. This most
persons considered mania induced by
the shock she had suffered.
I often passed her sentry box and
grew more and more impressed with
the sad but hopeful face always peer
ing out to sea. When l went away
left with Markham, the man who had
given me his confidence. some money,
charging him to tell her that an un-
known person had given 1t to him to
be used for q wedding present on the
return Of her lover. did this hoping
1T might give her pleasure. She was
convinced that Trevor would come
back, and l believed it might be best
TO foster this belief.
returned to the city, autumn faded
into winter and the SHOWS came down.
One morning a man appeared at my
office whom l did not recognize for a
moment, but when I did saw that he
was Markham.
"What brings you here?" l asked.
taking his rough hand in mine.
There's wedding on" he replied.
"a wedding?"
Yes; Carrie Owens. I've come to
buy the gift"
"And youf"
"Ol, no, no; better than that" There
was double expression of pain and
Joy in his faGe and in his voice.
Come, sit down here and tell me-"
"YOu remember the storm of the 3Oth
Of November" he said. "Well, that
was the worst I've ever experienced.
Carrie Owens spent the day in her box.
The next day would be the 1st Of De-
cember, and that was the month she
was always the worst tried several
| times to induce her to 60 home, but she
wouldn't. Just as it was getting dark
/ looked up at the box and saw q man
coming from behind 1t. He was evi-
| IDENTIFY coming for Carrie, for his eyes
were on the box. Suddenly he rounded
to the front and stood before her. Then
/ heard shrek and knew that Jack
| Trevor had come ut last"
He went on to tell me that Trevor
had been injured in the head at the
time Of the wreck, had been thrown
ashore and had wandered about with
out any remembrance as to who he
was. Finally, when Ill In hospital, a
| surgeon had discovered displacement
Of small piece of his skull, had tre-
| panned him and brought back his
memory. Then he had made for home
and Caroline. "He didn't come by sea,
as she expected" added my informant,
"but he came all the same"