Year: 1866

inst came that exquisite gem ol Franz
Abfs. ~Wben the swallows Homeward
Fiy. and the silence Of the listeners vas
20 profound that one might almost have
heard q pis tall upon the moonn deck -
When they ceased every one drew long
breath, then came ringing cheer Of
thanks, cordial good-nighis were exchanged
and the evenings pleasure aud the first
day out we're at an end. The captain aud
his companion slroiled toward the place
whore we still stood.


Il must 90 down 10 the cabin now
said the widow III would be sin no,
to sleep well after that exquisite song
Tomorrow ! will eudeavor to make you
reiract all the heiresses you have been
talking tonight"


aAboul love r


"Whal should rough sailor like me
know"


NAY, that is sheer nonsense. Do you
mean to saj that you have never loved n
Never r was the low reply. "Unless
what feel now is lis first dropping, | do
not know from experience what true love
really is"


Don't ask me TO teach you" said the
widow, laughing. Two such heartess
creatures as you and | would never make
much progress in the science. Good night,
and pleasant dreams


She gave him her hand he bent above
it for an instant; then she TIPPED down
the stairs hummng the last lines Of the
song they had just heard, and he, looking
across the deck, suddenly espied my nigh
Dor without seeing me. In an instant be
was by her side.


"Yoa ought to go be.ow," he said, in a
low but harsh voice. "For heavens sake,
don't behave in this strange manner, un-
less you wish all TO be known to the whole
ship"


She turned and looked al him. All,
that look must haunt him now. Her face
was pale as death, Der blue eyes shone
like stars.


james she said, "all WILL be known
now. heard what you said to that wo-
man that you never loved God forgive
you, aud me too" she added wildly, "tor
| can hear no more"


Before he could speak or stay her-be-
fore even he or had the least idea Of her
intenlion--sbe sprang suddenly forward,
there was a heavy splash in the water be-
low, faint cry, and all was over.


For one instant stood perfectly horror
struck aud metionless. Not SO my COM
panion.


"A woman overheard Stop TIE en-
gines - he cried, hoarsly, and the next
moment he was over the side after her.


Sailors and passengers came running
aft IN the widest confusion the ship was
stopped, a beat lowered, and in few min
utes We saw the captain swimming slowly
towords US, almost exhausted, with the
form OF the young girl lying heavily across
his arm. They dragged him and his bur
den on deck with ringing cheers, which
died into sudden silence as they gazed
at the white, set face Of the woman he had
saved Saved Her cheeks was pale,
her blue eyes fixed, yet round her parted
lips an angelic smile was playing, as If
she had met even that fearful death with
out fear, happy in the thought that the
sudden revival Of his long silent love had
prompted him TO risk bis life for her own.


They laid her carefully down upon the
deck, and the doctor came for ward and
knelt at her side. A moments examina-
ton suficed. He rose to his feet, and
looking, not at US, but straight at the cap
tain's face, said coldly:


"Nothing will revive her--all my rem
edies are useless here She is dead p


As he spoke he sprang forward and
caught the captain in his arms, for he was
falling by his victims side. The sudden
shock had been too much for him and be-
fore the hour Of midnight tolled flom the
ships bells, the strong man who had EN-
barked that day, in all the pride Of health
and strength, lay tossing upon his narrow
bed, delrious aud scarcely expected, even
by the sanguinc physician, to survive the
blow.


/ Few would have recognized the gay and
gallant captain in the bent and the feeble
invalid who landed two weeks later at the
New York pier. His secret, whatever il
might have BEEN sleeps safely in the sea,
with the cerps Of that fair young girl, and
where his here at present may be, can
not say.


No. doubt the tragedy, dreadful as il
was, has faded en,irly from the memories
Of many who witnessed it but is as fresh
as ever in mine, and when gaze at the
little volume of poems, which will always
have a place in my library, and read those
lines:


"But the tender grace Ola day that Il dead


VIII never come back to me"


that moonlight night, that quiet sea, that
sad and lovely face, rise up before me, and
thank Heaven that my conscience, stain
ed through it ma y be by many an error
can never be like bis who worked the sor-
row and wrought the woe that ended in
that ocean grave.


FLIGHT or TINE-.The evidences Of the
fight Of time are 50 striking and numer-
Gus that the lessons they are designed 10
teach shnuld not be lost upon ug As the