Year: 1871

.
loved her as ever; that he was now resting
only few feet from her; and that though he
dared not reveal himself to her, he would try
to rejoice in her happiness, and during the
few days that remained to him, would pray
for her welfare. Only those few lines, faint
ly traced in the well-known hand and signed
with the familiar initial as of old. And now
to place them where, at some not very distant
time, she might find them.


Turning upon his blanket and laying himse If
as close as possible to the ground, he gradu-
ally crept along toward the edge of the shore
so slowly that for some moments he seemed
scarcely to move at all, for it seemed that he
felt weaker than ever before-so cautiously
that one might have taken him for an Indian,
stealing craftily upon his game. AT last, how
ever, he gained the brink, and with some diff
Guilty slid down into his own boat. 1t lay close
to the sloop rugged yawl, the gunwales of the
two almost grating together: and it required
only feeble touch to bring them so near that
ne could crawl from one to the other. This
done, he at last sat undetected in the strange
boat.


1t was somewhat larger boat than his
longer, rather-and deeper in the waist. The
lowered sail was loosely slowed away across,
so that the folds protected him against ooser-
vation from the shore and left him free to
make his explorations. Around the bottom
and sides were small boxes and bundles,
clothes and provisions, and such other articles
as naturally would accompany one travelling
with his wife. With these things the sick man
did not care to meddle. His only object was
to find something which might seem to belong
to her, and into which he could drop his little
note, with assurance that, after while she
would be sure to find it. And soon he was
successful. Turning over a cushion, his hand
fell upon small basket-a finely woven work.
basket. His heart gave bound for he rec
ognized it as one which he had given her,
years before. Most likely she only now kept
it because it had proved convenient and dur
able, and was pretty in its design but, sone-
how he could not help considering the dis
covery of it an omen of good. At least, the
sight of it might sometimes recall his image
to her. Passing his hand inside, he felt maze
of spools, and balls of cord, and ends of wax,
and all that familiar apparatus of domestic la
Dor with which work-baskets commonly
abound. Among othor things was little
leather neede-book, and this he opened and
pinning his note upon the inner piece of fan
mel, rolled all tightly up again. The work
was now done. She could not fail soon to find
what he had written, and he could return to
shore, relieved, so far, in mind. And with
visable memento, of her, had he needed one
for, as he drew his hand from the basket,
piece of blue ribbon adhered to his fingers.
1t seemed even redolent of her presence, he
thought; and pressing it to his lips in a sort of
involuntary transport, he retained it for his
own, ana so slowly passed from the strange
boat to his own, and thence ashore again.


He had just gained the shore, creeping
along with difficulty. when he heard the crack
ling of footstep upon the dry reeds, and saw
the form of the stranger looming up before
him against the dark sky. The man had been
roc -. cala1 Il H..
moving so stealthily about the boats, had risen
up to see what was the matter. Not altogeth-
er unduly suspicious, perhaps; for though
like the men of that time he was not indis-
posed to confidence, it was not out of the way
to see what was going on. Seeing the inva-
lid, however, his suspicious at once relaxed.
1t was hardly the thing, of course, to imagine
any wrong intent from such feeble source:
and the sick man felt pang of jealous fretful-
ness, and he noticed in the instant change of
bearing in the stranger, and with ready in
stinct attributed it to its proper source-his
own apparent inability for mischief


81 am i'll, and was thirsty" he said, hardly
knowing why he should explain himself, but
still doing so. II had crept down to the boat
for drink of water"


"Ah! Yes, you are very feeble man,
can see," remarked the other. "And it must
have wearied you to get up so late to go even
that short distance. Come, lean on my arm
and l will help you back to your blanket.
Have you been long i'll.


''Four months"


"Yes? And bad cough, notice. You
must take care of yourself. 1t is singular, by
the way, but you remind me of person
knew six years ago, in little town in New
Hampshire. That is, only knew him by
sight, for myself lived in the next town; but
often came across him. He must be dead,
now, for it is years since they have heard any
thing of him. Alarger man than you, though,
it seems to me. Stouter, also, and fuller in
the face. And yet, there is something so like
in your expression that you might easily pass
for his brother. Well, here we are. Lie
down, now, and let me tuck your blanket
around you. There, now; are you comfort
able?"


every comfortable, thank you


And vet, it seems as though there might
be something more that could be done for you,
to make you easy" said the other standing
near, irresolute. 81 wonder if my wife could
think of ANYTHING more. She is good nurse;
and women, you know, have such an instinct
about such matters. Can l wake her and let
her try?"


''No, no; do not awaken her." responded
the invalid, almost imPetueusly in his strong
denial 'But thank her, for me, all the same"


y
while to thank her. said the other, with a
slight laugh, ''for thing which, as yet,
have only suggested, however willing she
might be, if she knew it. Well, will not
awaken her, since you say so. Goodnight,
and better morning to you"


Goodnight. Thank yeu for your care.
And thank her, all the same," the sick man
reiterated, persisting in the idea. And then
he closed his eyes and sought for sleep.


He would not sleep long, he thought-only
little doze. For, though he did not want
her to recognize him, he would like to see her
once more, from that short distance, before
they parted forever. Therefore, he would
soon wake up again. and, lying there in his
blanket, would watch her departure in the
morning. 1t could not be far of, now. AL
ready there was a faint streak in the east, and
the stars seemed palng. An hour, perhaps
or half an hour. Hardly worth while, in
deed, to sleep at all, for such short time.
But he was so weak, and tired, and cold; and
it might be that even those few minutes OF
rest would do him good.


Therefore he closed his eyes, and so dozed
n, WI