Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1892 — CAST UP BY THE SEA. [ARTICLE]

CAST UP BY THE SEA.

BY SIR SAMUEL W. VAKER.

x/ITJ A y r hh}'t^^S" r X ttr “ci "?«•," replied Stevens with a ttopoeritic&l sigh, ‘'«u the day that HwllMt.- Poor Ned ! ” he continued, pfc&wdd have given the world to fjKtolOTwthha. Had 1 only had a boat Look instead of an oar, 1 think Ltf iMff.SU ,1X MRMtt the water closed over him. ’ At thi« moment the servant en “jfta! a letter for me! 1 am bo SapwL lam so glad ! for l seldom kmsmve onel ” .aid Edith. “ I wonder erbe it'e from ? " she continued, ■ m sbe examined the seal, that was jfßmjJ? tbe impression of a shilling. orott bad better open it, my ■Plr, " eaid her mother; “ that's the Pptefcect way of ascertaining the correspondent. ” IWith broke the seal and read the SpHler. She turned deadly pale : then IftMHl) Mash flushed across her face; it was only for a moment, when she •gain changed to the whiteness of “What's the matter my child f ” exclaimed her mother. • Ate you 411? What are the contents of that mysterious letter that affect you so |pri few minutes Edith was sl!lWt| and bolding the letter in her hands, which retted in her lap. she seemed loet in reflection, and her lips quivered with emotion. At length, subduing her excitement, and entirely commanding her feelings.she fixed uer large blue eyes upon Stevens, who sat opposite, and appeared to search him to the very heart Her beautiful features gradually assumed gjkatern and determined expression, iiMiSt calmly said, “Mother, shall 1 t«ad this letter aloud ?" . “By all means, ” said Mrs. Jones, I’m quite curious to know the contents of this wonderful epistle. ” Edith, in a clear voice, that tremMed slightly, read the following letpAlMOtn, January 8, “Half mad with joy, and yet wilder with uncertainty, 1 am hurrying to the spot where my happiest days were spent: where last I parted ; irWßherwhom I then called my own Edith. God grant that she and my dear parents are yet alive, and that sbe still remembers the love of her youthful days, and that her heart is as unchanged as miuc! ‘ My story is short. The morning "ttffer l left you I was taken by a ureas gang, together with Tim and Nero. I was carried ou board the Bjrbllle, a frigate on her way to In dia. I could not write- On board I met Jem Steveus, God forgive him! In India we fought and captured the Forte. We were both sent home in charge; she was wrecked. Stevens went off with the frigate’s cutter, well manned, and hacked at my hands with a knife when I swam up andclung to tho boat. I was forced Jo lot, go and swim to the wreck. Tim i Would not leave me. We saved ourselves with a raft, together with Nero, and at last reached the coast of Africa, where we were captives among the savages for many years. We at length endeavored to escape. Poor Tim! alas' is dead. Nero is also dead, and! am thank God! alive and well, and hur-

tying on horseback post haste night and day, to see if my Edith is still my own; if not, would that I had died with nay devoted Tim, aud left •If you arc. alive, Edith, dearest remembrance of my boyhood, I shall tws with yon almost as soon as you receive this letter, as I rush to meet oy fatei , Yonr own Ned (»REr. Edith folded the letter carfully together, and handed it to Polly Grey; at the same time she rose from her •eat, and with extraordinary calmness she regarded Stevens fixedly “Yes,” she said, os her voice trembled mid became hoarse with suppressed emotion, "his own Edith until death shall part us.” “An explanation, if you please, Mr- Stevens," continued Edith, as she gazed contemptuously at the miserable guilty object that sat be for heg, bowed down with shame aud Stevens rose hurriedly, and savlug,“l trill explain everything*" was about to leave the room, when Edith, who was near the door, quickly turned the key, which she took from the lock and retained within *‘Y«n will have the kindness, sir, to amuse yourself with the newspaper until the arrival of your dear friend, Ned Grey, whom you endeavored to save from drowning, he will be rejoiced to return you his thanks and to express his gratitude in person; he is expected every in t- .. “Edith, tor God's sake, let me <le pert, and I will shortly explain all!" exclaimed the terrified Stevens. “You do net leave this room, sir, I until Ned Grey arrives,” replied Edith, with a disdainful calmness and, determination before which iTbatis alt this? what is all ibis?" cried Mrs Jones “Edith, my dear, are you going mad?" continued the astonished mother; while Polly, having read the letter, now regarded Stevens with an expression jol horror as though he had been some poisonous reptile. ! At this moment the loud clatter ing of a horse’s hoofs was heard upon the frosty road. Mrs. Jones looked from the window. “Dear me' she exclaimed, “the horse has run away with somebody. Stop him!’ she cried; but as nobody was there to bear her command*, the rider reined up his horse, and quickly dismount ’"fhewTcontinued ringing with such violence that the servant rail with more than his usual alacrity to « *<»«» “ l) « an

sons around him. Neither Polly nor Mrs. Jones was much changed, but he stared for somo moments at the beautiful girl, who in her turn regarded his tail and handsome figure with au expression of surprise, min - gled with the deepest affection. , JEfeflreyes met, aud in a few short seconds, without one word Spoken, they explained their unchanged love. ; “My Edith!” exclaimed Ned Grey. •‘Oh, Nod! dear Ned!” cried Edith, as they both instinctively rushed Jorward and were taoked la each other's arms. After a few moments of indescribable happiness-the blushing girl released herself from Ned's embrace. Polly Grey was also haaging round his neck in a transport of delight; but Edith had a sterner task to perform, and drawing herself up to her full height, with an expression of haughtiness that was entirely foreign to her usual character, she said: “Mr. Stevens, you hive now the pleasure of meeting ypiir dear friend, Ned Grey, whom you so generously attempted to save from drowning in 4he wreck;” toenjuruing to Ned she continued: “Mr, Stevens has honored me by a proposal of marriage, as he declared that he saw you drowned after he bad vainly endeavoredtoraasist you." For some moments Ned regarded Stevens with an expression of the lowest contempt. For one instant Stevens attempted to meet his look, but he quailed before it, and turned liis eyes upon Mrs. Jones, who was in AAlate of utter confusion.

“Liar, aud would-be murderer!” said Ned, as be grasped the unresisting Stevens by the collar with his powerful right hand and led him to the door: Y ‘Leave this house, nod never again cross the threshold, os you value your life.” It wofild be impossible to describe the happiness of Edith and Polly Grey. Ned had completed the lonff history of his adventures, during which Edith had shed tears at Tim’s devoted martyrdom, and Mrs. Jones had on several occasions exclaimed “Well, I never!” when he had described the base conduct of James Stevens. It was now Edith's turn to relate all that happened since Ned's departure, and for the first time he learnt that Paul was in custody, and that a warrant had also been issued for his own apprehension upon the suspicion that he had been concerned in the burglary and murder at the rectory. Although sueh a charge appeared ridiculous, Ned did not fail to perceive that the sudden disappearance of Paul, Tim and himself on

the day of tho burglary was sufficient to justify the suspicion, combined with tbe discovery of the two hundred guineas at Paul’s house, together with the jewels and articles of contraband. He now recalled to mind the faet of the strange men having stealthily passed through the churchyard at the same time that Mother Lee had appeared, when he aud Edith were sitting at dusk by the gravestone of tho unknown lady; and tieJiad ne doubt that the old iiag was iu some way connected with the robbery. The complexion of the as fuircaused him some uneasiness: for, although he had no fear of the result, the fact of such a suspicion haviug fallen upon Paul aud himself was sufficiently embarrassing. -Ned’s life has been so full of adventure and difficulty that he quickly resolved to bear patiently with this dilemma. The daily prayer of many years past had been granted; he was oace more at home with his Edith, who was changed, only in appearance, from the girl he had left to the beautiful woman whose heart had always been his own.

CHAPTER XXII. The news of Ned Grey’s return had spread throughout the neighborhood, and his almost instantaneous arrest had excited the sympathy of , all the female portion of the population. The whole country was interested iu the event, which became the I current topic of the day, and James Stevens, of Herron Hall, was regarded with universal detestation as the i story became widely known. In the mean time, full of revenge, he lost no opportunity of seeking for evidence that might lead to Ned s conviction. It was about a fortnight after Ned's arrest, on a cold and stormy night, that a ring was heard at the back door of the rectory, aud shortly afterward a servant entered the room in which Edith was sitting, with a message that a poor person from Sandy Cove wished to speak with her immediately. A woman was shown into the room, who, wet and cold with the journey, had been sent by a dying man at the Cove to request the immediate attendance of Edith, as he had a most important communication to make that concerned her particularly. Regardless of the late hour and the stormy weather, Edith ordered the carriage without delay, aud, accompanied by the messenger and Polly Grey, she at once drove to Sandy Cove, about five miles distant. Alighting at the cliff they descended the zigzag path, and shortly arrived at the door of a hut formed of an inverted boat, from which a feeble light shone through a pane of glass fixed in the side. The messenger opened the door and they entered. Lying upon a miserable bed was the emaciated figure of a man, who appeared to be iu the last stage of his existence. One of the neighbors was sitting by his side, who retired when Edith appeared, and the messenger, having approached, in formed him iu a gentle voice that Edith was present. “ Where is she said the dying man. “ It’s very dark ; bring her nearer to me. Yes, ”he continued, as she drew neap; “now leave me with her alone, as I have much to say and little strength to say it. ” The messenger withdrew, aud Edith, not without some hesitation, bent her ear dose to the mouth of the exhausted man. r He clasped his skinny hands together aud, looking earnestly to her face, he exclaimed: “ Pardon I pardon 1 give me pardon for my sins before I confess the whole!"

“What can I-pardon, toy good man ? " said Edith. “ God ahiae can grout forgivenessy but toil me. if it will relieve you, what weighs~s<r heavily upon your mind. ” ‘ Murder ! " gasped tbe wretched 'man ; “it was I that murdered ypur father i“‘ Startled with horror. Edith cor, ored her eves with her hand and remained speechless. “Yes, ’ continued tho man, “I will tell you all. for I shall not see another day. aud i feel that hell awaits toe if I die without your pardon. It was Mother Lee wlio planned the robbery, but I never intended murder. Jack Gain and I were aiwayg paia. and drink and dice led us to ruin. Mother Lee found out that the parson kept large sums of money in tho bouse, and she put us up to the robbery- We hadn't had a wreck for a long time, and we were bard up for cash, so we took tbe job. it was a Suuday night, and we broke in at tbe kitchen window. We got tbe cash, and had packed up the plate, when we heard a noise. ‘Don't let us be nabbed.' said Cain. Just as he said this, the parson came into tbe room with a candle in one hand and a pistol in tbe other. ‘Shoot him!’ said Cain : and I shot the poor man down, and wq escaped without tbe plate. We got off through Mother Lee, who threw suspicion upon Paul and Ned Grey, to serve them a bad turn, for sbe’hated them to death. “ “ Wretched man ! ” said Edith bitterly ; “ why did you not confess this earlier"? Paul and Ned are now in prison on this false charge. ” “ My lungs are gone. 1 shall ftever see another sunrise. I feel my end is close at hand. But I have still more to say, ” said the dying man, as he was almost suffocated from exhaustion. “ I confessed aU t -this two weeks ago to a magistrate, he said , “ but he’s a bad ’un. and worse than I. I mean Squire Stevens of the Hall, ” continued the man. “ I told him all, as I knew toss f must die. and I didn't wish iuuoeent bfood to be shed for me. 1 knew that Paul and Ned Grey had been arrested. The Squire hates them both, and he gave me five golden guineas to hold my tongue. There they are, tied in the corner of that handkerchief beneath tho bed. I had them behind the pillow, but I couldn’t get a wink of sleep since I took them, so I thew them under the bed. Give them to Paul or to the poor. Give some to the woman who looks after mo; but beware of the squire, for the devil isn’t blacker than his heart, lie’ll ruin Paul and Ned if lie can do it!” Polly Grey bad been a" witness to this important confession. “I’m lighter now,” continued the sick man. “Say that you forgive me. Miss Edith, for I cannot die without shuddering at the futurejbut if you pardon me, pirhips—perhaps God may also;—but I don't know how to ask Him. I never prayed to Him. I tried the other night, but I couldn’t do it. Pray for me. Miss Edith; for heaven's sake, pray! pray! —pray quickly, for I’m sinking down down through the ground/’ “May God forgive you as I do, poor miserable man, said Edith; “but,” she continued “there is much to be done before you (lie. Your confession is uothing unless it is in a proper form: it must be written down/’

•*Gq!” said Edith to Polly Grey, “and tell the coachman to drive quickly to Captain Smart. Tell him to bring paper and ink, and to come himself without losing u moment.” A little more than an hour had Eassed.and Edith looked anxiously at er watch as the man appeared to be fast sinking, and she knew the importance of his dying deposition. At last hurried footsteps were heard without, succeeded bv a quick and decided tap upon the door,“Come in, said Edith, and Joe Smart entered, accompanied by one of tlie coast guard. In a few words, spoken in a whisper, Edith had explained all. Polly shook him affectionately by the hand as they had not met since "Pauls return, and without loss of time he wrote down the statement which the dying man foebly but distinctly repeated. The handkerchief, with five guineas tied up in one corner, was found beneath the bed. With much difficulty the sick man, supported by_Joe Smart, subscribed bis name to the deposition, which was witnessed by Smart and the coast guardsman, together with Edith and Polly Grey. t~ "' “This is all important,” said Captain Smart, “and it will checkmate that villian Stevens. Wc must, bo off to Falmouth by daybreak to-mor-row,” he continued; “the session open, you are witnesses, and Paul and Ned will be tried on the following day. This deposition will save them both, and bo the ruin of Stevens. ” On the following morning Mrs. Jones, with Polly, Edith and Captain Smart, started in tho old family coach with four post horses for Falmouth. As they had to pass Sandy Cove, they took various comforts, in the sbape’of cordials,jellies and good substantial food, in case the sick man should be still alive.

On arrival at the cliff, Edith accompanied Joe Smart to the hut, and, to her delight, she found the man was not only dead, but better than during the previous night; thus, leaving the wine and little luxuries with him, she returned to tho carriage and posted rapidly toward Falmouth. The town was crowed, as flie sessions had commenced, aud some difficulty was found in procuring rooms at a hotel. Without a moment's delay, Joe Smart went to the prison, accompanied by Polly Grey and Edith, to visit Paul and Ned, against whom a true bill had been fouud by the grand jury, upon which Stevens sat as a magistrate. The good news of the wrecker's confession relieved their minds from all uncertainty, and Joe Smart immediately entrusted the deposition to the counsel for their defence. (to be cq.vtiwued)

Col. John 13. Graham, of Dahlonega, Ga., received a check for $250 the other day from a man to whom be loaned the sum over forty years ago and who now lives iu British Columbia.