WEST SHORE.
0U
f
AN OCEAN WAIF.
BY VELMA CALDWELL MELVILLE.
FAKT 111.
i T first I was stunned at the news ; but when I
realized the truth I was more like mad man
than a rational human. I raved to myself, I
would have her; I would tear her from his
arms though a thousand services hud been performed.
She was mine mine More heaven, and I would have
her. Hut by and by calmer thoughts came to me and
I liegan dimly to perceive that no one wan at fault ;
that Providence had ordered it so, and that she wan
not in the least to blame for marrying another when
she honestly believed me dead. I spent one long,
dreadful night in, as it were, mortal combat. On the
one side, was my intense longing to seek out my dar
lingthe woman whose image had li 1 11 my mind day
and night through weeks of delirium and almoHt
death ; the light of whose eyes had seemed my guiding
star when, in the blackness of midnight I tossed on
the angry billows, clinging to a bit of wood in mid
ocean. She must be mine despite the law of (iod or
man. On the other hand, should three sutler instead
of one ? As it was, she thought me dead, had doubt
less mourned for me, and then innocently married one
who had Is-en a life-long friend. Was it not now my
duty to go away, walking, so to speak, on the water,
that the waves might obliterate my footsteps forever,
saving her the knowledge that I existed ? saving her
the knowledge that could only bring misery upon her
self and husband, and in the end could not help me.
for had 1 U-en wild and base enough to propose it
I knew Mildred Mason would never consent to brink
her marriage vow. Hesidcs she doubtless loved him.
This thought roused the demon in me every time, but
at last right triumphed, and going to the only two
men who knew my story, I Isiuud them over tosilc ,
and sailed once more, ami intentionally tin ' f"r
Australia.
" I had no near relatives in the States, save my
father (my mother having died years la-fore, and then
were another wife Biid her children in the old home)
and though ho loved me I knew that he, too, thought
me dead, and dead I might as well remain to him.
"How differently I felt, and how changed the world
seemed, as I sailed this time fr y native shore..
from what it did that other morning, an eternity ago
it seemed to Ine, but in reality les than ! 'I'"'1
year liefore. I almost cursed heaven thai I had nl
di.nl, that I had survived si. kn.-sa and danger on
and land for such misery this liaiin l
through a mist of tears, I could sec... to
girlish form standing on an eminent
,., ,.r oft white
robe fluttering in the breeie, waving her handkerchief
until it was but a tiny speck to my straining vision.
She had hail a presentiment of evil from the time she
knew that I must go to Japan, ami had repeatedly
tagged me to refuse to go.
" And now I was never to see her again. In order
to completely conceal the fact of my existence I took
my mother's maiden name, Lawrence. I wandered
about the Australian continent for two or three years,
aimless, hopeless, and unseakah!y wretched; but
finally sivurcd a situation in Sidney where I have since
made my home or my stopping place. I have no home
and no friends, save those who, like yourselves, I chance
to make for the time being No one rejoices that I live,
no one would mourn if I die. I have lieen prospered
in business, and am now what the world calls a rich
man but I care little for it. Wealth can never sntiafy
a hungry soul."
When he censed senkiug, liuogeue was strangely
white ami silent, hut the Professor Mse and stood lie
side him, laying one hand tenderly on his shoulder.
"My friend, when ymi hear my story you will see
that IkiIIi our lives were wrecked with the wrecking of
theNdiriM Hinl," he said huskily, and there waa a dim
ness la-fore the vision of each. Without a word lino
gene rose and left them alone.
After giving the facts elsewhere recorded In regard
to himself, Prof, tietlwiai.1 said:
"I understand fnun your story that the lady of
whom you scak was living in San Francisco when the
.s'tiirin Hinl went down?"
"Ves"
"And of course particularly interested In its fate ?"
"Doubtless."
"Then I must see her Who knows but she may
he able to throw some light on the fate of my wife
Hardly prt.Uble, but still I must find and talk with
her " '
Veeder did nut answer for a full minute, ami then
starting up suddenly, he exclaimed :
prof (iettw.aid. I will go with ymi She wi.uld
not know me, even though she did not think me .h ad,
and you will rail me 'Uwreme' and I will invent
'business rxeiiae (ir-at Heavens! I will. I must
,..k mi lor faT once re"
Mr advice to you Would I" to do ," id Ilia
,,,n,pauion " Ymi will n.-t llnd her the hl.a.mtiig girl
v..ii left b.r. and she was never your wife; it may do
'..ii g-"l Tli- "f "'npf " tm lM"
' . happy iii her finally n.altrr of fact husband's
.H.vtiMhs, and surro.md.il, doubt!.-.., by s-ns and
.laughters of h. f own, will Ui toward making y..u
f,.rgel the dream of your hfe will I a death blow to
,. romantic ideal y..u have , heri.hcd with the ardor
f y,.ti. aii Hi'- y My nr",, 1 ," "", l"