The Argosy — page 250: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Story of the Sea-shore. 233 her to hide her agony, so that no one, least of all her husband, should suspect it was there. The days went by, all too fast. October was a lovely month that year, bright with sunshine. Serena grew white and thin, and her eyes began to shine with unnatural brilliancy. The yearning thought was ever crossing her—If she could but die! November in at last! The Aluedel/ still lingered; but one day, it was the sixth, news came that she was nearing the port; would certainly be in by morning dawn, ‘That night poor Serena crept to bed, shivering in speechless misery. She buried her face in the pillows, sobbed aloud, and prayed to die. Exhausted by the violence of her emotion, she at last fell into a deep sleep. Suddenly the wind got up and shrieked and howled around the cottage. Black clouds, looming up, hid the stars. The sea roared sullenly and tossed its dangerous billows aloft. Then a blinding sheet of lightning filled the room, followed by a crash of thunder that seemed to shake the house. It awoke Serena. Starting up, she found she had slept two hours; had slept through the dreadful rushings of wind. The storm raged fearfully now; she could not lie in bed. Striking a light, she got up and dressed. ‘‘ Father,” she cried then, opening her door. ‘‘ Father!” No voice answered. She ran across the passage to his room, and found that it was empty, the bed not yet slept in. Phoeby heard her, and came to the foot of the stairs shivering. The girl had been terrified from the beginning, and sought refuge at the kitchen fire. “Is my father out ?” asked Serena, going down. The master had been out from the first, Phcoeby answered. Some ship was in distress and the men had come to call him. Serena paced the house restlessly. A nameless horror seemed to hang over her, she knew not of what, but she could not shake it off. Ten, fifteen minutes dragged by. The storm was decreasing, the thunder dying away, the wind lulling. Presently Serena heard foot- steps, as of several men walking together, and approaching the house. Phoeby opened the door; Serena, sheltering herself from the still fierce gusts, stood behind her. Her father was the first to enter. “ Serena, what do you do here ?” he cried, speaking hurriedly. ‘I thought you were in bed. Go away, child, go away: this is no sight for you. Run away, Phoeby.” ‘Father, what is it?” she steadily asked. ‘‘ What burden is it those men are bearing ?” Ah, she soon knew. The Bluebell had been wrecked; its captain was fatally injured, and they were bringing him to the cottage as being nearer than his own home, which he might not have reached alive. A doctor pressed in to do what he could ; but nothing could be done for Thomas Reece in this world. CONNIClOO© SS (CO) = — SS ee —