Cruel As The Grave

Her hands were clasped tightly together; her eyes were fixed steadily

upon his face; her own face was white as marble.

"Oh, Lyon! save me! Oh, my husband, save me! You know that I am

guiltless!" she prayed.

"Dearest wife, I will lay down my life for you, if necessary! Be

comforted! See! it is now two o'clock! In two more hours we may be on

shipboard!" he said.

"Let us go now! Let us go now!" she prayed, clasping her hands closely,

gazing in his eyes beseechingly.

"Very well, we will go at once," he answered; and he took up his hat and

hurried down stairs.

He told the landlord that, as the weather was now good, he thought he

would risk the roads, and try to make a half-day's journey that

afternoon, at least. And then, without waiting to hear the host's

expostulations, he just told him to make out the bill, and then he went

to the stables to put the horses to the wagon.

In half an hour all was ready for their departure--the bill paid, the

wagon at the door, and the luggage piled into it. And Sybil and Lyon

took leave of their temporary acquaintances; and Lyon handed Sybil up

into her seat, climbed up after her, and started the horses at a brisk

trot for the ferry-boat.

They reached Portsmouth in safety. Lyon drove down at once to the wharf,

engaged a rowboat, put Sybil and all their effects into it, and rowed

her across the water to where the Enterprise lay at anchor.

"Now I'm safe!" exclaimed Sybil, with a sigh of infinite relief, as she

stepped upon the deck.

The captain did not expect his passengers so soon, and he was busy; but

he came forward and welcomed them, and showed them into the cabin,

apologizing for its unready condition, consequent upon the bustle of

their preparations for sailing.

Lyon left his wife in the Captain's care, and went back to the shore to

complete the sale of his wagon and horses.

He was gone for nearly two hours, and when he returned he explained his

long absence by saying that, after all, the hoped-for purchaser had

refused to purchase, and that he had to leave his wagon and horses at a

stable in Portsmouth, and to retire to a restaurant and write a letter

to Captain Pendleton, and enclose an order for him to receive the

property on paying the livery.

Sybil was satisfied--nay, she was delighted. In company with Lyon she

walked up and down the deck, looking so joyous that the men about the

place could but remark upon it as they gossipped with each other.

The new voyagers took supper in the Captain's cabin, and afterwards

returned to the deck and remained on it until the sun set and the stars

came out.