The Phantom Ship

cheren, there was to be seen, in advance of a few other even more humble tenements, a small but neat cottage, built according to the prevailing taste of the time. The outside front had, some

cottage door, was a small and narrow bridge, with ornamented iron hand-rails, for the security of the passenger. But the colours, originally so bright, with which the cottage had been decorated, had now faded; symptoms of rapid decay were evident in the window-sills

se and a lumber-room; while one of the larger was fitted up as a kitchen, and furnished with dressers, on which the metal utensils for cookery shone clean and polished as silver. The room itself was scrupulously neat; but the furniture, as well as the utensils, were scanty. The boards of the floor were of a pure white, and so clean that you might have laid anything down without fear of soiling it. A strong deal table, two

arance, such as to render the flesh transparent; her brow, when she mused, would sink into deep wrinkles, premature though they were; and the occasional flashing of her eyes strongly impressed you with the idea of insanity. There appeared to be some deep-seated, irremovable, hopeless cause of anguish, never for one moment permitted to be a

tures were handsome and bold, and his frame powerful to excess; his eye denoted courage and determination, and as he carelessly swung his leg

ise me that, my dear, dear child,"

ter. I must do something for myself and for you. And what else can I do? My uncle Van Brennen has offered to take me with him,

world but you? O my child, as you love me, and I know you do love me, P

ly; he whistled for a few se

use my father was drowned at se

med the sobbing wom

God what

er, sliding from her seat on the couch, and kneeling by the side of

eat, and her face wore an

remained silent and thoughtf

room opposite has been shut up ever since I can remember-why, you will never tell me; but once I heard you say, when we were

hear me say?" enquired his m

screamed and raved, and said that you preferred death. Now, mother, what is there in

ed, and her eyes glared; she seemed to have lost the power of reply; she put her hand to her right side, as if to compress it, then both he

evented her from falling on the floor. He laid her on

is this?" cried he, at

ide, that she might not be suffocated by the discharge from the ruptured vess

d Philip, in agony; "what shall I do? what s

th replied the poor woman, sinkin

hilip saw them occupied in restoring his mother, he ran as fast as he could to the house of a medical man, who lived about a mile off-one Mynheer Poots, a l

oots, who spoke the language but imperfectly

will, directly th

owes me four guilders, and he has owed me f

tendance also," replied Philip, in a rage; "come dir

llect; I have to see the child of the burg

passion; "you have but to choose,-will you go quietly,

under considerable alar

erdecken wa

nd-bye, Mynheer P

laimed Philip, seizing hold of the little man

he lost his legs, and was dragge

perceived that Poots

e you go quietly? for, hear me

but I'll have you in prison to-night: and, as for your mother

now; and when you arrive, if you do not do your best for my poor mother, I'll murder you there. You know that I always do

rful grasp of the young man. The doctor's tenement was isolated, and he could obtain no assistance until within a hundred yards of Vanderdecken'

two of her female neighbours, who were bathing her temples with vinegar. She was in a state of consciousness, but she could not speak. Poots orde

oots, putting a phial into his hand; "I will now go to the child

said Philip, with

ayment, but you have promised, and I know that you always keep your word.

nd in half an hour, his mother could express her wishes in a whisper. When the little doctor arr

ve little hopes of your mother rising from her bed again. She may live one day or two days,

ll of Heaven," replie

Vanderdecken?" continued the

er, and starting from a reverie. After a

w that will be a charge of another guilder: it i

t you please; you shall certainly be paid,"

be yours, and you will sell them of course. Yes, I will come. You will have plenty of

ir as if to crush Mynheer Poot

r mother was buried," sai

ing his face with his hands, as he s

ighbours, having their own affairs to attend to, left them alone. Exhausted with the loss of blood, the poor woman slumb

e widow awoke. She had in a great degree recove

y, and have I detained yo

mother. I leave you not to others

my son, were it not for you, how should I quit this world rejoicing! I

replied Philip, bluntl

justified in wrath-to spare a mother's feelings. 'Tis now some days that even hunger has not persuaded you to disobey your moth

llow, and remained quiet for some min

has oppressed me day and night, worn my mind, impaired my reason, and now, at last, thank Heaven! it has overcome this mortal frame: the bl

hear this killing secret. Be heaven or hell mixed up with

could bear the load of such a dreadful tale, thou couldst. My brain, ala

fide; for a few minutes the tears rained down her hollow cheeks; she t

I would speak. It is suppose

other?" replied Ph

n

long been de

o," said the widow,

thought Philip, b

re is he,

a tremor visibly ran through h

ING JUD

have hid herself from her own memory. Philip was so much perplexed and astounded, that he could make no reply.

r, the secret; qui

ge to India, Philip, and it was to have been, if it had so pleased God, his last, for he had purchased that good ship with only part of his earnings, and one more voyage would have made his fortune. O! how often did we talk over what we would do upon his return, and how these plans for the future consoled me at the idea of his absence, for I loved him dearly, Philip,-he was always good and kind to me; and after he had sailed, how I hoped for his return! The lot of a sailor's wife is not to be envied. Alone and solitary for so many months, watching the long wick of the candle, and listening

p could not speak. His lips were sundered, and his e

I knew not why. I rose from the couch and dipped my finger in the blessed water, and I crossed myself. A violent gust of wind roared round the house, and alarmed me still more. I had a painful, horrible foreboding; when, of a sudden, the windows and window-shutters were all blown in, the lig

Philip, in a low tone alm

Fear would have inclined me to recoil from,-his loved presence to fly towards him. I remained on the spot where I was, choked with agonising sensations. When he

d that he had been unfortunate, and had returned home. I opened my eyes, and beheld my loved husband and threw myself into his arms. His clothes were saturated with the rain: I felt as if I had embraced ice-but nothing can c

he, solemnly, 'fo

ain: you have lost your vessel, but

vessel, Catherine, BUT I HAVE LOST!!! Make no reply, but listen; I am not dead,

th long fatigue, would have had me return to the Table Bay; but I refused; nay, more, I became a murderer,-unintentionally, it is true, but still a murderer. The pilot opposed me, and persuaded the men to bind me, and in the excess of my fury, when he took me by the collar, I struck at him; he reeled; and, with the sudden lurch of t

anvas flew away in ribbons; mountains of seas swept over us, and in the centre of a deep o'erhanging cloud, whic

ermitted to come here. Take this letter.' He put a sealed paper on the table. 'Read it,

arted up and followed him with outstretched arms and frantic screams as he sailed through the window;-my glaring eyes beheld his form borne away like lightning

Philip!-Philip!" shrieked the poor woman;

her son. She remained there some minutes without motion. After a time Philip felt alarmed at her long quiescence; he laid