This page needs to be proofread.
THE COAST-GUARD'S STORY.
105
" Or did she give my ring ?
How could such vileness be ?
Man, with the truth at your black false heart,
Declare it now to me!" —
The dead man smiled with an awful calm,
And not a word said he.
" If she be false ! O God,
Thou who the truth canst tell." —
The coast-guard swayed like a tree up-torn,
And on his knees he fell.
He grasped the fingers stiff,
And loosed them one by one ;
The dead man's hand was a faithful hand,
Its work was nearly done.
A letter, held till now,
Dropped from the open palm ;
The case was sealed with the coast-guard's name —
He read in dream-like calm.
" Love," so it ran, " I am writing,
Writing our last Good-bye ;
