"It's a lie. Maurice Sinclair is dead, and that rascal, whoever he is, is a Damned Imposter!"
CHAPTER XXVI. SORROW AND REJOICING.
The pain of death hath bitterness
Too deep for man to name—
But, ah! the poignant sting of grief
Accompanied with shame!
Words can hardly convey the feelings of wonder, sorrow and relief that followed each other in rapid succession through Mrs. Sinclair's mind at the old Captain's story.
She looked upon the undeniable proof of her own photograph with tears of thankfulness in her eyes, while the last repentant words of her only child, brought pain too deep for utterance or demonstration. It seemed that two lads of about the same age, strangers to each other, became inspired with the mutual desire to run away from parental authority and try their luck upon the ocean.