The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-03

and swept the horizon to look for itwith
the captains powerful glass.
" He has often been away as long as
this" said she carelessly to Mrs. Whit
nall. "Tiresome things they are, those
men They've not bit of thought
once they get clear away from us. Sail
ors especially"
But Robert Whitnah was no sailor
and his wife knew that he at least pos
sessed full share of thoughtfulness.
And still the Margaret Ann did not
come in.
There had been talk in the place oil
small fshing-boat that had been out
in the storm, and, like Captain Sands
yacht, had not made its appearance yet
The fishermen, gathered on the shore al
all times of the day, began to say to one
another that she had not "lived" out
the gale. An old man named Crump
had been in her, and his nephew Tom,
the latter boy and an orphan.
Going out for our mornings turn on
the sands, the younger children with
spades and little tubs, and Mrs. Whit
nall staying behind as usual-for she
had neither heart nor life for anything
now-we saw crowd collected some
way off, up the beach. People were
running thither also from the town,
talking as they went. Of course our
boys started off at once, but | would not
let the girls 60.
"Do you know what it is ?" l asked
of man who was passing.
"They be saying as it's some 'un
drowned" answered he without stop
ping.
"Look therel They are moving"
Kate spoke of the crowd of people.
They were moving, as she said; coming
toward us. Quite procession, it looked
like; something carried in its midst
"Come down, children, come down."
l said hastily. "Don't stay until it
passes by"
But, no; full of curiosity, their feet
were as if glued to the road.
"In a minute, Dot" said Gerty,
Alex is coming to u.s."
Alex and Fred were running along at
the top of their speed. The boys looked
sad, but excited.
"What do you think it is, Dorothy +?
You'd never guess, you girls. It's that
poor boy, Tom Crump. He was such a
nice civil fellow too. Just the sort of a
lad you fancy loves everybody, Tom
Crump was
"But is he really drowned p cried
little Ethel.
Alex nodded. "The tide washed him
up this morning. Poor old Crump and
his boat are both lost for certain the
men are saying there's nohope for them
now"
Dorothy" said Alex, when the 9TH
ers had run to distance, "you don't
thinks there's any cause for real fear
about papa and Captain Sand, do you ?"
He was looking strangely sober as he
asked the question, his great gray eyes
searching mine.
81 can only hope there is not, Alex"
Captain Sand knows the manage
ment of boat so well, you see."
"Of course he does"
"Still-it seems odd that they should
not have come in now the sea as
Gained"
"That's where it is, Alex"
"What can we do p
"My boy, we can do nothing but
pray"
On the way home to dinner we met
Mrs. Sand. The children inquired if
she had heard about Tom Crump.
4" Yes, poor boy, have; and the old
man is sure to be gone Also" was her
reply. at is Crumps own fault. He
was too old to 60 outwith only that boy.
Captain Sand told him so more than
once, but he didn't listen. AS if his
feeble hands could be of use in gale |"
ooh, mamma, Tom Crump's drowned!
Have you heard about it ?" cried the
whole of them, bursting in.
Of all tiresome things childrens'
tongues are the worst.
81 saw him carried past" she ans
wered, in voice strangely subdued.
Dorothy, do you think there can
remain any chance ?" Mrs Whitnall said
to me that night as was lighting her
bed candle.
| swallowed down a lump in my
throat. Heaven knew how anxious
had grown myself, and how much felt
for her.
"Dear Mrs. Whitnall, yes. The morn.
ing may bring him. dresmt last night
that the Margaret Ann was in. We
watched it come across the sea, and
Robert waved his hat to us. 1t was a
pleasant dream, and l hope it was a
good omen."
She sighed, and took her candle, say
ing nothing.
A good omen On the following
morning, as l was leaning from the
window for breath of the sweet, fresh
air, there came soft knock at the
chamber door. 1t was opened about an
inch, and the whisper of Alex came in.
Dorothy, want to speak to you out
here minute"
"You can come in, Alex. There's
nobody here"
The boys eyes appeared first, ranging
round the room in search of Ethel.
"Where is she 2" he asked.
"Gone into her sisters ROOM"
He came in and shut the door with
out noise, and then l saw that his face
was of livid paleness. {" 1t is such
bad news, Dorothy"
The look frightened me more than
the words. Down / sat in the chair at
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