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

man, with bright generous temper
Mr.. Whitnall had taken a great liking
to him. Captain Sand possessed boat
the Margaret Ann. He called it yacht
but | think it must have been the
cockleshell of thing it was, with &
white sail, and the supreme delight o
the captains heart.
This same morning after breakfast
v lille was hearing Kate practice-fol
though nothing of player myself
could superintend that, and Kate was
willfully careless-I saw the Captain and
Mr.. Whitnall walking about outside on
the strip of grass. Presently the latter
came in, and said Captain Sand had
persuaded him to go out for sail. We
laughed little Robert had 80 resisted
being persuaded before. They intended
to be home in the afternoon. AS to
dinner, he said, when his wife ques
toned him, the Captain was going to
take some bread and cheese and beer
and he could have some cold meat with
his tea. We laughed again after he was
gone at the idea of Roberts eating on
board the yacht-he, who would be sea
sick on the smoothest lake.
Well they went. 1t was about half
past ten when we watched the pretty
little cockleshell sail swiftly across the
sea and disappear in the distance. A
frail thing it seemed to me, but the
boys made game when | said it. | was
busy that day sewing in my room at the
back of the house and in the afternoon,
upon looking at the sea again, the
change surprised me. The beautiful
blue had turned to a dirty brown far
away, and to nearly bright grass green
in shore, and it was swelling up as if
moved by some great power underneath.
Since then it had been getting worse,
and no signs had come of the yacht.
As Mrs. Whitnall said, it was very curl
Gus that they had not come in during
the afternoon.
A humping against the door-posts be-
trayed the entrance of the supper-tray.
The cold beef-some of which Robert
was to have had for his tea-was there,
but Mrs. Whitnall turned from it as if
she could not eat morsel. She began
talking about the Margaret Ann.
"There is no cause Comprehension"
observed the landlady. 1.-THE wind,
high though it is, blows off the land,
and Captain Sand might have found it
difficult to get back even early in the
day. He would most likely make for
some harbor near, leave the yacht
there, and come on with Mr.. Whitnall
by rail. The captain, | know, does so
sometimes"
Mrs. Whitnall caught at the hope as
a drowning man catches at straws, and
ate some supper. The train was due at
ten clock /; the last that night. Soon
after the hour struck we heard the
sound Of one Of the railway flies, and
ran out to the door, in our anxiety, with
Mrs. James.
The fly brought nothing to us. Mel
Their, as was soon evident, had the
train. Worse and worse ragged the sea ;
the waves seemed to dash mountain
high, and break up into foam. In a
momentary lull of the wind we caught
the crashing of the circus music again
"a sign that the performance was at an
end, and the spectators were being let
out.
Dorothy, what is to be done p
did not know. Nothing, of course.
But it would never do to let her see
that | was alarmed also.
"Dear Mrs. Whitnall, don't give way.
They may not have been able to catch
the train just missed it, perhaps"
eff were only sure of their safety |!
| don't know how | shall get through
this night"
ave must hope the morning will
bring them. Hope and pray"
Standing on the doorstep, it seemed
that the spray dashed over the far strip
of green, over the road, and wet our
faces. She was shivering from head to
foot.
Her room, over the parlor, had one
of those large bay windows, very charm.
ing by the seaside when the weather.
calm, but frightiully shaky in gale.
How she got through the night dor t
know. Her eyes were a little heavy
in the morning, her face pale; but
there was no other sign to show.
The sea was calmer, but very rough
still, and there were reports of its hav-
ing been a most fearful night farther
out to sea. An old sailor, who some
times brought up shrimps for sale, but
he had none this morning, said, in an
swer to inquiries from Mrs. Whitnall
(she threw up the window to speak to
him, that it was lone O. them there
sudden storms as nobody couldn't
guard against" The children, no fear
of danger in their hearts, ate as much
breakfast as usual, and said what a nice
long adventure of it their papa was hav-
ing, and wondered which harbor Cap
tain Sand had put into.
AS the day wore on, the sea went
down gradually. But there came no
signs of the Margaret Ann. None of
the trains had brought them, but we
concluded that they were yet in the
yacht. Mrs. Whitnall scarcely left her
post at the window; she sat there strain
ing her eyes over the sea.
Mammals looking for the yacht"
said Kate, in half whisper.
Why, mother, it's no good your ex-
pecting it in to-day" remarked Alex.
| 1.-The wind is dead against the course
she took, and pretty still. Old Sands
sail couldn't blow HIM back here"
With the next morning the wind had
| Oh l.. u