The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-09

like; something carried in its midst.
"Come down, children, come down." |
said hastily. Don't stay until it passes
by
But, no; full of curiosity, their feet
were as if glued to the road.
ain 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
nice, civil fellow, too. just the sort of a
lad you fancy loves everybody, Tom Crump
was"
"But is he really drowned? ?" cried little
Ethel.
Alex nodded. q The tide washed him
up this morning. Poor old Crump and
his boat are both lost for certain; the men
are saying there's no hope for them now
Dorothy" said Alex, when the others
had run to a distance, "you don't think
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.
Il can only hope there is not, Alex"
"Captain Sand knows the management
of boat, SO well, YOU see
"Of course he does
not have come in now the sea has calmed."
That's where it is, Alex
"W hat can we do ?"
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.
Yes, poor boy, have; and the old man
is sure to be gone also was her reply.
at is Crump's own fault He vas too
old to 60 out with only that boy. Captain
Sand told him so more than once, but he
didn't listen. AS if his feeble hands
could he of ust in a gale =
"Oh, mamma, Tom Crump's drowned
Have you heard about t?'' cried the whole
of them, bursting in.
Of all tiresome things, childrens'
tongues are the worst.
Il saw him carried past she answered,
in a voice strangely subdued.
dorothy, do you think there can re-
main any chance ?" Mrs. Whitnall said to
me that night, as | was lighting her bed
candle.
| swallowed down 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. l dreamt last night
that the Margaret Ann was in. We
watched it come across the sea, and Robert
waved his hat to US. 1t was pleasant
dream, and l hope it was a good omen.'
She sighed, and took her candle, saying
hoAll1h6Gd < GOD omen On the following morn
ing, as | was leaning from the window for
a breath of the sweet, fresh air, there
came Il soft knock at the chamber door. 1t
was opened about an inch, and the whis
per of Alex came in.
Dorothy, want to speak to you ou'
mere a minute.
you can come in, Alex. There's no
body here
The boys eyes appeared first, rangin:
round the room in search OF Ethel
Nv here is she - he asked
"Gonc into her sister ROOM
He came in and shut the door withou
noise, and | saw that his face was of
livid paleuess. ''1t is such bad news
Dorothy
The look frightened me more than tn
words. Down | sat in the chair at tn
window, full in the bright morning sun
and my heart stood still.
"What is it Alex?'
"a bit of Captain Sands yacht ha
come ashore in the ght. Just as poo
: Tom Crump came last night, Dorothy.
| "A bit of Captain Sands yacht!'
dreamily repeated, my senses scarcely. as
verify believe, taking in what he said an
L all it meant.
: GA piece of the plank that had tn
name or" he breathed from his rigid hip
Enough to show it belonged to the yacf
> s-ret Ann We should know til
' form of the letters anywhere.
d "How did you hear this, Alex :!
asked, when my beating heart, beatr
\ wildly then, would let me.
Il have seen it Dorothy. Its hault
ashore in the harbor, and has got tif
4 cazers around it. When | was pushiI
Il amid them to see what it could be th'
> were looking at, the crowd knew me, al
parted to let me 80 in.
'e lie stood on, leaning against the dra'
q ers, and | sat on by the window, IN t
, Of bn worst
ne my life.
:. "Dorothy-do you think-they are DO
~ drowned p
e What else was there left to think ? B
,d his pauses had been caused by emotie
- The next minute Alex had burst into
= paroxysm of tears bordering on hysteri
/ bolted the door.
IS. Alex, don't." l whispered. Ak
pt try and be calm. Think of the mother
- "It's her I'm thinking of, more than
US" sobbed the boy. "Oh, papa, pap
What shall we do without papa?'
as He meant without his love. l thous
II. of it in different light. Even in Il
sad moment it could not but occur to mt
the worldly blight as well as the loss
'et love. Robert Whitnall was the sole brc
:. winner. What could these five helpl
nd children and their mother do with
NIL HIM
"n "What will be done about telling
mother? Oh, Dorothy, if We could
lot awake and find it all dream
What was to be done, indeed I
she must be. VIII it be believed that
the moments bewildering confusion, |
the gan thinking, If Robert were here,
lad would know how to" Then reflect
,ar- came. and broke off with a faint cry.
j, Dear Alex, try and be calm.
VI must choose our time for telling her;
hat ii will not do for her to see beforeh
old that anything's the matter. Here,
mis- shall wash Your face in my basin. liza
- They are calling us to breakfast.
oi Say ! am coming Dorothy"
the lad, his sobs rising again. :" If d.
the appear just directly, make some excuse
.aas me. Ia not cry if could help It,
We need not have speculated upon