The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-29
IIINCHCLIFF.

A solitary street, steep, struggling; one
end abutting on the beach at the head Of n
small wide bay, up which the sea tumbleS
in great heavy rollers before Southwestern
ly gale; the otter terminating at an an
Cient, iyy.mAntled church, some distance
up narrow prrcipitous valley between the
Wild fire.clAd hills; q few houses outlying
from the main thoruughfare, dotted at in.
teryals along the bottom Of the valley by
the side Of the gargling trout-strcNm that
babbles down its midst, or scattered here
and there along the seashore at its mouth ;
such Is the little fishing hamlet Of Hineh-
cliff, 1t has hitherto escaped the profana-
ton Of the presence Of the ordinary cock
ney tourist, and naturally 50; for to him 1t
would be absolutely devoid Of attractions.
1t possesses no pier, no csplanade; II boasts
but few shops. One solitary butcher, who
kills twice week, and Of course reserves
all his best joints for the great housen and
at parson,h who ae even then compelled
to content themselves with what he may
chance to be provided with; the inevitable
villagcfinn, with its sandSd taproom, earth
Gnware mugs, and home.brewed ale; and
a couple Of shops, the ambition Of one Of
which Is llmltei to ministering to the per-
sonal vanity Of It's customers, while the
other aspires to the dignity Of combining
almost every conceivable trade-these are
the sole facilities which HincbclilI offers to
would.be purchasers. tits doubtful, how
ever, whether more ambitious emporium
would meet with much success. The wants
o. the inhabitants are few and easily sup
piled. The sea provides them with their
means OF subsistence. There is hardly a
man in IIinchcliir who does not possess the
whole, or share, oi boat and the num-
ber Of nets being made or repaired at the
doors Of the cottages, or spread to dry
upon the beach, together with certain
odor-"an ancient and fish.like smelln-
which pcryades the air, attest to the visitor
the nature Of the sole industry Of the
place.
But at the time Of our story tue aspect
Of the scene Is very different from that
which 1t presents in the brcathless still
ness OF summer noon. The few hours Of
daylight are all but gone, and the dusky
tinto Of evening Is falling-carlier and more
gloomily than II ordinarily does in the
short dismal days Of mid.winter-upon all
around: upon the drenched and cherries
village; upon the swollen tutbid stream ;
upor the bare and leahess trees, through
whose straining branches the wind shrieks
and hoWls In lis impotcnt wrath rs Il niShcs
up the valley; upon the hsaving and tur-
bulsut waves. The sky Is hidden in pail
Of dun.colored cloud, beneath which floats
a mass Of light feathery scud, driving
swiftly before the gale; the sea breaking
mriously upon the beach, is transformed
into a chaos Of angry boisterous waves,
whose crests, cut off by the wind, roll on
wards IN 4 mass Of foam; while just to lee
ward Of the mouth Of the bay, an irregular
line Of breakers, extending some distance
out to sea, marks the position Of that ter
ror Of the homsward-bOund mariner, tue
dreaded "Cat."
The wind means, and walls, and shrieks,
like some soul in torment, as 1t dashes in
frantic gusts through the quiycring FIR.
trees, aud rushes and rOar up the narrow
street, and round tie corner Of the quaint
old church, In all the wild fury Of its un-
availiug rage. But, alas, upon the ocean
its wrath Is no longer imbOtcat. II lis there
about to add another to its long list Of vic
tins Dimly heard at first, the piteous
sound Of the signal guns Of some doomed
vessel Is becoming more omll,ously distinct
at each report. No help can reach her
from the shore, say the hshermeni II would
ne sheer mad waste Of life to make the at
tempt with such a sea as isrunning outside
me bay, and with the reef under the lee oi
any boat which should venture tO risk II.
In the little crowd assembled upon the
beaehat Hmehclih, hoping yet against hope
bat sOnething-it knows not dare' not