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

turned over the leaves of portrait album,
and watching the tlckering lights and
shadows cast by the fire as they fitted
across her face, and in the dim cleaning
enhanced yet more the regal splendor Of
her beauty, when, during mOmcntary lull
in the storm without, the report OF gun
caused Maud to stop abruptly in the mid.
die Of a sentence, and look inQuiringly at
her companion. lie got up and walked to
the window, which, facing the valley, ordi-
narily commanded view of the sea be-
yond; but nothing was visible except
the drenched landscape, and, barely dis
tinguishable through tine rain, the murky
angry waves. lie gave an upturned glance
at the clouds and then turned quickly to
his cousin,
"Maud, | am just going down to the
beach don't let uncle wait dinner for me.
That gun sounded like ship in distress Z;
and il so, there may be work to do that
may detain me"
"Wait minute, then, Edward, while ]
put on my things, and ! will go with
you"
$50 with me! Nonsense, Maud it isn';
at weather for you to 60 ont, and you
couldn't do any good"
"'NonscnSc, Maud,' indeed Think it
is nonsense, Edward Come, now,' she
vent on cOaxingly, " do let me go with
you, there's dear boy. ! can put on my
waterproof and you know am privileged
to do as | please. Besides she added, in
a more serious tone, "if there really is n
shipwreck, may be able to do something
to help the people"
Edward looked in her face for a moment
For him, at any rata, it was impossible to
resist the persuasion of its pleading.
avery well, cousin mine; have it your
way, only don't be long !" and, holding the
door open for her to pass out, he iollor d
her, for the purpose Of donning pca-jacket
and pair ofgoOd stout shoOting.bOots,
1t is necessary that We should inform
the reader that Maud was motherleSs 2
Her behavior almost tells the tale Of her
early loss. Mrs. Tremayne bad died when
her daughter was born, and the widower
theeupon shut himsclfup with bis books
in a solitude upon which Maud herself,
upon whom he dotted, and few male
friends, were alone privileged to intrude.
Destitute, therefore, Of parents loving
guidance, and restricted for the society Of
her own sex to the ompany Of Mrs. Nor
ton, and to weeks spent ut rare intervals
at the houses of friends, Maud had re-
mainel In ignorance Of many, and acquired
a contempt Tor some, of the uSagcs OF
society, which, queen Of her little realm,
she to some extent disregarded at will.
The cousins reached the beach just be-
fore the vessel struck, and Edward gazed
with astonishment upon the horror
stricken groups, who were watching her
drift hclplessly across the mouth Of the
bay, when he heard that no efforts were
being made to save the crew. lie was
more than half sailor, and could appreci-
ate the peril but there was a ring Of diSap.
pointment in his voice aS, after obtaining
the information he hadasked for, be turned
to the little crowd.
"Do you mean to say, then, you are 60
ing to let those fellows drown without
making an effort to save them I thought
better things Of you men. One would
imagine you had never seen gale Of wind
hefore.n
ats no good, Master Edwarl,n said
one of the older men, who had known
"Master Edward from the time Of the
capture Of the latter's first mackeral (;
"some men have gone down to the Point,
but no boat could get out to the Cat to-
night. Look at them big rollers in the
bay, and you can guess what chance
boat would have outside"
A general murmur Of assent followed
this speech, aud Edward turned sharply
tothe speaker.
"0h, that's your opinion, Mr.. Bill
Wright, is in Where's your boat ! she's
about the stinest In the place. Here, this
is the one, isn't 1t, with all her oars ready
in her2 That's all right, Now, then, |
want crew; which Of you men will come
of to the wreck with me2n
There was momcntary pause, and each
man looked at his ncighbOr. Then one
came forward, and then, under the in
fluence of example, and ashamed to be left
behind where one was willing to lead,
Others volunteered also. In couple Of
minutes the crew was made up; and then,
whilst the Tan were fitting the oars to
the tholc.pins and preparing Tor their
perilOus trip, Edward returned to Maud's
side. She had sought shelter from the
wind and drifting spray (the rain had
ceased for time behind a boat few
PAGES oil, but was yet near enough to hear
all that had been said, and now she was
white and trembling with a great fear.
Even whilst she spoke the pallor Of her
cheeks increased, and she clung convulsivc-
" to her cousins arm for support.
edward, surely you are not going :
It is too dangerous; let the men 60 with
out you; they are used to it, she pleaded
pitcously in the selfiShness Of her terror
lie spoke almost sternly as he answered
hN.
"Hush, Maud; / am as strong as my
Of them. Besides led them into going,
and can't abandon them now. GOOd.by
dear" he went on aitcra moments pause.
Ills voict had sunk now to a whisper, and,
bending over her, he pressed his lipS light
" to her cheek.
1t was wrong, doubtless, thus to trench
on anothe: mans prerontiye, thus to tres.
pass on another mans preserves; but the
proyOcation wAs undcutably great, and all