Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-12
Calls aud Skftehes.
THE WRATH OF THE WINTHROP MAN.
SION.
TCoNTINUED FROM YESTERDAY

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.l
'What do you want me to do ?" she
said.
As she spoke there was a flash of vivid
lightning, and she saw, as distinctly as
she had ever seen any thing in heI life,
dismasted ship rolling among the break
ers, not hundred yards from the .shore
She saw, in that same instant, the poor
creatures on deck, and one of them bore
the face she had seen at the window-her
brothers face
MY brother is on that ship" said Pru-
dence.
TO her, even then, it did not seem mar
velous that the face had been sent to tell
her that duty summoned her to risk her
life, perhaps, to save dying man. 1t
was nothing more wonderful than a hun
dred stories she had heard of unusual ap-
partitions. So she closed the window and
laid her hand gently upon her husbands
cheek
Ezekiel" said she. "there is ship
wreck close in-shore."
She looked up ut the window. The face
had returned, and was watching her every
motion.
Ezekiel started clumsly up, and stared
at his wife. There is shipwreck close
in-shore ~ she repeated.
Ezekiel had the utmost faith in his wife.
10 her clear and earnest simplicity, her
few words and her quiet thoughtfulness,
he fully submitted every detail which re-
quired consideration or advice.
He felt, as stolid. heavy, honest ma.
lures sometimes do. the superiority of her
tranquil temperament. He was W orn and
tired with hard days work, but he rose
mechanically and put ON his hat and sea-
coat.
Ezekiel. do you see him ?" she said.
"WhomP''
Him, my brother, at the window
there!'
mo"
Ezekiel, my brother is on that ship.
Will you save him"
81 do not even see a ship," he said.
"Wait for the flash, and you will see it,"
He went TO the door and opened it. He
had, meantime. taken from the closet a
large coil of rope Ezekiel knew as we'll
rs his wife, and even better, how utterly
powerless was all human aid to . ship in
the breakers around Ipswich coast. But
he took the coil of rope and went to the
door.
Meanwhile, Prudence watched the face.
Without taking her eyes from it. she went
to the open door, and stood beside her
husband.
AS the frequent flashes permitted, she
saw the ship, sometimes, indeed, only the
tips OF its broken spars above the angry
foam, but still distinctly, over and among
them, her darling brothers face.
AS each flash came, she would say,
Ezekiel, do you see it yet ?' and as often
he would say, NO
at is there-can you save them ?' said
She
II see no ship; but, if it be there. can
not save them,' said he.
Ezekiel, they are there-perhaps you
cannot save them, but it is your duty to
try she said
at is not my duty to you Prudence"
81 hen it is mine-give me the rope ~
"Are you made" he shouted.
She had seized the coil, and was rush
ing down toward the sea.
"Are you mad ?" he cried again, as he
followed her.
The house-door instantly swung to be-
hind him with great crash. In the
pitchy darkness and in the hurricane,
guided only by the faint glow from the
firelighted windows and the titful CLEANS
OF the tightening, he struggled down the
steep sides of the promotory. prudence!
Prudence ~ he shouted but only the
bowling tempest answered him.
All night Ezekiel paced the beach. 1t
was only when morning broke that he as
cened again to the house. His two moth
less boys were still asleep in their chairs,
and he stopped and kissed them, perhaps
fo- the first time in their lives; but he
kissed them for their mothers sake.
In the lapse of time Ezekiel took anoth-
er mate-a sharp, shrill-voiced fisherman's
daughter, to whom, nevertheless, he was
good husband, as to the first, and many
children were born to them.
But Ezekiel never ceased to remember