The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-07-17

danger? nonsense. You ough
to be in bed, child. Go to the house
and take Dan. Go at once, I tel
you."
Conny did not go. She saw a sail
close reefed, out in the gray dis,
tance, like the flicker of q birds
wing.
"There's father noR," she cried.
At that moment there was sharp
cracking in the air. The yellow
light was gone. The sea rushed il
as if driven by terror.
sits come, men. It's come" cried
Capt. Job.
Conny had heard of wind squal
which, fifty years ago, had strewn
the shore with wrecks. She clung
to an old spar, in the sudden dark.
ness and the spray and sand that
drove over her, cutting her hand and
face.
"It's a wind squall; but it cant
hurt mother-it can't hurt mother, y
she cried.
When the darkness passed with
the heavy cloud, she climbed up to
the little headland. and sheltering
her eyes with one hand, looked stead
lily out to sea.
The fisherman were near the cove,
watching her, and whispering to-
gether. One of them went to the
village and brought down two OF
three women. Nanty Hapburn, who
was a friend of Jane Van Dort's
went up to Conny.
"Come home with me my dear" ,"
she said. "Don't look out yoader," "
putting her hands over the girls
eyes. sit s CROWN clearer, and the
seas ugly to look at after a stern;
weeds and wrecks and dead things
are washed ashore, and
Conny quietly put down her hand.
II must see the Gull come in.
Mothers aboard"
Nanty looked at the men, per
picked. She wiped her eyes once OF
twice, and then put her hands on
Conny's shoulders.
"There was a wind-squall like this
once afore, COMFY"
"I know"
"And-and of all the ships within
two miles of the bar, not one lived
through it. Nor the big ships, dear.
Are you hstenin?"
Conny, after a minute, drew away.
81 wish you would go to Dan,
Nanty, he's crying yonder. IL
can't speak to him now.
She put her hand over her eyes
again, looking through the slowly
lifted weight of mist. Her lips
moved.
Dan pulled her by the skirt, after
a while.
"Come away, COMFY" he sobbed.
"They say the Gull has gone down,
and they're afeard for you to stay
here"
"It couldn't go down. God
wouldn't let it. I've been prayin',' y
But her face was like death as she
said it.
The mist had lifted now. Under
the pale twilight lay the vast angry
seattle waves raising out of faith
omless darkness. Conny caught Dan
fiercely by the arm, and pointed out
ward. Her lips were too parched tC
speak.
"The Gull, the Gull" shouted the
men. Only sea-bred eyes could see
the far off boat which was dashed to
and fro like a hubble. There's .
chance ther fur a boat" said Capt.
Job; shut for that old water log
take them children away, Nanty
Don't let 'em see their own nanny
go down."
The wind beat the masts of the
Gull level with the water, once again
''Pray, Dan! Pray! and God can't
let them drown"
A great wave lifted the Gull taunt
ingly into sight, and then it was gone
Only a black hull was washed above
the yellow foam for an instant, and
sank never to rise again.
Nanty ran to the child as she feI
on the sand, and carried her to he
own house, but at the door ConnJ
opened her eyes and struggled to hel
feet.
81 must go home. Mother TOLD
me to take care of Dan and the baby
till she came back.
Nanty sobbed out loud then. She
had been very fond of Jane.
"Child, didn't you see the Gull &C
DOWN. she said.
"Yes," said Conny, "but 1 was {
prayin'. Mother'n come back"
She ran along through the dark
ness to the cottage. Dan was
erouched, crying by the fire. Shr
knelt down beside him.
"God wouldn't take them when W.
was prsyin'," was all she could say
And there came then a great
shouting and cries without, and the
door burst open, and her mother wal
on the floor and had them both il
her arms, sobbing and laughing al
at once; and Ben was talking to the
neighbors, with queer quiver in hi
voice.
"Gull went down? Yes, of course
she must hev. She sprung a leaA
an hour afore the squall struck her
and l knew it was no use to try tC
bring her in, and Jane and l got
aboard the steamer putting into the
inlet, and come over afoot. I'm
glad 1 didn't see the old boat agoin
down."
at was good luck as drove yoT
nigh the steamer, Ben," said Capt
Job.
sLuck or-God," said Ben, takin.
of his old hat. 'Hino, give US
kiss you young uns, STOPPING 4
hide his vet eves.zSt. Nicholas.