The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-19

"Fll CO." he said, briefly, adding
within himself, /" and if Philip Martin,
there, I'll bring her back with me again
L don't like his fathers son."
The old brown house stood O little
way back on the beach, with a smooth
stretch of siivery sand in front, and Q
cluster of black green cedars in the rear
tossing their plumy hands about in the
clustering salt-scented gale, and 9
group of merry makers, young and old
in their Thanksgiving habiliments, were
on the porch awaiting the arrival of the
new comers.
"Oh, Lucy, we thought you never
we're coming ~ said bright-eyed little
damsel, whose hair was blowing about
her face like mist of rippled gold
"what made you so late. And Phi
Martin"
Lucy's appealing, frightened glance
stopped the half uttered sentence short
but Isaac Penrith had caught its mean
ing.
"Lucy," he said, drawing his daugh
ter aside as the group hurried merrily
into the house once more, where o fire
of drift wood blazed redly in the huge
old-fashioned fireplace, and the sold
people," in caps and brass-buttoned
suits, were purring around the genial
glow" Lucy, is there anything be,
tween you and-and Dorr Martins
son ?'
She colored and turned her face
away, while the tears sprang to hel
eyes.
"Tell me-" he urged, sternly grasp.
ing her arm "I will have no more
half confidence. Has he asked you to
be his wife %
eyes, father"
"And you-what answer did you
make ?"
Father" simply answered Lucy,
with her violet eyes raised to his, 81
love him."
"Child," answered Isaac Penrith.
" conquer this idle folly as best you
may. 1 never will give my daughter to
Philip Martin SO now you know
my will and determination in the
matter"
He turned abruptly away, releasing
Lucy to the demands of half dozen
pleading bird-voiced girls, while he
himself briefly declined the kindly
honors of hospitality that beset him on
every side.
"I must be goin' back, friends" he
said; "Twasn't fairly right to come
over, but Lucy was SO set ont, and I
mustn't lose no more time. By the
looks O the clouds we'll have a stormy
night, and the Lord help them that are
out to sea along this cruel shore r'
And so he bid the revelers "Good-
night, and looked his last at the ruddy
glow of the driEt-wood fire, and Lucy S
sweet face, flushed by it's radiance-or
something elso--as she stood adjusting
a late rose III Barbara Cliffe's gold
misted hair.
"I'll walk down to the shore with
ye, neighbor Penrith," said old Truman
Cliffe, pulling on his dreadnaught coat
" Somehow, I've been a sailor so long
[ can't bear to keep indoor when the
wind is BLOWN up like it does now"
The late autumnal sunset was frin-
ging the overhanging clouds with a sui
len fire-such fire as burns itself out in
stormy reflections, leaving a track like
bloody footsteps across the tides-the
winds were moaning sullenly along the
barren shore, and the distant thunder
of the ground swell sounded like the
bass chords of Natures organ.
"Youre right, Isaac," said Truman
Cliffe. cts goin' to be an awful
night There's mischief in them
clouds, and if ever there was murder in
the sound of the breakers, it's there to-
night. Why, what's the matter ?"
For Isaac Penrith had uttered a cry
that made the old sailors blood grow
chill in his veins.
"The boat Merciful Father, the
boat has gone!"
1t was true; the loop had somehow
become loosed, and the little bark was
somewhere on the waves, be-
yond sight or sound.
"Truman, must have your boat as
quick as possible. The sun is nearly
down, but 1 can reach the light house
yet before lighting timer
He spoke in husky voice, while the
beating of his heart seemed like the
strokes of mufied drum.
Truman Clifie turned white, dis
mayed face towards his old companion.
"Our boat is down to Kilcoran, with
Jared and his girls; they won't be back
until tomorrow mornin' -
There was an instant's silence, and
then Isaac spoke, still in the same
hoarse, unnatural voice.
els there no other boat that 1 could
get?"
"There's Hugh Donnelly's down to
the Point ; but that's two,miles offp'
"I'il go for it."
TUr,1Doop ctnpna1 hin, nc bo Woo 4,,p,,
ing blindly toward the shore.
"No, Isaac, your lame and stiff, and
L am a good walker. Keep your
for the hard rowin' you'll have
to do, and I'll be back as quick as mortal
man can go and come. Sit down on the
rock, old friend, and rest-you're
trembling like leaf"
Isaac Penrith obeyed, mechanically,
and dropping his head upon his hands
he sat motionless, while the bloody
track upon the waves grew purple and
more indistinct, and the far-off thunder
of the ground swell seemed to utter
menaces in his ear.
Two miles away and the brief twi-
light was already setting in How
slowly Truman Cliffe plodded along /;
and yet those idiots on the shore had
always called him swift walker. He
would go himself and he started up
only to sink back again weak and help
less.
81 have no strength left" he thought.
A" must wait. 1 must wait for that
snail to creep along the sands. They
were right; it will be a fearful night at
sea And there is no light in the light
house to warn homeward-bound ships
off the reef !"
As he closed his eyes he cnnld al