The Republican journal., 1876-03-30


roar of the storm outside seemed changed
to the sobbing and wailing of women and
little children about our door Twice did
the tall clock strike oft the hours while we
kept our weary vigil, and still they did
not return. | could not stand it any longer.
with only Janet to Groom out doleful tales
of death and shipwreck which she had
seen along this very coast. | wrapped a
light shawl about me, and crouched under
shelter of the doorway, peering into the
darkness. and hearing the sobbing and
wailing louder all the time. Then the
slow steps of men sounded along the shin
gle. and before could dart back into the
house. father and Ben came up the rocks,
and two or three fishermen with them.
This storm is making power O. trouble
long shore" said old Dirk Van Brunt, as
he saw me shivering in the doorway and
then Ben whispered, go in, Jetty, quick,
and tell Janet to get blankets and bed
ready Here's poor young fellow Just
about drowned. and a cut on his head be
sides. DO what you can, dear, and Til
fetch doctor"
The faces OF the men were grave as they
bore their burden past me; but | laid a de-
tqining hand on father as | gasped 'Was
il shp?"
| mo, child" he answered lone O them
hisky little yachts, l reckon. 1t went
straight on to the reef, and split up like an
eggshell.''
"Were the men all killed ?"
| 'Swum 'shore-all but this follow suth-
in struck him on the head, and Ben had to
bring him in"
And then the men crowded about him,
and began to strip off his wet coat and
see to his bruises, while father was slowly
arranging bed and blankets with that
steadiness and gravity that come with age
and experience.
Here. Jetty," he called to me, when
they had gone quietly away again, and
we were left alone "come here and look
at him, child, and see what you can do.
! Women's fingers ard kind O handler than
ournn
remember how stopped over the bed,
saying, under my breath, 'What hand
some man. | dipped handkerchief in
water and bound it about his temples,
where q deep cut was visible, while every
sat down beside him, studying his face,
wondering all the time who and what he
was, if he We're really i'll, and if he would
uIt II w as tlIlllO5u Hptl DolplG tilt
| doctor came, and all the time father and
| sat by him, watching patiently, and say
ing very little. Sometimes our charge
| would lie with closed eyes and scarcely
perceptibe breath; again he would turn
his face toward me, seeming to study me
in puzzled, dreamy way. He was very
quiet, and appeared grateful for all we
did, but his voice was so low we could
scarcely hear what he attempted to say |
had plenty of time TO study him in return.
l often wondered. as | sat there, what
kind of a life it was we had saved-if, in
deed, it We're saved. He was very hand
some. though brown and tanned by expos
ure but his forehead was broad, and
white as a girls, and his hand exquisitely
shaped, though large and strong, and on
the third finger of the lett hand glittered
| a heavy ring. Was this man by whom |
sat, quietly ministering to his wants,
| living power for good or evil, for truth OF
falsehood. in the world? We're pure, low
ing women waiting for him at home, or
was his life worthless and void of love
that, were he to die, he would never be
missed at alp | wondered il he had a
father or mother, a sister or brother;
'Or was there dearer one
STILL and nearer one
Yet, than all others"
And when his large blue eyes opened and
fastened themselves upon me, wandering
over my face, my hands. my dress, and
on to fathers gray hairs, then back to me
again, | felt myself blushing, and thinking
surely it were i blessed thing to save one
lite in the world
When the doctor came | WAS released
Will tho CT won nd . Warfa ,jraCSpJ
They proved slight, after all it was more
the shock given his system the wounds
were really nothing vet, buffeted as he
had been by the waves, lite had SO nearly
ebbed away that it was necessary to have
quiet and gentle care for few days. And
father insisted, even when our guest was
we'll enough to sit up, that he should stay
with us.
"Tain't any trouble to help human be-
ing live, let alone a handsome young teller
like that" he argued to me. 'He can
haul a rope as good as any on us along
shore, too an outspoken, tree-hearted
chap, an quite a sailor. 'Twa'n't his fault
his boat split up on them rocks; nobody
could ha' done any better in such gale"
So he staid. We knew him just as well
in tour days as if it were as many years.
| had to wait on him good deal at first,
and often read to him, answering his
questions about the books that had fallen
in my way. thought him little inquis-
| tive; but then ! was very proud of my
reading, having Just come out OF school,
with all my knowledge at my tongues
end, as it were. l often wondered what
made him look at me SO much not rudely
Indeed, nothing that he could do would
even have seemed rude; but he looked at
me with sort of studying expression, as
if he were longing to read and understand
me. And was SO simple, and such
| child, it surely was not a hard task-at
last it did net seem to be hard to him.
When, in return, | studied him turtively,
as indemnity for his persistent scrutiny Of
me, he seemed sort of incarnation of
high art, while poor Ben was reduced to
the lowest level of manhood. 1t was sure
| ly no wonder felt as if | were in dream,
Ben came and went just as usual; but
| after a time--why, could not tell be-
gan to dread his coming. For one thing,
was afraid he would talk to me again as
he did that night the Butterfly ran on the
rocks and Mr.. Arnold came to live with us.
What should say to him if he were to
ask me again if loved him?
Stay with me, Jetty dear" said Ben
one morning, as tied on my hat and pre-
pared to 90 down on the beach with Mr.
Arnold. Il haven't had you one minute
to myself since that night we lit the lamp
together. | shall be Jealous of this city
chap i you give so much of your time to
him"
"But father don't think him strong
enough to 60 off alone,' said hastily.
"And he wants so much to see the rocks
the Butterfly struck when she went down.
The tide is at ebb now. and we can see
them plainly from the Point. Come too,
won't you, Benz" | amended
NO" said he, stoutly, II won't come,
Jetty. l can't talk like city chaps He
and I'd never have feeling in common
it we was together all our lives Some
times-sometimes" (and his tone was
little bitter) ''I've wished hadn't a-been
the one to haul him in. If he'd a-gone
down, We twod been happier, | dare
saw