The Red Cloud chief., 1879-05-01
HANNAH.

Treat broken masses OF black clouds
were lying in the west; and through
them, turning their ragged edges into
gold, and lay ing long bars Of light across
the wind-tossed waves, streamed the
setting sun.
Here, with the shawl drawn closely
about her (for the October wind was
chill, after the gale), stood Drusilla
Ward. Her face was bright with the
reflected glory of sky and sea, which
made her almost beautiful. But the
splendor of the scene was too familiar
TO her eyes 10 long detain her.
She watched for q moment the soil
tary sail in sight-a little boat, beating
against the wind-and turned TO leave
the rock. she had come down the
beach, and one could trace her foot
prints all along in the smooth sand, to
the point yopder.
Just beyond rose the chimneys of John
Merrick's old stone house, whence she
came.
As she turned she saw her father,
making his way slowly over the slippery
rocks, and waited for him. Capt. Me-
lancthon Ward-or Captain 'Lank-as
the Brayford people called him, was
neither so young, nor so active, as IN
the days when he went, master of the
schooner Nancy Jane, ''coasting down
east - in the fishing season, for ''freight
and a market"
1.-THE rheumatics" had given the
old man many a twinge before he was
ready To leave his active seattle, to
SNAKE port and cast anchor in Bray
ford Harbor.
He quickened his pace a little, when
he saw Drusilla waiting for him "Glad
you're here, Zillie. TO help NE up the
bank" he said.
She took one side of the basket OF
dripping bivalves, and they left the
beach, taking a steep, stony path which
led 10 the level above. Here, a few rods
back, nesting in its own grove of twist
ed apple-trees, stood their coy home.
Half way up the path they paused,
and Capt. Lqnk caught sight
of the sail Drusilla had seen
from 'the kuuckles.' "That
boats makin'for Little Cove, Zillie, and
somebody steerin' her knows the way"
.sJim Merrick, maybe they sent him
word that Hannah was failing" said
Drusilla. "When did she GO, Zillie?"
and the old mans voice took a solemn
tone, at the question. "a little after
q" she answered. Just as The tide
fell thought likely" "Was she SEN
sibIe?" he asked rs they reached the top
of the path. "Yes, and seemed happy"
I'm glad / forgave her"-she added,
presently, more to herself than 10 her
father. Capt. 'Lank looked at her iu-
dignantly-" Forgive her! What you
talkin' about, ZillieP Why, Hannah
Merrick never did any harm to you, nor
nobody else, as / ever hearn tell
'Twould be more nat'ral she should for
give you, for not settin' more store by
her than You ever did. l reckon the
Lords forgiveness was all she ever
needed"
Eyes, father" said Drusilla, "Han-
nah and 1 always got along well
enough"
Capt. 'Lank limped into the house
with his CLANS, and Drusilla-stopping
a moment TO tell her mother how she
had left their neighbors in their bereave-
ment-went to her own room.
Sne sat down by the window, which
overlooked the wide, beautiful bay, but
bAer thoughts were not of the world
ABOUT her. She wanted to rscall all
that Hannah had said to her the night
before, and to dwell ~joyfully on the
thought that Burton Allen was not false
and tickle, as he had seemed.
This time last night, when it was
growing dark, and the storm coming
on, Uncle John Merrick came in.
"Hannah's very poorly tonight" he
said, after the usual remarks on the
weather, to Capt. 'Lank-" her mother
thinks she won't last the night out.
She's got s notion to see you, Zillie, and
rs doubt / must come over after ye.
Susan Lane offered to SET up, but Han
nah's uneasy to see you, an SO I've
come, though 'tsin't hit for you to 60
out, 1 know"
"Oh, she'll 90, of COURSE" said Mrs.
Ward-and Drusilla made herself ready,
and went through the storm and dark
ness to her vigil by her dying school.
mate.
She found Hannah, as her father had
said. every poorly" but anxious
strangely so, she thought (for they had
Aever been intimate friends) to see her.
Satisfied with Dru.illa's presence, Han
nah fell asleep, and the household soon
retired. Drusilla, left alone, wondered
why Hannah wanted her tonight instead
of Susan.
1t was lonely sitting there, in the dim
light, with only her own thoughts, ard
not cheerful ones, for company-and to
listen to the surf. laundering on the
beach, and the wind whistliug and beat,