Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-03-27

NO. 75.
Gales ano Skettbes.
HOW TIE "SuLF- WENT DowS.
BY REBEccA HARDING DAVIS.



Now we are all in." said Cap'n Jsb.
the wrecking- master. as the last was
pulled up. Ivan Dorm weren't At the
Banks to-day"
But he's at Shark River. with Jane"
some one had said.
Nobody spoke; the men looked at each
other. then out to sea. and glancing at
Conny, drew apart and whispered.
''ls the Gull in danger. sirp" She
pulled Caps Jobs sleeve He did not
look down at her.
Danger. nonsense You ought to be in
bed. child. Go to the house, and take
Dan. Go, at once, l tell you"
Conny did not go. Sine saw sail,
close-reefed. out in the gray distance. like
the flicker OF birds wing.
There's father nowr' she cried.
At that moment there was sharp crack
ling in the air. The yellow light was
gone. The sea rushed in as il driven by
terror.
"lt's come men, It's come!'' cried
Cap'n Job. Cony had heard Of wind
squall which. fifty years ago, had strewcd
the shore with wrecks. She clung to an
old SPAR in the sudden darkness and the
storm of spray and sand that drove over
her. cutting her hands and face.
ats wind squall; but it cannot hurt
mother-it cannot hurt mother! 7" 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 steadily out to sea.
The fishermen were lncar the cove,
watching her and whispering together.
One of them went to the village, and
brought down two or three women. Manly
Hepburn. who was friend Of Jane Van
Dort's went up to Conny.
''Come home with me. dear" she said.
Don't look out yonder. putting her hand
over the girls eyes. ''It's growing clear.
er. and the seas ugly to look at after n
storm; weeds, and wrecks. and dead
things are washed ashore, and"
Conny quietly put down her hand.
al must see the Gull come in. Moth
er's aboard
Manly looked Mt the men, perplcxed.
She wiped her eyes once or twice, and
then put her hands on Conny's should
ers.
There was wind-squall like this once
aiore. COMFY"
II know"
"And-and Of all the ships within two
miles of the bar. not one lived through Il.
Not the big ships, dear! Are you lis
tenin'r -
Connv, after minute drew away.
81 wish you would 90 to Dan, Nanty.
He's crying yonder. II can't speak TO
lin now.''
She put her hands over her eyes again.
looking through the slowly-lifted weight
of mist. Her lips moved.
Dan pulled her by the skirt, after
awhile.
'Come away. Conny, he sObbed. "They
say the Gull has gone down, and they're
afeard for You to stay here.'
ut couldn't go down. God wouldn't
let it. I've been prayin'." But her face
was like death as she said IT,
| The mist had lifted now. Under the
pale twilight lay the vast angry sea-the
waves rising out of fathomless darkness.
Conny caught Dan fiercely by. the arm.
and pointed outward. Her lips were too
parched to speak.
1.-The Gull = The Gull" shouted the
men. Only sea-bred eyes could see the
the far-off boat, which was dashed 10 and
fro like bubble. There's no chance
there fur good boat said Cap'n Job |;
''but for that old water-log-Take them
children away. Manly Don't let then,
see their own nanny go down!r
The wind beat the masts of the "Eull''
| level with the water. once again.
Conny clnched Dams hand in hers.
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 black hull was washed above
the yellow foam for an instance, and sank
never to rise again.
Manly ran to the child, rs she fell on the
sand. and carried her to her own house.
but at the door. Conny opened her ewes.
and struggled to her feet.
/ Il must 90 home. Mother told me 10
take care Of Dan and the baby till she
came back
Nantv sobbed out loud then. She had
been very fond of Jane.
"Child, didn't YOU see the Gull 90
DOWN. she said.
Yes said Conny: ..but was a prav.
in Mother'll come back
She ran along through the darkness Ia
the cottage. Dan was crouched, crying
by the fire. She knelt down beside him.
God wouldn't take them when we was
prayin','' was all she could say.
And there came then a great shouting
and cries without, and the door bursi
open. and her mother was on the floor
and had them both in her arms. sobbipp
and laughing all at once; and Ben wai
talking to the neighbors, witha queel
quiver in his voice
Gull went down! Yes. of course sh<
| so< 1xcx~ L. - =