Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-06-10


Tonight eannothelp thinking OF the !
past. The wind whistles through the
leafless trees outside, and the rain beats
rslstently against the window panes
| draw my chair closer 10 the open CRATE, |
and think Of another day--a day In
roso-wrcathed June.
Bobby Shafto, as Ada and had con
tinued 20 call Percy, had been studying
civil engineering. and be had accepted
profitable engagement, which would
take him TO fan, Off city In South Amer
lea. We an protested ngdinst avcniufe
which would separate MS so widely
but, finally, father said, II Il was for
Percy best interest, he should be glad
for him, and for his sake submit resign.
edly to his loss from our hearth and
home He was TO have gone on the
very day of which / have spoken; but
the gentleman in whose employ he was
and who was TO have accompanied
him was taken suddenly i'll; and so we
were all glad that the day of parting
was, at least, postponed. In the early
morning Of that day Percy and Ada
went together once more down TO the
beach. | stood and watched them as
they walked away. A soft south wind
was blowing. and it PLAYED gently with
Ada's ileecy curls The morning WAS
sweet-scented and sunlit by the time
they had returned however, clouds
had risen, full of threatening. But in
Bobby Shafto's eyes there was "a light
that never was on land or sea-" and it
seemed as if Ada's sweet face had stolen
some of the mornings rosy light.
The key to the secret was Bobby
Shafto's little gold ring OIL my sisters
fair. small hand.
had scarcely congratulated them
on their escape from the rain, which
now began to fall in heavy sheets, when
our attention was arrested by the loud
ringing of the bell. In answering the
summons we found three sailors at the
door, who asked for the loan of our
boats. A pleasure-party had gone out
of the harbor early that morning, and,
rs some anxiety was felt by their
friends for their safety since the storm
had so suddenly overtaken them, they
had volunteered TO 90 out in quest of
them.
Before their errand was fully told
Percy left the house. and soon returned
with a strong pair of oars and dressed
ready to breast the tempest. He offered
to accompany them and render what
ever assistance he could.
Laying my hand upon his arm, l
said
Percy! Percyl Must you, will YOU
go and risk life so dear to us all?f
But Ada clung to him, weeping, and
with plaintiye entreaty besought him not
TO venture out ON the angry sea.
Kissing her quietly, he said, with an
air OF unwonted eomposure, trust and
faith. ''God will take care OF me,
little Ada. And now, goodbye"
Ada, still OBTAINING him, said No,
no! Not goodbye, Bobby Sbafto. Say
AHf tCiedeEscheH, Percy"
"Aaf ,0iederscheH." he called back,
in brave, cheery voice, as he waved
his hand and was gone.
| The storm grew louder and fiercer!
the waves dashed high on the rocks;
and thick darkness, almost like that of
midnight, closed in upon us. Father sat
with his head bowed, and we knew that
he was praying. Mother and Ada and
| stood with our faces pressed against
the window panes, an agony OF sus-
pense in our hearts which found ex-
/ preston only in our haggerd faces.
At length the day died, and the dark
ness of night fell over the face Of earth
and sea like veil of mourning.
The old clock which stood in the cor
ner, and which had kept up its cease
less, somber tick! 'vtickl during these
long hours of silence and unspoken fears
and forebodings, struck the hour of
\ twelve, when the sound Of approaching
4 footsteps was heard Then came
knock at the door. To the almost fran
tic demand of father, "Where is my
boyPn the respQpA which came from
the lips OF he strong men who stood
before him Vas mingled with sobs of
1 sympathy and sorrow,
Z" The boat was overturned when we
were not far from the shore, and we all
| struck out for the beach. We thought
Percy, as he was an expert swimmer,.w was
| just behind US; but on reaching land
| he was nowhere 10 be seen. We called.
but there came no answer. And we all
plunged back into the eseafbut our search
was vain PeTehance he reached the
shore further down the harbor.n
II was some such message as this
they brought as ! remember only its
sad import; for Ada turned to me witha
cry of agony, exclaiming, as she threw
herself into my arms Bobby Shafto's
lost at seap'
"But, darling" said /, "don't you
remember the after-words of the song
Bobby Shafto's found at sea- ? God
willing, the morning shall bring oar
Bobby Shafto back 10 as again. ("
In the gray Of the early dawn Ada
was gone, and we found her kneeling
beside our loved, lost Percy. His brave
young face was upturned TO the morn
ing sun. The ebbing tide played about