West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-03-20

known that John Holt had sailed so soon,
but none guessed the cause.
The old fishermen, who believed in him,
shook their heads wisely, and muttered:
Cute fellow, smelt the fish"
And the reports that came back during
the summer seemed to confirm this, for the
Spray was doing better than ever before.
Other crafts called at the harbor and
stayed few days, and such, previous to
this, had been John Holt's custom; but the
summer passed, and he came not The
season was over and the autumnal equinox
at hand and still the Spray was out.
There came day that will always be re-
membered at Rough Reef Backbone of
those days that take hold of time ana acts.
and become marks in the years-known as
''the great flood, " or 'rhe September gale. "
The sun had risen gray aud lurid, break
ing from the low hanging mist like a ball of
hot steel. The air was hot and oppressive
and the gulls came flying landward scream
ing discordantly.
Then the blue sky paled away TO gray
ishness, and the sun faded from sight.
Soon the sea grew fretful, and the air was
full of woe.
In the east dark line gathered along the
water and slowly up the sky growing
hlacker as il rose In height Still no wind,
no rain.
Then, under the low-lying blackuess. Il
white line, growing broad, but rolling along
the face of the sea, told that the storm had
come.
Never before had the shock been SO great
or so sudden. Sweeping like demons filled
with the power of wrath, the huge waves
broke upon the reef and ran foamIng up
the beach But there was no rain. The
foam-whirl filed the air, but the clouds held
firm.
The old men had gathered at Pentley's
shop, while the younger ones were watch
ing the moorings of the crafts i'm the harbor.
All could see the ocean, tossed by the wind
and raging for its prey.
Then cry arose. Through the tossing
crests, far out AT sea, came the white line
OF sail. Nearer, nearer-and the high
ledge was thronged with anxious watchers
who had hurried there: men from the shop
aud harbor, and women and children from
the cottages, for fear had seemed TO fall
upon them all and fill them with dread
the fear that the vessel in the mad fury
yonder was the one that had lives dear 10
them--the Spray.
On she came, the foam flying over her
and often hiding her from view and still
the stray sights given them had told the
watchers that their fears were realized
1t was the Spray
There were white lips and prayers, but
no tears. Death was thing with which
the dwellers of Rough Reef Beach were
too well acquainted To call for such a
motion until it came.
They knew that Holt wac making for
the harbor, and could he make il, he would
be safe. But would he make it? Still the
Spray came on. White faces watched her.
but whitest of all was that of Sarah Pent-
ley.
'Oh, John, john love you; / love
you!"
So rang the echo in her heart and II lac
should be lost would 1t not ring so for
everl
When she knew il was the Spray that
was driving before the storm, and heard
that 1t was mere chance whether she
would come in or not, then, with the
shadow of death hanging low over her
lovers head, her heart awakened To the
knowledge that he was all to her.
''fic shall not die---oh, God is too good :"
she said. And so she waited and watched.
A few yards more-Only few Yards
more, and then all would be known.
'Oh, God !" There was despair in the
cry, and death seemed to reach out its hand
to take the crew of the little craft.
AS she entered the channel that ran
through the reef, gust of wind seized the
sails of the Spray and shook them, and be-
| fore John Holt could shift the helm TO meet
the emergency, huge roller dashed the
| little craft high on the reef aud rolled over
| her.
Then it was that the cry arose-a cry
that all but one mouth answered, and that
mouth grew firm and set, and whispered
rather than spoke:
HE shall not die"
A small boat--a mere shell to meet the
mad shock Of the sea-lay in the little cove
formed by the ledge, and sheltered by its
strength. Into this Sarah Pentley jumped,
and before any one was aware Of her inten-
tion, or could stop her, she had pushed out
into the boiling foam at the cove's mouth.
Her father called 20 her, but she kept on.
81 love him, and Will die with him, or
save him. she answered, but the wind
drowned her voice. Eager eyes watched
her, eager hands were stretched out 10 save
her, when sJwave came roaring in-but il
seemed that the fate Of God was with her
Slowly, but surely, she went on, the
twirl Of the sea sending her this way and
that--and now other eyes than those on the
I ledge watched her.
Clinging to the fast breaking schooner
John Holt and his companions saw the little
boat tossing in the foam, yet ste dily max.
ing way. Then Holt recognized the wo.
man who was risking all for them. and
shouted to her to go back. She did not
hear
They had done all TO save themselves that
I they could. Lashed to a spare spar, the
only hope after the sea had destroyed their
boats, with such high floats as they could
seize, the crew Of the schooner were wait
ing the end. They remembered that death
had always been King here. and hoped not
| for relief.
Then the boat came, bat they knew that
only one could get IN IT, and before Il could
I return TO them again the end would come.
| "Quick, long line, said Holt, excitedlv.
IF the boat can carry one ashore, they can
draw US into the cove.
/ A piece Of rope still chung to q Delaying
pin this was soon severed from its hold
and fastened TO the spar. and when the
{ boat reached the small spot Of sea that was
partially protected By the wreckng vessel,
Holt shouted his wishes and hope.
Joy she hears and understands, and hs
lhe rope Is flung to her, grasps It firmly