The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-28

ing and distance was nothing to him.
He only prayed that he might find i
boat ready for sailing at the landing !;
for, ROW that he had resolved to go,
he could not brook an instant Of delay.
He knew every inch of the way; he
had travelled it many time when
his hard-worked horses seemed the
rest more than he needed it himself.
1t WAS his way to shield and care for
every dumb animal tenderly. When
he worked in the fields, the birds flew
about his head and hoped at his very
feet. instinctively knowing there was
nothing to fear from his gentle hand.
The road ran straight along by his
own farm; broad green acres well
fenced carefully titled. How hard he
had worked-but oh, how hopefully
looking forward to the time when
the land should bring him solid wealth
for his labor--when everything BEAU
tifnl that his wife craved or longed
for he could yield her with generous
hands. But that was passed now !;
his back was turned on his home, and
straight before him the great world
lay, it's arms ever ready to take in for
good or for evil those who were ailoat
and astray.
AS he walked on he took his hat
from his head and let the cool wind
play over his forehead. It was hot
and fcverish with pain. Once in a
while Il night-bird screamed above
him, flying on through space; occasionI
ally II dog howled in the distance and
the Growing of barnyard fowls smote
his car with lonesome sound.
AS he neared the town he noticed a
black low.lying cloud in the south,
and thought how frightened his wife
would be if astorm should come while
she was alone. While he was looking
at it a carriage passed him, coming in
from one of the prairie roads and roll.
ing rapidly forward. For a moment
he stood quite still, his heart throb-
bling painfully. lie did not know
what it meant; but, sensitive and
keenly alive to every impression that
night, nothing escaped him. He ran
forward without knowing why he did
so, the r,lmbling of the carriage lead.
ing him. 1t went his own way too,
straight for the landing, and turning
a corner he saw steamboat lying at
the waters edge. He was in luck,
after all, he thought; this was the
boat Hero, and almost ready to start.
The bell WAS ringing Justify. but the
plank was still out and few pas
sen@ers were making their way across
it. lie hurried on board and got back
into the shadows where lie could see
without being seen. The perspiration
was standing in cold drops upon his
forehead and face, and he trembled
50 that Il: could hardly stand.
lie had always been plain, straight.
forward fellow, little given to noting
the particular phases Of his own mind F.;
and now, with no evidence Of his
senses to assure him that it was 50,
he could not understand why he
believed so firmly that his wife and
George Way were On board the Hero
with him. He had not seen them, he
had not heard them speak and yet
that subtle, indescribable something
call it Il new sense or what you will
had felt and recognized their pres.
ence.
the steamer glided ont into the
stream and went sailing smoothly for
ward, its great light making shining
path on the waters. The cloud which
had been lying in the south was rising
and now covered half the sky, an
occasional CLEAN of lightning darting
from it. The wind was rising. too,
sweeping across the deck in strong,
steady gusts. Leaning upon the deck
railing Harry Vane watched the ris-
ing tempest. He saw that the cloud
had a reddish tinge and it still hung
low. Something like fear thrilled
through his heart, not for himself
he was past that--but for the woman
whom he had loved, ay, still loved.
lfhe were wrong-if 11e were still at
home and not in the steamer--at home,
alone, how dreadful it would he for
her; again, if she were in the Hero,
it q great danger came to them, how
might it fare with her!
These thoughts were flashing
through his mind when the tempest
came in its full fury. The boat was
caught up from it's course as a play
thing is taken in the hand of u child,
then dashed forward. No sound was
heasd, no shrek nor cry, nothing but
the mad roar of the winds and the ter
rible crashing of the thunder. Like
some goaded, maddened beast the
Hero rocked, plunged and leaped. it's
timbered crashing and breaking, the
foam rising in great sheets above and
about it. Then, it seemed hardly a
moments time, the wind lulled to a
calm, and instead Of the hurricane 5
roar was heard the screaming of chill
dren, the grooming of strong men.
"The steamer is sinking--t0 the
life boats, quick!" some one cried in
a loud voice.
And then shrieks followed. and half
clad women and little children cling
ing to their mothers breast, their
sweet lips frozen with fear, men,
helpless with terror, rushed out of
the cabin and staterooms to the side
OF the sinking steamer.
A few men, nerved with superhu-
man energy, put out the boats and
helped the passengers into them. One
man stood, tall and strong above the
rest, very Samson in strength, the
bravest Of the brave. Bruised and
stunned by the falling timbers, yet he
had been the first to rally the men to
their duty; and now he stood, drenched
to the skin, lifting women and chill.
dren into the boats.
They were all in at last, and he
stood alone. "COme!" some one said,
reaching up hand to him; "there is
no time to lose. There's room here -
"Are you sure the boat will not be
overburdened?
He spoke rapidly, and in low tone,
but from the boat below some one
gave out 4 smothered cry. He had
no time to say more--a strong hand
pulled him forward, and the next
moment he was in the heavily laden
ife-bOat.
"Let us make for the shore,'' one
man said.
"Move easy, if you value our lives, -
answered another. "The boat is filled
to sinking"
Beyond this was silence. Now and
then the lightning flashed over them,