Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-11-10

lover them, and the boat sank in the hollow
as If courting destruction. A vigorous
effort at the tiller brought her head around
10 face the impending mass of water. and
In another moment, thank God, they are
riding on the top Of the wave, but, better
still, David has caught in his strong grasp
the lifeless form ofthe unfortunate seaman.
A moment more and he has, by an almost
incredible effort of muscular strength,
raised the mans body out of the water, and
in another second the apparently dying
sailor lies motionless in the bottom Of the
boat.
Half an hour later, the storm has abated
wonderfully, and the life-boat men are
working manfully and cheerily in their
noble efforts to save life. Already four OF
the crew of the wreck have been landed,
and rope is even now being made secure
between the wreck and the shore. The old
lieutenant is busily engaged giving orders
first to one and then the other, his excite.
ment lending to his years the activity OF
youth.
In one of the cottages nearest the shore
David has deposited his lifeless load, and
two old wives of the village are engaged
seeking to restore the poor boy-for he is
scarcely yet a man-to consciousness, by
the usual process Of rubbing, etc.
And where is Brenda? Brenda sits, white
and motionless, beside the little lamp which
lights the cabin. The promise of four years
ago has been kept-Steenie has returned to
Alstene; but has he returned to her?
From off his neck one of the old women
has drawn a silken cord, to which is
attached locket. The spring is broken,
and it lies open in Brenda's lap. On one
niAa Sc tnsa -
sweet face, on the other, braided with
golden hair, a monogram of the initials
N. c., and around it narrow gold plate
bearing the words-"To my own Steenie
from Nina"
Poor Brenda She sees and knows moth
ing but that. That face, those words are
engraven on her broken heart in letters of
fire. Does any one know all this besides
herself. Yes, there is one other aching
heart on Alstene beach that night. Good
noble-hearted David, recognized the face
of the rescued lad. One glance at Brenda,
and he knew that she also recognized him.
He saw the open locket as the old woman
| drew the cord from under Steenie's neck
and handed it to Brenda. He saw the poor
| girl as she gazed for o moment on the
| golden bauble, saw it drop into her lap,
and then with the nearest approach 10 q
sob that the great big fellow had ever
| known since he left the cradle, he went out
| on the beach to work with the rest.
Poor Brenda! that awful hour, so dreaded
by her for more than twelve months past
has come. That hour when all hope is
gop forever.
| CHAPTER III.
Ten years have passed away since the
night of the wreck, when Steenie returned
to Alstene
Brenda still lives in the little white cot
tage by the cliff, but she lives alone; the
old lieutenant sleeps across the channel
beside his wife. Brenda stands alone--all
alone, by the garden gate and tells herself
over and over again, that all that is dear to
her now lies under the shade of that little
church steeple. Yet her thoughts are often
far away from Alstene and all its surround.
ings. 'Tis true, she is not always sad. She
| is the good angel of Alstene now, and in
layers revert to "Good Miss Brenda" Just
as they used to old Grannie Saunders in
days gone by. Brenda is busy all day long
seeking the good of others, but when even.
ing comes and she is alone, memories OF
the past will rise up before her, and the
unbidden tear will drop upon the book or
work she holds in her lap, and then she
rouses herself once more and takes herself to
task with a areproving, Brenda Brendal"
spoken half aloud. -. ...esaa
Once in while the little desk will be
opened in which are Steenie's letters and
one other-one other which of late years
she has read more frequently than any of,
the rest, and as she reads it the color deep.
ems in her still bonnie face, sometimes clear
up to the roots of the once raven hair now
so plentifully streaked with grey. Brenda
is only thirty, but the silver threads are
| plenty among those plain black braids.
| This interesting letter is signed "your faith
full friend and obcdient servant, David
Saunders" and it reads us follows: Miss
Brenda: You will please pardon the liberty
take in addressing you, seeing that l leave
Alstene tonight, and may see you no more.
thought that maybe, some time or other,
in years to come it might give you bit Of
comfort perhaps, to know that the love of
you is helping one man in this world to do
his duty, and to feel that one man in the
world has been made Il better man for hav-
ing known and loved you. Good bye, Miss
Brenda. God bless you." And now, within
the last few days, another relic has been
added to the contents of the little desk
1t is an extract from the Weekly Shet.
lander, andruns thus @.H E& @
David Saunders, formerly of Alstene,
Shetland Isles, has been promoted TO the
rank of Masters Mate ON board Fl. NJ. S.
Venture This promotion is well deserved
better, braver man never trod the deck
of a vessel. His bravery in the Baltic
service has won for him the Victoria Cross
! and we are pleased to learn that If, on his
recovery from his wounds, he should be
unfit for active service, a position of trust
will be offered him on the Coast Guard
Service"
Kerr is residing in New York He was
married IL few years ago to Miss Nina
| Courtney, the original Of the miniature in
the locket, and is a wcll-to-do, prosperous
man. He seldom if ever thinks of Alstcnc
to recall the fact that the last week he spent
AS to Brenda well he did think of her
she'd get over it-they all do. Besides, he
adds, complacently:" we were both mere
children in those days." thus soon has he
learned to concur with the old lieuteant's
verdict at that time.
50 do matters stand on the tenth day OF
June, 1856, when all of sudden the quiet
little hamlet of Alstene is thrown into a
furry. A coast guard cutter has anchored off
the beach under the lee of our old friend the
Lookout Rock. A boat is lowered and
manned, an officer, one EARNED man, steps
into it and is pulled ashore. As he lands
he accosts old James Keyden with hearty