Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-09

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lying in that long, deep sleep we. call
| Death. In clear voice she gave her
orders to Mike, who hurried off half a
mile distant to get boats from the old
boat-keeper at the Point.
When Mike, with men and boats.
came, Mrs. Grant told them all she
knew, leaving the direction of their ex-
petition to Mike. He had once been a
full man, who would have given his life
for any of the family, and whose par
| ticular pet was the sunnv-haired Allie.
"Boys, We'll divide into three parties.
You, 10, can take your boy with you,
and hunt every nook and corner in the
cove, and don't you give up, do you
hear, until-weu, until the mornin'
comes, unless you find the little 'un.
Jim and Pat can look all outside the
cove, and me and Dan'Il row out to,
ward the Black Rocks. Don't you be
afraid, Mrs. Grant, he continued,
swell do our duty, aud won't come
home until we've some news for you,
good news too, we hope. Keep up a
| good heart, marin; sure the Lord
wouldn't let them ugly waves harm
such pretty darlint as your baby!"
| Mike and Dan dipped their oars in
and out the waters until the cove was
cleared, and the small boat rose and
fell on the rougher waves of the bay.
AT last Mike said: ssThere's but one
chance that | see of indin' the child
alive, and that's if some tishin' party
has found the boat and picked him up.
But that's poor enough hope, for it 8
| t'other side the cove that's best for fish
in. If the boats drifted slow, she may
have got round where the steamers
pass, and then there's the danger of
being run down and Mike shud-
dered at the thought. ''If she's floated
fast, and the tide is runnin' full to-
night, I'm feared we'n find her near
the Black Rocks, and if we do-God
help them all.''
He continued steering for the dread
ed rocks, now and then lowering his
lantern and peering through the dark
ness, for the moon was hidden just be-
hind the clouds. More than two hours
they searched. sometimes uttering few
gruff words, until at last they neared
the Black Rocks.
"The breakers is merry tonight, ="
said Dan, ''and mighty soft and white
lookin'; we must be careful how we
near them. Whist, Mike, what are We
starin' at like one stark mad?"
But he needed no answer. There,
tossing on the white foam, fioated pieces
of a broken boat. A little nearer they
rowed, and pulling in piece of broken
wood, read the word Seabird, the name
of Mr.. Grants boat. A heavy sob shook
poor old Mike, as he mechanically
rowed around and around the rocks.
cl,oIy h ha l..
s.Tain't no use,'' and in utter silence
steered for home. Passing the men in
the other boats, he told them the sor-
rowful tidings, and together they moved
toward the wharf.
There they found Mrs. Grant and
Rose. The house had seemed so unut-
terably lonely they could not bear it.,
and so they had come again to the boat
that seemed like hours to their anxious
way, placed the broken board in Mrs
Grants hand. Even the night seemed
to sorrow with them, for she drew across
the bright face of the moon a mourning
cloud of sable blackness, as if to hide
them from curious eyes. 1t was dread
full scene, the men said; they could
little Rose-oh, it was sad to see her
AS each hardy man went home, content
with his own humble lot, not one would
have changed that night, for all the gold
in the world, with the inmates OF Rose
Cottage.
But what of sBaby Mine?'' That
evening, while all at the Cottage were
in such alarm and distress about the lost
baby, and while baby himself lay sleep
ing peacefully in the frail little boat, a
huge steamer bound for the West Indies
passed swiftly through the waters of the
bay. She was somewhat belated; some
unforeseen accident had kept her at the
dock beyond the hour for starting, max
ing captain and passengers quite impa-
tent at the delay. But perhaps there
was s'need be- in this. Think you
not the watchful eye of Him who slum-
bers not nor sleeps saw the frail little
boat with the wee, helpless child-saw
the great ship and her strong, brave
crew?
On the outward-bound vessels deck
group of passengers, with the Captain,
were watching the moon rise, always a
fairy sight at sea. AS the silver ball
rose higher and higher, long streak of
light fell across the bay, making a white
path through the green, restless deep.
"One might call that the Milky
Way" remarked one of the ladies,
pointing to it; "but, Captain Carter,
what is that dark object directly in its
way? Some sharp rock, or don't you
know what it is?'' she continued, for the
Captain was regarding it closely.
''No, no, that is no rock" he an
swered absently; 'swhy, it's moving;
probably some boat adrift!"
''There can't be any one in it; do you
think so, Captain?'
s'I can not tell, he answered. eft is
probably an empty boat, but such
strange things do happen that 1 never
leave a thing like this behind me until 1
am satisfied it is nothing. 1 once was
saved from watery grave he contin-
ued, "by the thoughtful kindness of a
sailor who could not rest until he found
out what a small object was that tossed
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