Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-11

WY uOh NVu hOfob lVui obht
cried Tom, from his seat in the bow,
land steer for the Islandp You'll go
to Boston II you keep on this way" -
just then a fresh squall drove the
boat ahead with such force that the wa
ter broke over the bow. and Tom was
for the time suppressed. Fortunately
the dory was stanch and seaworthy. 1t
rode the waves lightly, and so long as
Dare could keep 1t before the wind she
had no fears of its capsizing. But ev-
cry breath of wind carried them further
away from home. Presently the rain
began to fall; and then Mollie, that
Dare might not be wet, insisted upon
covering her shoulders with the jacket
also.
"But never take cold," Dare pro-
tested. I'm wet through half the
time when I'm out in the dory, and
don't know what it is to be sick"
"But sha'nt feel right unless you
take part of it," the other declared.
"rll sit close to you, dear, like this,
and there'll be enough for both of u.s."
So Dare did not resist. 1t was n new
experience for her to be affectionately
treated, and she did not need the jacket
to make her feel warm. AS Mollie's
arm crept round her waist, and the
girls little head rested on her shoulder,
she felt that something had come to her
which all her life had lacked. Leaning
over, she kissed the upturned forehead.
You're not frightened, dearP" she
asked
Just then a sharp flash of lightning
forked across the sky, followed almost
Immediately by deafening peal of
thunder. Mollie hid her face in Dare's
dress.
90 yes. / am," she cried; "Im aw-
fully frightened. Do you think the boat
can stand it, Darep Do you think we
will ever get homep''
Dare looked out toward the horizon.
The rain was falling even more heavily;
the wind was blowing steadily from the
north, and the darkness was shutting
down. 1t was an angry looking night,
and Dare had to fight hard to shake off
thrill of terror from herself, l- z.
"There's no danger, dear, she said,
bravely. "fve been out in a heavier
blow than this, and so long as we can
keep her before the wind we're all right.
Only I'm afraid, Mollie, Wen have to
spend the night out here. But You
needn't mind that. You needn't even
be hungry, for I've got some biscuit and
can OF water in the locker; and in the
morning we'll run in somewhere down
the coast, or, if the wind has changed,
come straight home. l wouldn't dare
put up the sail until after the storm is
over" she added.
They ate the biscuits and drank the
water; and then, as the night grew
darker and darker, and finally shut out
all surrounding objects, Dare insisted
that Tom and Mollie should GO to sleep.
Tom could lie down in the bow, using
one of the seat cushions for a pillow,
and Mollie in the stern, resting her head
in Dare's lap. Dare would watch, she
said. Tom, who was quite used up by
exposure and fear, at once accepted the
suggestions; and Mollie, after some per-
suasion, also consented to it, though she
insisted that Dare should keep the jack
ct for herslf. Before she lay down she
hesitated moment
May | say my prayersP" she asked
softly.
Dare bent over her and took the little
folded hands in her own.
"Say them for me too," she whis-
pered.
So Mollie said her prayers; and then
while the wind roared and the boat
rocked and the rain fell, she went
peacefully to sleep, covered by the
jacket which, without her knowing it,
Dare had taken off and transferred TO
Mollie's thinly clad shoulders. For
long time Dare watched the quiet little
form, resting one hand protectingly
on the child's wavy hair, while with the
other she held the tiller and kept the
boat still before the wind. By-and-by.
however, the clouds broke and the
wind veered. The water gradually
calmed, the boat rocked less and less,
and Dare too had fallen asleep.
Early the next morning Mrs Peters
came TO the door of the little cottage on
Star Island, and shading her eyes with
her hand, looked out over the sea- 1t
promised to be fair day. The storm
had cleared off in the night, and fresh
breeze was blowing from the southwest.
Nothing, however, could be seen of the
dory, and as the dory ought to have
been home the afternoon before, Mrs.
Peters began to be little worried. She
had not worried till now, because Dare
could not be expected to come home in
a storm. The child had no doubt put
into Kittery Point and staid all
night with the Grays, as she had
done before under like circumstances.
But in that case she ought to be coming
home now. Mrs. Peters looked toward
the little cove where the dory was ac-
customed to lie; and to her great sur
prise discovered masthead rising
above the intervening rocks. The mast
was not rocking, as II would be if the
dory were in the water. The boat must
be drawn up on the beach. But who had
done thatp Had Dare come home in
the nightP With quick beating at
her heart, Mrs. Peters ran over the
rocks down toward the beach. There
was the dory sure enough. How had it
got there, and who was in it?
Dare was in it for one. Her head,
from which the hat had fallen off, rested
on the gunwale; her eyes were closed
in sleep; and though the position must
have been very uncomfortable. her lips
were parted in half-smile. On !. Il.
lap rested the head of another girl,
whom Mrs. Peters did not know, but
who was also sleeping, while boy re
posed in the bow What did 1t all
meanP With an unusual display ol
feeling, Mrs. Peters leaned over and
kissed Dare.
The girl opened her eyes.
"ls it time to get up?" she asked
dreamily.
- should think it was," said Mrs. Pc
ters. briskly. "And what want tc
} know is how you got here"
Dare looked around in bewlderet
surprise. "Why, we must have drift
: ed," she exclaimed "We were mile
away from here last night. Mollie
dear she cried, leaning over and kiss
! ing the head that rested in her lap, lit
morning and we've got home"
Mollie sprang up, rubbing her eyes
"Why did you let me sleep so longP'
, she cried, penitently. II might hav
helped you with the sail"
} Dare laughed. ~ have been asIeel
myself all night" she confessed, " AM
the dorY found its own way hnma,,