Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-02-15
THE CRIB-KEEPER,S WIFE,
HOW She Saved Her Husbands Nifc-A
story of the Chicago water Works.

dreds who look out at the lake every
day and see the crib-tower rising up
againsta blue or gray sky, as the case
may be, know of a scene that took place
there nearly three years ago?
AT the time of which | speak the
crib-keeper was Fien named Kalstrom,
agigantic man and heavy in proportion
TO his size. lie was known about the
wharves rs Big Charlie and his claim
To distinction was that he had, rs he
said, commanded Il bark of dousand
duns, in which he had sailed the North
Seas, and in which. Vikinglike, he had
carried off his with, a bright faced Irish
girl, from Drogheda, one of the east
ports of Ireland
The was a small woman, with gray
eyes and long black lashcs. She had
strongly marked eyebrows and mass
of waving black hair that crept in lit
tie curls around her temples and the
nape of her neck. She had the piquant
nose of her race and a generous mouth
filled with strong white teeth. 1t was
in March. and the day was one OF those
soft, treacherous ones that larc unwary
flowers to their destruction, and SOW
pneumonia and bronchitis broadcast.
The sun shone warmly, and the great
lake seemed todream of springtimc.
The crib-larder was like Mother Hub
bark's cupboard, and Halstrom took
his small boat and rowcd ashore. In
the few hours he spent among the
shops and in taking glass of beer
with his friends, the wind changed, and
when he reached thc shore with his
stores. he found the lake churned up
to the fury peculiar to inland seas.
lie was worried but had such con
fdcnce in his little Irish girl, rs he
called her, that he spent the night
quietly. The next day found the storm
as wild as ever. and he spent the hours
of daylight striding mp and down the
shore, for by this time he knew the few
provisions had given out, and that his
wife was actually suffering for food.
Twice he launched his boat, and twice
it swampcd.
At dark the light cleaned out from
the crib-top, but to KalStroms eye it
had a paleful glare, and morning found
him determined To gocy | hey to swim
vor it. as he swore with some round
scandinavian paths. Fortunately the
wind was more quiet. and, after hard
work he came under the lee Of the crib
walls His wife had spicd him. and
she cast him a nooscd rope from the
top story Of the crib; for the waves
rolled SO high that all the storm doors
and shutters were battered down and
the white caps spit at the lantern rs
they drove before the wind.
lie caught the rope. and passed up
his bundle of supplies. She dropped
it a second time; and, just as she got
it under his arms, a great wave
swamped the boat. leaving him cling.
ing to the wall blinded and bruised.
and depending on the little woman up
aloft for his life.
She begrn hauling on the rope. and
had drawn him aS high as the sill-frame
he thrusting fingers and toes into
whatever crcyiccs offered. As he
reached his right hand mp, the wind
came round the corner with a yell and
tore him loose, dropping him into the
lake but the faithful Irish girl paid
ont the line as fast a she could, and ne
found himself with chance for life
still in his reach.
Up he came, hand over hand, and rs
he entered the window he saw her fall.
and in the dim light he noticed a strange
discoloration of her face, black stain
on the bright rag carpet. and the fact
that her dress was torn to rags in
front.
Well, to make n long story short,
when he picked her up he found the
wedding-fnger of her left hand entirely
gone. and the tendon ripped out up to
the elbow. 1t had been caught between
the rope and the stone casing when he
fe,l, and his great weight. playing
against the wcdding-ring. had done the
mischief. But. ~ she said, ut weren't
time for faintin', miss" And she had
hauled him up with the right hand and
those strong, white teeth.
The rugging Of the hemp had cut
her mouth cruelty, and she had ground
her knees against the wall so despcr-
ately that tho thick stuff-gown she
wore was fraycd through and through.