Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-09-13
The Maid of Cherbury.

AN ENGLISH SEASIDE STORY.
tOnly one more voyage, Rachel"
"Oh, but coffin-ships, Harry The
word haunts me r
"But only one more run, my bonny
bird Just to Aberdeen in ballast, an
back again to Harwich with granite
afore we know we've been outl Then
we shan't have to start life in debt,
lass; every penny O. the share in
Georges boat'l be paid up; an the
little craft from that time for ard shall
keep good thick thatch over our
heads.
The ring of sold comfort in this
allusion momentarily displaces al
gruesome thoughts. The rosiest pair
Of lips in Cherbury are put up trust
fully, and kissed with vigor which
only young sailor, due aboard his
ship within two fieeting hours, is ca
pable of imparting to the salutation.
After this there is delightful pause,
while the August sunshine, fltering
its way between the messy piles of
Cherbury Jetty, beneath which the
lovers stand, surrounds their figures
with a golden halo.
"What's that they tell me about
Farmer Gordon havin' been so often
up at your mothers while was away
asst voyage?" suddenly demands the
young sailor. "0f course there's nowt
in it. sweetheart but 1 don't like to
hear, as l did hear the other night, the
names O. Tom Gordon an Rachel Cheal
bein' coupled together SO free-and
easy like-although Tom is old enough
to be your father"
For moment Rachel gazes into her
lovers face in bewilderment; then,
clasping his hand in both of hers, leans
back against weather-beaten bulk
head, while musical laughter ripples
from her rosy lips.
"Ohl but where have your eyes
been, Harry, my man." she asks, as
soon as she is able to speak; then she
continues, very demurely: GAS thou
sayest, lad, he is often up at mothers;
an he is old enough, an to spare, to
be my father; an"
"Let him bide, my lass; let him
bide. can trust thee with any man
of 'em ALL" interrupts her lover, i'm
petuously, as he hurriedly glances off
to the foot of the lane which leads
down to Cherbury Cove. "Here be
George, an little jim, an your Uncle
Humphrey, an that means it's deal
low water, an 1 must slip off at once
If I'm to make Harwich this flood
God bless thee, my pretty oneY' And
he holds her to his heart in clinging
embrace, while stentorian shout for
"Ha-ry-y-yl Harry Ree-e-e-eed p
awakens the echoes of the cove.
AYE, aye, George aye, ayep' cries
Harry in response. Then the two
lovers emerge from the seclusion of
the jetty, and join the group on the
foreshore; and, after a hurried greet
ing, Harry puts off with George and
little Jim in the boat to which hopeful
allusion has been already made, and
slips away before gentle breeze from
the northward in the direction of Har-
wich haIbor- 1t is not until the little
craft has rounded Cherbury Point, and
is lost to view, that RachaePs kerchief
ceases to fiutter in the air, and Rachel
herself consents to turn and retrace
her steps with her uncle to the village
The Cheals are a family of which
Cherbury has occasion to feel proud
Humphrey, veteran OF her ma;esty's
coast guard, is man who, holding his
own life cheap, has again and again
voluntarily encountered deadly peril
at humanity's call, and is known and
respected throughout the whole coun-
ty. Though now close upon sixty
years of age, he still holds the onerous
post of coxswain of the lifeboat; and
if blessings always fell where blessings
are due, it is then on the good gray
head that they should descend in
showers, for many have been called
down by the wives whom he has saved
from widowhood. Slowed away in
locker in his trim little cottage on the
North Down, and only visible on cere-
monial occasions, are two medals-the
Humane society's and the Albert, and
other decorations would be his beside,
were it not that he is as modest as he
is brave, and holds that savinga fell
low-creature's life is duty, and not
to use his own words--an affair to 90
and make fuss about.
Humphrey Cheal has two sons
George, the elder, Harry Reeds bosom
friend and partner, a stalwart young