The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-24


swelling mainsail hiding the man at the
bow The grand sea and sky threw
| Charlie and myself into ecstasies; Ben.
used to such scenes, was quiet, and, L
thought, sad, while the lassie looked de-
cidedly sleepy.
"Eh, my doo," said Ben, Eye were
oop wi the birds; L marked We wendin'
your way to the cliff 10y the first CLINT
O. the sun. Yes liken to wrath, my
dearie! Yes aye wanderin'. Aweel,
lay doun your head a while on my
shoulder, and be takin' wee bit nap
the moo"
| With his disengaged arm Ben sup
ported the frail little body, and soon
his charge was doing as restfully as
any weary child.
As she slept l espied a wedding ring
on her finger; and even in repose her
face told tale of mental and bodily
suffering. Some heavy calamity, L
thought, must have fallen upon her
Her childiike confidence in Ben and
his tenderness toward her were
pathetic; and, altogether, my sympathy
was won.
Presently l ventured to ask if she
were not an invalid; and returned Ben,
900, yes, sir; an she is my only
BARN. Pretty doc! She married over
early. An week after, Tam, her hus-
band, sailed forth wi his crew for the
fishin' Three months haze passed sim
the wofu' day, but nae word can we get
o. boat or men.
"Then you think the vessel"
4 -. -, ,Hat
There is nae doot about il; for, miles
ava along the coast, piece of her sail
was washed ashore. But my lamb
knowsna that; an sac, istead o putin
on Widows weeds, she aye says we's
bound to find him; an she watches the
sea, an questions every fishermen she
meets, till it's just pitifu' to hear her. :"
"She is nearly distraught," thought
l. Then L gave Ben a warning note re-
garding the imperative need of trying
to divert her mind from her trouble.
Also proffered word of advice about
her lameness, which, it appeared, rose
from some recent injury done to the
muscles, and which, / gathered, had
been treated in anything but n scientific
| maner.
Ben was delighted TO find that was
doctor, and most grateful for my in
terest in him. Indeed, he was so earn
est in pouring out his thanks when l
volunteered to take NAMES case in
hand while | was at Clanhead, that the
man at the bow Gas he afterward owned)
became an absorbed and sympathetic
listener; for Mamie and he had been
playmates. and he felt rather-down
hearted, Ben told me, when Tam car
ried her off.
Deep in our subject, and entirely free
antly along One moment all our
thoughts were of healing; the next
crash crash! crash over our heads,
under our feet, everywhere!
A swift glance at the mainsail, a
wrench at the tiiler, and tremendous
shout from Ben
"Bow, there, bow! Are we sleepin',
mon?"
The warning was too late. A large
vessel was down upon us; our mainsail
was pierced through by her bowsprit;
our timbers were shiyering under her
bows. L heard shouting on the deck
above us; / saw n man leap from the
vessels side; saw Mamie wake up in
an agony of terror, and throw her arms
round her fathers neck; [ heard Ben
say, mae, dinna cumber me, but strike
We DOT an trust" L knew we were all
in the water, for ] saw Ben supporting
his child as he swan vigorously toward
the man who had leaped over. L saw
Charlie going down (neither he nor /
was a swimmer; / clutched Mt him
fruitlessly; then came confused cries of,
keep your heads up" Here's life
belt Catch this rope!' and so on.
But soon the voices sounded far away
and indistinguishable. l knew that
salt water was in my nostrils and
mouth; there was singing in my ears,
roaring i'll my head; l felt a mad inn
pulse to rise; did rise; again for q
moment only, L heard eager voices near
me, and caught glimpse of the efforts
that were being made TO save us. In
on agony | made an effort to keep up;
it was futile Then hiss hiss swish
through my very brain; after that,
darkness, dense darkness a clear con-
seriousness that the hand of death was
on me, a cry from my inmost soul to
heaven, and-a strange, deep calm.
The sun was going down in flood of
crimson glory. L lay upon we'll
swabbed deck all alone. Where had 1
been? Where was / going? What
had happened? pinched myself and
felt the pain, so / was still in the flesh
l tried my voice, mi! hilloa! some
BODY
No one came. / sat up and took a
speculative. survey The vessel was
taut.nnd trim, and she smelled of tim
ber, but she was not of British build.
As l Capitalization weakly, | must
own-a footstep sounded on the deck,
and along came looking
seaman, fair and blue-eyed; he made
his way TO me and looked smiliugly
down.
what ship is this?' queried 1.
A shake of the head
"Are YOU German?"
Two shakes of the head.
Speak, man, in some tongue or
other, will you?"
/ The word speak" he understood. and
obeyed with energy. But no word of
any language could pick out from his
st ange jabber.
/ T.-I...a. 4I,os