The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-25
DADS JO.


long windows sway gently to and fro; the
parlors beyond are silent and deserted.
Up at the beach the waves are sleepily lap
ping the glistcning sand, while the bright
colored suits drying In long lines behind the
bathing houses are the only reminder of the
merriment which existed less than half an
hour ago. One or two ox-teams are slowly
creeping along the road, loaded with trailing
sea-weed of variegated hues; here and there
Is a group of bronzed fishermen mending
their nets. These are the only signs of life.
Everybody is down on the pier. The
ABlock Island" is overdue more than twenty
minutes and the rickety boards creak and
tremble as the anxious crowd press to the
very edge, each one eager to catch the first
glimpse of the steamer as she rounds Clay
Head.
The excitement increases. The fishing
boats huddle closer together behind the
breakwater, the hackmen, growing impa-
tient vociferate loudly; the Marine band in
the pavilion on the hill strikes up; and
yet
Here comes Jol" some shouts.
depend ont, the boat'll be in soon, now
says grizzled, old fisherman standing close
by "Jo's a sure sign. Nigh on to year
day, and never knew her to round the
Head unless 10 was here"
All eyes turned toward the road. An an
tiquated specimen of a carriage is coming
down the hill as rapidly as the lean and bony
horse in front can drag it along.
1t draws up on the wharf beside the more
pretentious vehicles, young girl jumps out,
ties the horse, lays her arms lovingly around
his neck moment, then hurriedly pushes
her way through the throng to the end of
the pier.
A tall, angular girl, clad in homemade
dress of the coarsest material, scant and
patched. yet very clean, with rough straw
hat tied down over hair which is long,
straight and decidedly red. A girl with
nothing pretty and attractive about her,
but there is such brave, pathetic look in
her great, blue eyes, that one involuntaFily
turns and looks at her again and again.
Swiftly and silently she passes along to
the farther end OF the pier and, lifting one
hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight,
gazes steadfastly at the distant horizon.
Il know he will come to-day" she says,
seemingly unconscious that she is speak ing
aloud. Just year ago to-day he went
over there, Dad did. He went to
get some fixins' for me, and he
promised to come back soon, but it has been
so long OH he will surely come to-day,
won't he!" she asks, turning TO weather
beaten, old sailor who is gazing at her with
just suspicion of moisture in his eyes
AYE, lass, that he will" he answers.
"rve got extras for dinner, to-day she
goes on, Frightening up, "'cause he'll have a
toi,o. F(,o,x1
| places so long, and I've made a cushion for
| his chair that sits by the window. brushed
up the team, too, and old BesS seemed to
know he was coming, for she brought me
| over in no time"
"Quite like he'll come to-day" says the old
skippen "and he'll bring you so many smart
things that I'm afeard you won't be 10 any
| longer"
"Yes, will" replied the girl an always
be 10 to Dad anyway. Dear, old Dad. He's
| told me many time, how he picked me up
out Of the water that dreadful night; and
when 10 one seemed to want me, he took me
home with him; me-, helpless baby with
| nothing in the world but q ring on my finger
with 10 scratched on it. Oh, wish could
do something big for him, so he would
| know
| swell, cheer up, lass; he's waiting for some
good reason. Praps he can't find what he
wants for you just yet"
| "Ob, know now; that's it. He was going
70 get me blue gown with big collar on it
and great, gold star in each corner, but
begged him to try and get white one;
white is so pretty like, and never had q
white dress in all my life" CHANGING ruefully
! down ha bCy,a oNf4nn GNav lil-o
he had to go and go, fore he could get it. ;"
For few moments she gazed earnestly
over the water. Isit smoke-that long, thin
line of gray Yesl just around the headland
something white is coming into view. A
few more minutes. and the great steamer,
gaily bedecked with flags and pennants,
burst into sight Slowly, too slowly
for 10, the boat plows along
through the blue water, until
all dripping with foam and sparkling in the
sunshine, the huge wheels cease revolving
and the "Bloclz Island" is in at last. The
ropes are fastened, tho plank is thrown out
and the passengers come ashore.
Into every face 10 peers eagerly. H
Ia.ght have changed in year so very much
that she must watch closely. One by on,
they come; friends are greeting friends; they
are all off now, and-where is Dad?
With one despairing cry she bounds dowl
the plank and searches for him in the cabins
"Come, come, move along, my girl" say
the captain, roughly. what do you wan
hereP
"Oh, l want Dad" she sobs; "he wa
comm to-day, know Tell me, haven't yol
seen himH
How should l know him." he answers
gruffy. Move along, we are late to-day an,
can't be bothered"
10 turns slowly away and mechanical,
passes up over the gangway. What does i
matter to her that sun is shining, that tb
band is playing its sweetest music! All tn
brightness Of the day has gone for her
Calmly she walks along, slowly unfasten
Bess, and climbing in the wagon, silentl
drives away
But her face is very pale and there is sue
a strange, strange look in her great, blu
eyes that more than one honest hearte
sailor draws his brown hand across his eye
and murmurs, "Poor little gall"
1t is evening. A sudden and fearful storr
: is raging The sea has arisen, and with
: roaring sound rushes inland to dash itsel
| dBdliSt Ouo kiodb hOloiy blib huSo dIOIlS I
rain dash against the windows, and the guest
gathered together in the splendid parlol
shudder and tremble at every returning flas
and deafening peal Down on the beach tn
angry surf is rolling in, mountains high, an
the fishermen nre anxiously gazing out upo
the dark waters as If fearful of what such
storm might accomplish.
Suddenly there comes vivid flash, ter
rible reverberating roll and in the awful S
lence that follows, the group of waiting me
gaze with horror in each others faces. The
comes another flash close by and on the QUITE
edge of the breakwater-they see ship
going to pieces There comes the sound of
signal gun, once, twice All is confusio
5 now. The life boat is manned, pushed OIL
and beaten back. Above the angry sbriel
ing of the wind can be heard the shouts
those on the beach, the faint, despairin
, cries Of those on the doomed vessel, and tt
sobs of the women who are endeavoring
keep back their loved ones from seekin
death in those terrible waters
And it ia death. Six stalwa,t forms, :
full of life only few moments before, or
, stiffening on the damp sand. 1t is of no use