Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-13
Gales aud Sketehes.
HOPE.
A MIDSUMMER STORY.
Continued from Yesterday

Continued from yesterday
Closer and closer as the light faded
Hope pressed her face to the glass. The
others went in to tea, but Hope and her
mother STAYED behind and kept watch
alone-Hope's hand in her mothers and
her breath coming from time to time in
short, quick sobs. By and by it was sc
dark that she could scarcely distinguish
even the outlines, and so tailed to see thai
man was coming up the path. until he
was nearly at the stoop. With bound
Hope was at the door-only to be disap
pointed 1t was Jacks father, come back
from the pier.
They are not inyet." he said briefly
..Will you tell my wife, Mrs. Bradley
and will go back"
ooh. mammal cried Hope, beseech
ingly.
Something in the cbild's tone arrested
Mr.. Morgan's step.
What do you want, Hope? Your
names Hope, isn'tit?"
"Oh, please. Mr.. Morgan. mayn't l &c
back with you? Mayn't /, mammal It's
so terrible waiting here"
Mrs. Bradley looked doubtful.
81 don't think it's fit night, Hepe, y
she said
Unexpectedly, however. Mr.. Morgan
spoke tor Hope. Perhaps he had found il
as terrible, all alone. down at the pier.
"Oh, let her come, Mrs. Bradley" he
said. "Put on her waterproof and over
shoes, and she won't get wet. She'll be
under cover, at any rate"
So waterproof and overshoes were got,
and together Mr.. Morgan and Hope Sc,
off Hope was the first to speak. 1t was
her turn now to fulfil the promise of her
name.
"Mr Morgan" she said, timidly.
"Well, child ?'
Captain Brown said Mr.. Jack would
be safe with him."
That's what they all say" groaned
Mr.. Morgan. "But it strikes me as be.
ing presumptOus."
but Mr.. Morgan"
"Wellp"
"Isn't he safe with God p
Mr.. Morgan gave the little hand which
he held. tighter grasp. but he did no,
say anything Nor did Hope until they
were nearly at the pier. Then she asked
simply:
won't you please excuse me if
trouble you this afternoon Mr.. Morgan p
1t was minute or two before he re-
piled, and then he did not answer her
question.
"If my boy comes back. Hcpe." he
said, his voice quivering little. ''you
may tell him he may 90 to college"
And Hope. with a new giadness in her
heart. and feeling that now Mr.. Jack
would surely come back. did not ask for
any better answer.
They watched from the pier-Mr. Nor
gan and Hope, and crowd of interested
sailors, who insisted that 'the young fel-
low was safe with Captain Bill''-for a
length of time that seemed to Hope to be
hours. The clouds dritted over the sea-
heavy. sullen clouds that seemed to threat.
en-, ii they did not bring, wreck and disas-
ter-the waves dashed the pier with rest
less violence, the surf beating the shore
from Indian rock to Bathing beach, seemed
to beat as loudly in Hopes ears; along
the beach a long line of lights indicated
the hotels; out at sea was darkness thai
could not be Observation-Disclosures tina
somewhere or other enshrouded Mr.. Jack
All at once. out of the darkness came {
sound that was not the bowling of the
wind, nor the roaring of the surf.
Listen ~ cried Hope. her quick ears
catching the first note. Don't you hea
something's"
One of the sailors had also caught tn,
tone.
"Ay! ay!" ne said, and leaning owe
the edge of the pier, peered into the dark
ness.
Once more the faint sound.
BOAT, ahoy!.' shouted the sailor, ant
Hope. in her ringing child's voice, echoed
the cry.
This time voice came back who's,
tones Hope was the first to recognize.
Its Mr.. Jack" she cried, deightedly
"Oh. please call out Let him know
where we are!"
The rough voice repeated the cry
Back came the answering shout-neare
this time-and in a minute more Their,
was a flash of a white sail past the pier,
ringing cheer from the sailors, answere,
from the boat, and then returning flash
which all at once went out as Captain Bill
dropped the sail. and Mr.. Jack steeret
the MARY Ann" almost into Hopes ex
pectant lace.
"Oh. Mr.. Jackr' she cried, and graspet
in his arms. sobbed out her relief and hap
piness on his wet jacket.
You may imagine with what deligh
Jack received his fathers warm greeting
and with what interest and satisfaction
Mr. Morgan listened to the story of the
adventures. which, after all, had not beef
so alarming. Driven up the bay by tn,
southerly wind. they had put in shore un
til the worst seemed over. But the wind
having meanwhile changed. carried then
out to sea; and it was only after consider
able man9uvring that they could max,
their port Beaver Tail Light and tn,
hotels had given them their bearings; bu
the pier itself was in the dark, and fearful
of being dashed on the old stone pier, the,
had cried out, hoping to get a respons,
from some one who might be watching
for them.
at was your voice I heard, Hope.
added Jack
II heard yours, Mr.. Jack" she an
swered. gleeiully, before any of the res
and. oh. such a piece of news as Nv,
got for you!'
Tell me now, Hope" persuasively.
Hope looked around for Mr. Morgan
He had gone, having thanked the sailor
and suitably rewarded Captain Bill, t.
carry the news up to the hotel, and, per
L IT