The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-05-28

"No, dear" she said, 81 don't, and
shouldn't wonder if he was down at the
pier now. But you must hope, dear.
When we gave you your name we wished
it might be a sort of prophecy Of your
life"
Hope looked up, little brighter.
'Hasn't it been. mamma don't often
get low spirited, you Know"
Mrs. Bradley smiled.
"Gou haven't had many things to get
low spirited about" she said; "but you
are hopeful little girl, generally. Now
let us go in and watch for Mr.. Jack"
An hour afterwards old Mr.. Grddle-
stone hobbled to the parlor on his crutch-
es, and saw Hope looking out on the fad
ing daylight and the tossing sea. The
rain had stopped, but the wind had
shifted, and was blowing stiffly from the
northwest, so stiffly indeed, that Hopes
there were Mrs. Bradley, and several
other ladies in the room. Mr.. Griddle-
stone, who had been in his room for the
last hour, wondered why they were all so
solemn but coming up to Hope and put
ting his hand on her head, he quoted,
playtully:
"Mabel, little Mabel,
| With her face against the pane,
| Looks out across the night
| And sees the beacon light
A-trembling in the rain" "
"Only you can't see Beaver Tail Light
yet, little Hope,' he added.
Hope shrunk away as though she had
been struck instead of caressed. She
and Mr.. Jack had read the sad verses
the day before, and she could almost
hear his voice, saying, with such a terri
bic meaning
so watch no more, no mOre
| With face against the pane
You cannot see the men that drown
| By the beacon, in the rain
ooh, Mr.. Griddlestone :" she cried, and
burst out crying.
Mr.. Griddlestone looked from one to
the other in hopeless perpleXity.
''lt's Mr.. Jack Morgan" whispered one
of the ladies. ale went out sailing lust
before the storm. and isn't back yet"
| Mr.. Grddlest0ne sat down in the first
chair, and wiped his forehead.
"My gracious" :" he exclaimed, $50 he
did forgot all about it,"
| Closer and closer as the light faded
Hope pressed her face to the glass The
others went i'll 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 hy it was so
| dark that she could scarcely distinguish
even the outlines, and so failed to see
that man was coming ~ the path un-
til he was nearly at the stoop With
bound, Hope was at the door-only to be
| disappointed. 1T was Jacks father, come
back from the pier.
"They are not in yet" he said, briefly.
''Will you tell my wife, Mrs Bradley?
aud will 90 back"
con, mamma - cried Hope, bcseech-
ingly.
Something in the child's tone arrested
Mr.. Morgan's step.
"What do you want, Hope? Your
names Hope, isn't it ?"
"Oh, please, Mr. Morgan, maynt 60
back with you! Mayn't |, mamma? It's
SO terrible waiting here"
Mrs. Bradley looked doubtful
81 don't think it's a fit night, Hope
she said.
Unexpectedly, however, Mr.. Morgan
spoke for Hope. Perhaps he had found
it as terrible, all alone, down at the pier.
cob, 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" 50 water
proof and overshoes were GOT, and to-
gether Mr.. Morgan and Hope set off
Hope was the first to speak. 1t was her
turn now to fulfil the promise of her
| naIue.
"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 being
presumptouS.'
but Mr. Morgan
"Well?"
"lSn't he safe with God ~
Mr.. Morgan gave the little hand which
he held tighter grasp, but he did not say
anything. Nor did Hope until they were
nearly at the pier. Then she asked simp-
ly:
"Wont you please excuse me if
troubled you this afternoon, Mr. Nor
gan?"
1t was minute or two before he re-
piled, and then he did not answer her
question.
"If my boy comes back, Hope" he
SAID, his voice qulvering a little, 'you
may tell him he may go to college"
And Hope, with a new gladness in her
heart, and a feeling that now Mr. Jack
would surely come back, did not ask
for any better answer.
They watched from the pier-Mr.
Morgan and Hope, and crowd of inter
ested sailors, who insisted that 'sthe
young fellow was safe with Captain
Bill"-tor length of time that seemed
to Hope to be hours. The clouds drifted
over the sea-heavy, sulen clouds, that
seemed to threaten, if they did not bring,
wreck and disaster-the waves lashed
the pier with restless violence, the surI
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 that could not be pene-
trated--darkness that somewhere or 9TH
er enshrouded Mr.. Jack.
All at once, ont of the darkness came
sound that was not bowling of the wind
nor the roaring of the surf.
"Listen !" cried Hope, her quick ears
catching the first note. Don't YOU hear
something" 2"
One of the sailors had also caught the
tone.
GAY. ay !" he said, and leaning over
the edge of the pier, peered into the
darkness.
Once more the faint sound
'Boat, ahoyw shouted the sailor, and
Hope in her ringing childs voice, echoed
the cry.
This time a voice came back whose
tones Hope was the first to recognize.
"It's Mr. jack" she cried, delightedly
''Oh, please call out Let him know
where we are !"
The rough voice repeated the cry.
Back came the answering shout-nearer
this time-and in minute there was
flash of white sail past the pier, a ring
ing cheer from the sailors, answered from
the boat, and then returning flash,
which all at once went out as Captain
Bill dropped the sail, and Mr.. Jack steer
ed the "Mary Ann" almost into Hopes
eXpectant face.
"Oh, Mr.. Jack !" she cried, and, grasp
ed in his arms, sobbed out the relief and