, 1885-02-13

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stiffsninx on the damp sand. 1t is Of no use;
no bat can live In such a storm. and hun.
drsds OF lives must perish while they stand
there. unable and powcrlcss to help
The storm redoubles lis fury. One sharp
shaft OF lightning and a cry goes up from the
terrified womcu- A figure can DO seen near
one Of the dlsmantisd masts; q figure with
gray hair and beard flowing in the wind.
II is JOS Dad.
They must try again They cannot let
him die when she expects 10 see him 50 soon.
Five pairs Of hands arc ready. Can they
have one moral In another moment It Will
be too late.
Bat Hei Sons one Is hurriedly advanc-
ing toward them through the darkness and
mist; a slender figure. wrapped In a shawl.
with pale face. and eyes that burn like Goals
in the blacknesz
IL Is 10.
She springs into the life-boat beside them.
Her presence nerves them on, and they push
on into the aecthing waters
Thsy have come back, and have laid her
unconscious on the damp sand Some beam
had struck her. and she had not spoken
since. The blue eyes are closed, but there Is
a smile on the still, white face, and the small
hand Is firmly claspsd In the grasp OF a
trembling old man, who is STOPPING over her,
anu 1lloItAA4A RuGA AuN tulCk luhaIt1 o. mar
from her pale forehead
A hush falls upon thom all. Tenderly
they take her up, and, with her hand stll
clasped In his, sadly wind their way 10 the
little cottage where she had waited for him
50 long.
1t all happened only last night. Tho
storm had gone down soon after they had
carried her homo, and the sun rs shining
brightly. lovingly. as though there Is no sor-
row, and never a storm or wreck.
They had laid her on tho little white bed
In her chamber, from which the harbor
could be plainly seen, and, save for one or
two kind nsighbors, had gone away and left
them together; she, lying 50 still, with closed
eyes-he, bending over her, silent and I'M
mindful OF the presence OF others.
Juss before noon she slowly opens her eyes,
and gazes at him in silence. Then, with a
little Sigh, she says feebly; II knew you'd
come. Dad; I knew you'd come. Twas a
hard voyage you had, Dad, and a pretty
rough landing; but you didn't mind it.
cause your little gal was there"
She is silent for a few moments, and then
raising her head, she asks.
The white dressf You didn't forget it,
Tho white dress with the gold stars on the
corners that you were going to get for your
little galf'
AOh, Joi' Tho tears are streaming down
the old mans checks. II bought the purtiest
one for ye; all soft and white, with stars
ont and n great long sash; but I-lost-it-
In the wreck-Jol'
And a great, long SASH" This Is very
slowly. @Oh, Dad, II 1 only could see 1t.
But don cry, l guess l won't want it; I'm
going 10 leave you a little while, just q little
while. I'm going up there, whore they have
lots and lots of white dresses. all shining
and pretty; and soon you'll come, too,
won't you, Dadi IN watch for you just as
I did here. and there won't be-any storms
Dad-the vessel will saii-right In on the
blue water-an' III be looking for you. pn
have 'em give me-n dress-with a big,
shining star on tan you'n know me sure
Il knew you'd comei'
One last feeblo pressure of his hand, one
little smile, and 10 waits and watches no
more on earth
A strange calm falls upon the old man
They cannot persuade him to leave her for
an instant. He Is utterly deaf to their on
treaties, and. neeiing by the bed, he presses
from time TO time her ico-cold hand to his
lips All through the long night he keeps
his silent watch, and when another morning
breaks they find him still there.
Mechanically he watches them robe her
for the last resting place, In pure, white
Bafneu6 int a hluu-noartou noighDor has
brought; unmoved he sees them place a few
anowy buds in her hands.
Presently the door open suddenly, a rough
looking fisherman comes in, and, bending
over the coffin, his tears fall like rain upon
the face within.
"rhe little gal was SO happy, y~esterday:T
he says, turning to the old man, who, even
now, win not remove his gaze from her. an
never forget her standin' there an sayini as
how she wished she could do something big
for Dad; an sho has, she has, poor little
girl
Covering his face with his horny hands,
he breaks into bitter weeping. and, turning
leaves the room.
Tho old man leaves the room. His whole
face changes The terrible calm has broken
up, but no tears come. Only a Look Of uns
utterable gladnoss and joy.
Il know'd it. 10; l know'd it. Somethin'
big for Dadl Dear, little gall Wait just a
minute, 10; I'm comin'i'
His head falls forward upon tho coffin
Some one comes In presently and fnds him
there. He Is quito dead
They bury them side by side, In one grave,
close by the murmuring sea. and at the head
they place a simple, white wooden shaft,
with just these two words roughly inscribed
upon it-"Dadrs JoF