The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-05-23

water, until all dripping with foam and
sparkling in the sunshine, the huge
wheels cease revolving and the "Block
Island" Is in at last. The ropes are
fastened. the plank is thrown out and
the passengers come ashore.
Into every face 10 peers eagerly. He
might have changed in a year so very
much, that she must watch closely. |
One by one they come; friends are
greeting friends; they are all off now,
and-where is DadP
With one despairing cry she bounds /
down the plank and searches for him
in the cabins.
"Come, come, move along, my girl, y
says the Captain roughly. "What do
you want here?"
"Oh, want Dad" she sobs; che was
comm to-day, know. Tell me, have
MT you seen himP'
Elbow should know him." he an
swers, gruffiy. ''Move along! we are
late to-day and can't be bothered"
30 turns slowly away and mechanic
ally passes up over the gangway. What
does it matter to her that the sun is
shining, that theGband is playing its
sweetest musicP All the brightness of
the day has gone for her. Calmly she
walks along, slowly unfastens Bess,
and climbing in the wagon, silently
drives away.
But her face is very pale, and there
is such a strange look in her great,
blue eyes that more than one honest
hearted sailor draws his brown hand
across his eyes and murmurs: 'Poor
little gal!''
1t is evening. A sudden and fearful
storm is raging. The sea has arisen,
and with roaring sound rushes inland
to dash itself against the rocks. Up
at the great hotel, the huge drops of
rain dash against the windows, and the
guests gathered together in the splendid
parlor, shudder and tremble at every
returning flash and deafening peal.
Down on the beach the angry surf is
rolling in, mountains high, and the
fishermen are anxiously gazing out
upon the dark water as il fearful of
what such storm might accomplish.
Suddenly there comes a vivid flash,
terrible reverberating roll, and in the
awful silence that follows, the group of
waiting men gaze with horror in each
others faces. Then comes another
flash close by and on the outer edge of
the breakwater-they see a ship is 60
ing to pieces. There comes the sound
of a signal gun, once, twice. All is
confusion now. The lfe-bOat is man.
ned, pushed out and beaten back.
Above the angry shrieking of the wind,
can be heard the shouts of those on
the beach, the faint, despairing cries of
those on the doomed vessel, and the
sobs of the women who are endeavor-
ing to keep back their loved ones from
seeking death in those terrible waters.
And it is death. Six stalwart forms,
so full of life only a few moments be-
fore, are stiffening on the damp sand.
1t is of no use; no boat can live in such
storm, and hundreds of lives must
perish while they stand there unable
and powerless to help.
The storm redoubles it's fury. One
sharp shaft of lightning and cry goes
up from the terrified women. A figure
can be seen near one of the dismantled
masts; figure with gray hair and
beard flowing in the wind.
1t is JOS Dad.
They must try again. They can not
let him die when she expects to see him
so soon. Five pairs of hands are ready.
Can they have one moreP In another
moment it will be too late.
But see! Some one is hurriedly ad-
vancing toward them through the dark
ness and mist; a slender figure, wrap
ped in a shawl, with pale face, and
eyes that burn like Goals in the black
ness.
1t is 10.
She springs into the life-boat beside
them. Her presence nerves them on,
and they push off into the seething wa
tiers.
They 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 smile on the
STILL white face, and the small hand is
firmly clasped in the grasp of a trem-
bling old man, who is STOPPING over
her, and smoothing back the thick
masses of hair from her pale forehead.
A hush falls upon them all. Ten
DERBY they take her up and, with her
hand still clasped in his, sadly wind
their way to the little cottage where
she had waited for him so long.
1t all happened only last night. The
storm had gone down soon after they
had carried her home, and the sun is
shining brightly, lovingly, as though
there is no sorrow, and never storm
or wreck.
They had laid her on the little white
bed in her chamber, from which the
harbor could be plainly seen, and, save
for one or two kind neighbors, had
gone away and left them together; she
lying so still, with closed eyes-he
bending over her, silent and unmindfu
of the presence of others.
Just before noon she slowly opens
her eyes, and gazes at him in silence
Then. with little sigh, she says
feebly: 81 knew you'd come, Dad;
knew you'd come. Twas hard voy
age you had, Dad, and pretty rougl
landing; but you didn't mind it, 'caus
your little gal was there"
, She is silent for few moments, AM
then raising her head, she asks:
1.-The white dress? You didn't for
get it? The white dress with the golc
| stars IN the corners that Won were on