Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-31


But life is not all calm and sunny
weather on those stern, gray rocks, and
my story is tale of storm, and calm
coming after the storm.
On jutting headland of Star island,
a man stood peering anxiOusly out into
the gathering dusk. His rough, seafar
ing clothes, and weather beaten, bronzed
face plainly showed his calling.
Over in the northeast the clouds had
been piling, black and threatening, and
the feet of fishing schooners that every
fair morning sail out of the little cove
on Star island. had come reeling home
before the first blasts of the nOrtheaster.
Dan Kicker had secured his ''Seagull," ,"
and hastily climbing the nearest high
ground, stood gazing with keen and
weather wise eyes, now into the rapidly
thickening clouds, and now at the Sea
gull" plunging and straining at her
cables. With his hands thrust into his
pockets, he seemed not to heed the howl
ing, shrieking blasts that swept across the
rocks and lashed the waves into fury.
The force of the wind grew stronger each
moment, and huge drops of rain came
driving before it. A small hand slipped
under his arm.
al saw the Seagull come in, Dan. Are
the boats all in,''
Dan threw one arm round the tall, 1.-THE
form of the girl, who clung close to him
as a fierce blast struck them, threatening
to carry even the sturdy fisherman off
his feet. The girl gathered her shawl
still closer round her head, as the wind
howled and roared and shrieked, as II
all the fiends of the air had been turned
loose TO the work of destruction. The
raying, dashing waves lifted their crestS
OF foam and hurled themselves against
the granite cliffs with An ever increasing
avalanche of fury. And over and under
and through all the roar and rush came
a dull undertOne Of thunder. Tho girl
shuddered. Hog island was cryin' this
afternoon, and Grams says to look out for
a storm, there's going to be wild work to
night. Are the boats all in?'' she de-
manded sharply. why don't you tell
me, Dam Is father I'M"
The girlish face that was turned TO the
fisherman was young and pretty, though
Drowned and freckled with the sun and
wind, but there was strained, anxious
look in the clear, gray eyes, and lines Of
care too deeply indented in her forehead
to be accounted for by the trouble Of the
moment.
And was there not cause, Was she not
q tisherman's daughter and . fisherman's
sweetheart To stand upon the shore
and strain eyes and hearts, too, watching
for father and brother, sweetheart, hus-
band and son, and TO pray that the white
sails, which come flying in before the
dreaded northeaster, may reach the little
harbor before the waves run too high
for them to enter-that is the common lot
of the women Of Star island. Poor wives
and mothers! they know only too well
what II is to watch the swaying masts OF
the schooners anchored un Ter the lee of
the island when the waves form an im
passable barrier to the safe shelter of the
cove.
Tossed by the rough sea, cold, wet,
hungry and sleepless. the men ride out
the storm, while the night blOts out the
slender masts from the sight of the anx-
ious women who stand in desolate groups
upon the shore. They cannot tell from
hour to hour whether the strain of wind
and wave may not prove too strong for
the cables, then destruction is sure, as
the treacherous rocks of the New Hamp-
shire coast bear ample evidence.
The women cry out in despair and wiring
their hands, and the wind roars and
browns their cries, and the rain drives
them indoors TO watch and pray till day
comes and shows them their treasures
No wonder they are white haired and old
before their time, for the terror Of the
ocean is always before them.
But the men love the sea, and they
love their boats, their graceful white
winged schooners that fly at command
over the nppling, sunlit waves, or
tough it out" in storms, and bring
them in their daily fare of fish"
But to night the little hamlet on Star
island may rest peacefully, for the boats
are all riding safely in the cove.
Dan turned from watching the Sea
gull. ~ don't know" he said with the
deliberate drawl Of the Yankee fisher
man, ,,whe'r or no she's goin' to stand
She's n pretty piece of wood, but she won't
never ride this safe. Pm a-goin' out to
her, she's hove too short"
20 Dan, not to night-she'll tough it
out-she alwus has" Nabby pleaded
with her woman's logic, catching her
lovers arm, to detain him
But he shook her of roughly, though
not unkindly, and ran down the steep
path TO the strip Of white beach that Dor.
dered the cove. Nabby hurried after
him and gave half suppressed cry as he
sprang into his dory, and hastily rowed
out toward the tossing Seagull.
Go in out Of the rain, Nabby,"
called out the gruff voice of her father,
from little group OF fishermen standing
at one of the fish houses. Its blowin'
great guns TO night" he added to the
men, IAN Dan'll find it pretty resky,"-
1t TIE next moment he and all the other