The Washington critic., 1886-09-17

and a beautiful rcd comforter, much
like yours
He glanced laughingly at his wife
here, for this comforter was one OF
those things they liked TO joke about
in private; but Milly jumped up and
down with pleasure.
1T was---oh, papa, 1t was himl He
really, really knew you'll Oh, how per.
fectly splendid " and all in breath
she told the pleasant story of the after.
noon, while her fathers face grew
tender, and the glances exchanged with
his wife were so full of love and hap.
piness that neither could be content
until she had perched upon the other
arm, while the happy man EMBODIED
them both In what he merrily called u
cripple hug"
Weeks slipped by, while Jimmy con-
tinued to sell papers, with varying
but ever increasing success, and Tom
rapidly regained health and strength,
to finally ship again as deck hand on
board great vessel which was TO carry
grain to Southern France, and return
God willing) loaded with the rich
wines and the luscious fruits of that
favored country.
you can earn enough to pay the
rent" said his brother, as they talked
1t all over, "and Mother jenkins says
you shall share her bite and sup so
long as they last, and I'll pay when we
drop anchor in the bay again. There,
there, boy, keep up a good heart; it
won't be long, you know"
But Jimmy cried all night; 1t was 50
lonesome with Tom gone. Then n
bright thought checked the tears, and
he slept peacefully. Next morning the
thought returned, and, acting upon 1t,
he crept out of bed, took the precious
red comforter from bis little shelf, aud,
folding II with loving touch, laid it
in Tom s sea chest, which, packed, but
not yet corded stood by the bed.
"Its all I've got to give him."
thought Jimmy, sadly, land it'll keep
him warm when he stands watch these
cold nights"
So, all unknown to Tom, the long.
red length of comfort went with him,
to help the battle against cold and storm,
while Jimmy was left to fight the
colder world and stormier fate at home.
Another great vessel, very different
from the clumsy concern Tom sailed
in, left the bay week later-a steam
ship with flying pennons, decks gay
with people, and enough shiny wood
gildings and mirrors to have furnished
a dozen houses; an ocean passenger
steamer bound for Havrc, freightcd
with thousand souls. and the ten
thousand things necessary to their com.
fort, Upon its decks stood Mr.. and
Mrs. Wentworth and Milly. They
were going to France for the lady &
health while Milly was to have an out
ing, and learn from natures grea,
school for while.
About three days out the weather
became very unpleasant; rain and chill.
| ing fog We'd with tempestuous wind
and storm to delay their course; but
the luxurious ship-a world in itself
laughed at old oceans moods, and
| plowed steadily onward, quite undaunt
ed. 1t was, however, far worse fol
draught vessels, often overload and i'll.
and tide for their speed and safety
But Milly never thought of these, as
glorying in her perfect immunity from
sea- sickness, she roamed the grea
steamer fore and aft, making friend:
with passengers and crew, and asking
questions which often made the lattol
scratch their heads in perplexity.
They were about week out and fal
from either shore; the fog had lifted
and brilliant morning sun lighted tn,
broad, comparatively smooth expans
of sea. The captain, glass in hand
was slowly scanning the horizon, anC
Milly, close by, with no lens but thos
of her keen young eyes, scanned
with equal dignity and care. Abou
s. W. his glass came to sudden stand
still, then he took it from his eyes an
was eagerly rubbing the lenses, whe
the watch suddenly sang out, "Sa
hov"
"Where away" cried the captain
readius,ing his glass.
"To leeward," came the prompt rC
ply, and In moment the two wer
consulting In eager tones.
Soon after, the steady plunging o
the engines grew slower, then almo;
ceased boat was lowered; gentleme
passengers began to climb to elevate
places and gaze through their ow
glasses, and she heard one say:
Yes; it's an open boat; evidently
small one, too. See! they are going I
the rescue. It's well the fog llfte
when it did, or we would never hav
sighted them in the world"
The excitement increased, for ever
incident becomes I'm event in the m,
notony of sea life, and especially ever,
thing that speaks of danger and shi
wreck.
Milly watched them lower away th
boat and man it, the officer descendin
last of all and giving orders whic
caused each upraised oar to drop as
run by machinery, sending the lit
craft cutting swiftly through IL
waves then, throwing her glance b
yond 1t, for the first time she saw
speck against the sky--a black spec
with fiery tip, apparently-could tn,
be the lost boat Supported on tt
taffrail by her fathers arm, she coul
now see the fiery tip was really fla
or pennon floating upon the masthead
and at last could make out the shape {
the boat, and even the few figure
within it. Then the ships bo
reached It; the figures bobbed abou
! mixing themselves indistinguishabl,
after which the life.saving craft pl
ABOUT anu cuinc Tapluly snlpWuru
towing the others in its wake.
nearer view showed Alilly five rescue
men and one boy, lying at full lenghtI
apparently dead; a still nearer vie
Gould 1t be possibleO discovered tn
gay pennon to be her own red cor
forter, tasscls and all, streaming in Il
, breeze.
Speeches. she turned to her fathe
but, Notwithstanding, he excited
; lifted her down, and ran with Il
= crowd to see the rescued men helpt
aboard.
, Meanwhile down the cabin gangwl
fled Milly, and burst in upon the asto
ished ladies there with cry
, ''Mamma, mamma, what do W