Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-16
now SIZE WON TIE MEDAL.

now SIZE WON THE MEDAL
1t was on the east coast OF the island,
whore the sandy beach stretched along at the
foot of bluffs 80 steep that it seemed at first
glance a. il it were impossible that man or
beast could descend them.
Two girls walked down to the verge and
peeped over. One gave a little shrek, and
pulled back upon the hand of the other.
"Oh, don't! It makes me dizzy. Did your
father really ride down there 2"
eyes, really. | know mother was 30
frightened | thought she would die. l was on
ly seven years old then, but l remember it all
80 well Mother stood perfectly STILL with
her hands pressed tight together, and her
face and lips AZ white as my handkerchief
hung on her, and cried and cried but she
did not seem to know that was there Then,
suddenly, she fell on her knees, and said in
a choked voice, Thank God thank God =
And then she began to cry. It was all over
in a minute. knew father was safe, and
saw him helping the poor wretches on the
beach. Now, mother appeared to know l
was with her. She pulled me closer as she
knelt, and kissed me over and over. shall
never forget ii if live a hundred years."
The girls now stood silent for long time
looking out over the water. They we're not
far from sixteen years old. They were cous-
ins, aud bore a certain resemblance to each
other. They turned and walked arm in arm
away from the water, back through a wide
field that sloped up toward white house on
an eminence This house, behind a thick
apple orchard, was where Captain Wethery
had made his home.
Captain Wetherly had )cosely put his
wife and baby into Gertrude's care until his
return.
You're the only boy have aud the head
of the family while I'm away. Your mothers
such an invalid she doesn't count" he had
said, as he kissed her good by. Now don't
let either of them get into mischief. You
know how likely mother is to go wrong, -
with laugh that had a tremor in it in spite
of its gayety.
Neither of them shall take a step without
my permission" Gertrude had answered,
laughing also, though the tears we're undis-
guisedy running down her cheeks as she
stood with her hands clasped over her fathers
arm, while her mother was on the other side
of him, her grave, sweet face looking graver
and sweeter than ever.
So Captain Wetherly had started on his
voyage and it was now almost half year
since then, and Gertrude was in high spirits
about his return.
what if he should come to night, and
your mother and the baby away 2" said Car
rie Somers, as they climbed the hill toward
the house.
But he won't, and mothers sure to be
home by nine O'Clock"
"Of course, she'll come by the tri-weeky,"
remarked Carrie, referring to the steamer
which came from New Morris, and stopped
three times a week at the wharf down below
there on the beach.
''She didn't say, but Pm sure she will.
"We'll have plenty of time for a canter be-
fore we shall expect her"
Do you know what it is to go csntering
about on horse when you are a girl of six
teen II you do, you have felt a glory, a
wild exultation, which cannot be put into
words.
The hous, hold on the hill, at this time,
consisted OF Gertrude and her cousin, the
housekeeper, and half-grown boy, who did
the chores, which included the care of the
horses and Jersey COW. Mrs. Wetherly and
the baby had been away on a visit for two
weeks. This was the night when they we're
expected to return. The boat was not due
until half past eight
The cousins we're soon mounted, aud away.
Gertrude rode the carriage horse, and gave
up her own mare to her friend. The sun
had been shining brightly all day. 1t was
late in September; and the wind was blow
ing steadily from the east, ripping up the
water, and making the old savins and cedars
crouch over more than ever toward the west
1t was the night of the full moon /; and it
rose in faint film, which caught Gertrude's
eye as she galoped over the quiet old road
That's a mean kind of a sky" she said
Somehow, it frightens me. 1t has such a
deceitful look"
The two horses swept on side by side, the
eyes of their riders bright as FIRE, their
cheeks red, stray locks OF hair flying back
from their close caps Something had come
over their spirits. Behind them, in the west
was a ridge of thick cloud which spread but
slowly for it was kept down by the pressure
of the east wind. This cloud was greenish
black
what queer time !" said Carrie, speak
ing after a long silence.
Gertrude flung up her hand with an invol-
untary motion; and her voice was sharp, as
she exclaimed "Oh, hope the steamerll
be all right Mercy what does this mean ?"
They reined in their horses. The wind had
suddenly stopped blowing; and there was 30
strange and startling stiffness that the two
girls held their breath aud listened, as if eI-
pecting to hear some terrible sound. The
long-drawn whistle of a steamboat sounded
shrill and clear in the strange silence.
That's the Indian Queen coming round
Lantern Point. said Gertrude. "She won't
get up to the wharf for half an hour. Let's
go on slowly. Jake will be there with the
carriage and the farm horse, aud we shall
have plenty of time"
In the few moments since the wind had
died, that green cloud in the west had risen
rapidly; and, as it rose, its shape changed.
The thick mass sent out a giant arm, gro
tesque and terrifying, ending in huge hand
with black fingers outstretched ready to clutch.
At least, so Gertrude thought. She glanced
back and up. and her face grew pale as she
looked. She was thinking of the boat which
was rounding lantern Point.
Carrie looked back also, and cried out
shrilly, LET us dismountl" And before
Gertrude could stop her, she had slipped of
the saddle, and was standing with the bride
in her hand, trembling and staring up at the
sky.
why did you do that ?" demanded Ger
trude, impatiently. 'Eow, you can't come
with me. 1t may not be anything, after ALL
she said, trying to speak oheerfullyr
Although there was no wind, there gradu
ally arose a sound growing louder and louder
"a dull, deep sound as OF waters far away
rushing with fury, And, now, they heard
the steamboat whistle again.
LET us go home quick |" pleaded Carrie
and turned her horse, walking with her arm
on his neck. AREN'T you coming ?" looking
back.
mot l. am going to the wharf"
Carries mare at this moment, threw ~
her head and iumDed aWaV running loWarf