Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-16

| ing ct the lifeboat, and in little times
was launched, and limp form passed care
! fully into her.
The men then pulled slowly toward the
| shore by the line, a dangerous undertaking,
as tho wind made the now heavily loaded
| boat surge fearfully, and the waves bore
! down On her as though they would sweep
! her from sight. But she battled on, and in
2 short time, though it seemed ages to Us,
reached the smoother water under the lee OF
the smaller point and was soon drawn well
up on the beach.
We gathered round the boat and 1 was
| shocked to see, lying in the stern sheets, the
PALE still face Of Currituck Joe. \ ghas.ly
GU. on his head was oozing blood and there
was the unmistakable sign Of deaths near
ness about him, which sent chill to my
heart The presence Of Life even now was
only discernible by slight twitching OF the
lips, the evidence, as | knew, Of intense SUI
fcring
Flung against her mast" said one Of tho
boats crew, in answer to an inquiry Il
knew he would give his life away for some
one, but didn't think it would be for Mark
Ward"
A stout man was standing near By look
ing at Joe's white face with tear-wet eyes
His breast was heaving, showing that his
heart was throbbing Gerceiy, and when he
heard the words, he said:
4 cm sorry, boys; wish it was rlo lying
there instead OF Joe"
Though curious to know the meaning of
these, to me, strange words, felt that Joe
should be attended TO, and had him carried
TO his home.
"Can you get doctor?' | questioned.
There's none OH the bar, and 10 one on
the mainland would cross the sound today
YVES the answer
But Joe was already passing beyond the
need Of any mans care. AS | bent over him.
where he lay in his rrd9 bunk, his eyes I'M
closed, and look OF Intelligence came into
them
rs he safe!" he whispered.
YES" l answered.
"Then it's all right Tell him I say it's all
right"
His hand frightened its clasp on mine, es I
said | would attend to his wish. Then a
bright smile Lit up the brown face, and
CLEANED in the eyes, driving from them the
sorrow had seen there and the next mo-
ment this sorrow had fadel in the glory of
grander life.
The storm was raging fearfully, the wind
shaking the rude hut with a force that seemed
equal to its destruction; but it stood firm and
watched by the dead sorrowing for the loss
of n true friend
The men had returned to the beach, to
gather the wrecsase that might drift ashore,
and il was late when the man who seemed to
take the lead, now that Joe was gone, looked
in.
l told him that his conlrade was at rest,
and asked him to send for coffin
That can't be done till the morning" lie
said, "and might as well help you watch III
tell the boys, for they're mighty anxious Its
a sad day for Us, sir, for Joe was the best man
On the beach. I'll be back soon, and he went
away.
He returned in short time and after get
ting the fire in order, he prepared some sup
per, Of which we partook, and then sat down
by the glowing blaze, for the wind was raw
and chill, and sent its currents through every
crack and crevice.
What is it that links Joes past to tie life |
Of the schooner's skipper?7 I asked
They were neighbors and schoolmates over |
beyond the sound" answered the man "and |
both likely young fellows when the war came.
o sea with his father the captain of a coaster.
Well, they both enlisted, and Joe was taken |
prisoner. Ward knew CT this, and came homo |
1t is said tkat Joe and be were |
both after the same girl, but the story is that |
she favored joe Well when Ward reached |
lome, he gave out that Joe was dead. and |
hen made up to the girl. She mourned for
Zoe six months or more, but. YOU know. q
vas very attentive, and sympathetic, and
,onsoling, and the result WIGS that she prom
sed to have him
"EIe hurried up the wedding, saying that he
wanted to get back to his regiment, for his
wound was about well, and so they were mar
led. The next week Joe got back, having
'een exchanged, and when he found that he
lad lost the girl he give right up and come
yer here, and he has lived on the bar ever
ircc
Ward said that he truly thought Joe was
lead, but the folks all think that he trumpet
p the yarn just to get the girl; in fact, they
now it, but they keep still for the woman'5
axe, as she is nice and good neighbor.
"As for Joe, he had set his heart on her so
hat the loss just broke him all up, and he
ever went back TO his Old home again He
as lived or the bar ever since, CARRYING his
sh and game across to landin to sell and
ow and then running UP to Norfolk. He
ever met Ward, who went coasting again as
Don as the war was over, until he saw him
o-day.
I'VE didn't think he would go off to help.
ut ice was true grit. He has saved lots of
eople, and it does seem too Lad that he
hould meet his death while rescuing tie
lan who blasted his life"
But SO it was; and two days after that we
uried him in G grave made among the send
unes, in whose company he had passed so
AMY lonely years. 1t was his wish that 10
tone nor sign should mark the place. and vo
ED his wish sacred
Let the winds sing free above me. and the
IN shine across the place, he had said, when
uIIng of this time, in the days when we had
bought 1t q long way OF; and there, with the
,rf roar sounding over his unmarked grave.
urritucl Joe sleeps il peace; the sorrow
nat wrecked his lie and love forgotten
homas = Collier in Overland Monthly.
4 rgi.r pf