The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-12-01

|
into his little heart So she told him
about Robinson Crusoe, and then she told
him that they were playing ut being Rob-
inson Crusoe, to which the child very
sensibly replied that he did not ut all like
the game, and wanted his mamma.
And meanwhile it grew darker and
colder and damper hour by hour, till at
| last the light went out and left her with
nothing to keep her company but the
moaning wind, the falling rain, and the
| wild cries of the sea birds when something
disturbed them from their rest. The child
was asleep ut last, wrapped up in n blanket
and one of the smaller sails; and Augusta,
| feeling quite worn out with solitude and
the pressure of heavy thoughts, began to
think that the best thing she could do
would be to try to follow his example,
when suddenly there came knock Mt the
boards which served for door to the
shanty.
"Who is it," she cried, with start
"Me-Mr. Meeson," answered the voice
"Can | come in:"
Yes, if you like?" said Augusta, sharp
ly, though in her heart she was really
glad to see him, or, rather, to hear him,
for it was too dark to see anything It is
wonderful how, under the pressure of
greet calamity, we forget our quarrels and
our spites and are ready to jump at the
prospect of the human companionship Of
our deadliest enemy And "thc moral Of
that is" as the White Queen says, that as
we are all night and day face to face with
the last dread calamity-Death-we should
throughout our lives behave as though we
saw the present shadow of his mind. But
that will never happen in the world while
human nature is human nature-and when
will it become anything else?
Put up the door again." said Augusta,
when, from n rather rawer rush of air than
usual, she gathered that her visitor was
within the hut.
Mr.. Mecson obeyed, groaning audibly.
"Those two brutes are getting drunk" he
said, swallowing down rum by the gal
lon. have come because l could not
stop with them any longer-and | am so
i'll. Miss Smithers, so i'll! / believe that l
am going to die. Sometimes ! feel as
though al the marrow in my bones were
ice, and-and-at others just as ii some
body were showing red-hot wire up them
Can't you do anything for me?'
Il don't see what is to be DONE" an
swered Augusta, gently, for the mans
misery touched her in spite of her dislike
of him. You had better lie down and try
to go to sleep"
"To sleepn' he moaned: "how can
slcepg My blanket is wringing wet and
my clothes arc damp and he fairly broke
down and began to groan and sob.
"Try and so TO sleep urged Augusta
again.
lie made no answer, but by degrees he
grew quieter, overwhelmed perhaps, by
the solemn presence of the darkness Au-
gusta laid her head against the biscuit
bag, and mt last sank into blissful oblivion;
for to the young sleep is a constant friend.
Once or twice she woke, but only to drop
off again; and when she finally opened
her eyes it was quito light and the rain
had ceased.
Her first care was for little Dick, who
! had slept soundly throughout the night
and appeared to be none the worse. She
; took him outside the hut and washed his
face and hands in the stream and then sat
} him down TO breakfast of biscuit. AS
she turned, she met the two sailors, who,
although they were now fairly sober, bore
upon their faces the marks of fearful
debauch. Evidently they had been drink
ing heavily. She drew herself up and
looked ut them, and they skunk past her in
silence.
Then she turned to tho hut. Mr.. Mceson
was sitting up when she entered, and the
, bright light from the open door fell full
upon his face. His appearance fairly
shocked her. The heavy cheeks had fallen
in, there were great purple rings round
: the hollow eyes, and his whole aspect
was one of q man in the last stage of ill
; ness.
Il have had such night" he said
'Oh, Heaven! such II night | don't be-
, lieve that shall live through another"
"Nonsense!" said Augusta, ''eat some
biscuit and you will feel better"
He took piece of the biscuit which she
gave him, and attempted to swallow it.
] but could not.
} at is no use" lie said 81 am dying
, man. Sitting in those wet clothes in the
} boat has finished me-"
: And Augusta, looking at his face, could
e not but believe him.
CHAPTER iX--AUGUSTA TO THE RESCUE.
After hreakfaSt--;hat is, after Augusta
had eaten some biscuit and "a wing that re
, manned from the chickens she had man.
aged to cook upon the previous day-Bill
and Johnnie, the two sailors, set to work
, at her suggestion to fix up n long frag-
ment of driftwood on point of rock and
: To bind on to it q flag that they happened
, to find in the locker of the boat There
was not much chance of its being seen by
! anybody III that mist-laden atmospher,
, even IL anybody came there to see it, ot
, which there was still less chance; still
a they did it rs sort of duty BY the tim,
= this task was finished it was midday, and
! for wonder there was little wind and tn,
. sun shone out brightly. On returning t
, the huts, Augusta got the blankets out Il
: dry, and set the two sailors To roast som,
of the eggs they had found on the prcviou:
day This they did willingly enough, fo
they Were now quite sober and very muci
ashamed of themselves Then, after Civ
ing Dick some more biscuit and foul
roasted eggs, which he took to wonderful
ly, she went To Mr.. Meeson, who was ly
ing groanng in the hut, and persuaded
him to come and sit out in the warmth.
, BY this time the wrctched mans con
:, dition was pitiable, for, though hi
I, strength was still whole in him, he was