The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-04-05


her reedle in the mel 10 glance up
the sands to the sunny cleft where
The two quiet figures were sitting
'An' Nancy hyar seen one OF 'em
pat jimmie on ther head t'olher
tay.n
"Aye," joined in the eager moth
er, "an' she speaked ter that chit,
too, an called her a bonnie lassn
An she's won your heart, Jane"
laughed one of The women, a tender
ring under the rough voice"
But one day-one fatal day-the
hearts of the women were tried.
The women among the roses and
the women among the fish neIs
proved that each were women with
hearts to suffer together
Mischievous jimmie Blake had
strayed from sight of her mothers
watchIul eye, around the cliffs up
toward he north while the tide was
low, until tired out with the tramp
and the heat, she nestled beside
shady rock, and resting her flushed
face on her dimpled arms, tloated
off into dreamland.
There were clouds in the western
sky. They had long hung there
threateningly all the afternoon in
suiIen blackness, aud by and by
spread out and up across the hea
veas; the soft, low breeze from
over the waters changed its song TO
moaning, and rose and lose with
the rising cloud till ii wakened the
waves and the wild storm spirits TO
battle with the beach; tie birds
swarmed over the jagged rocks,
screaming defiance TO the ele-
ments.
"Jean," Adelaide Elwood said
to her sister, as the clouds conquer
ed the struggling sunbeams, and
the blacknesS settled over sea and
sky, "Iet us go out together and
watch the storm rise; we have had
no such chance before p
As they stood on the cliff with
the winds around them, watching
the fleeing clouds and tumbling
breakers white with foam from the
ragged reef beyond, Adelaide sud
denly uttered a cry of fear and
pressed nearer the dangerous edge.
What is it?" shouted Jean in
unaccountable terror, struggling1o
her sisters side with the gustS
wind beating in her face.
And for reply Adelaide pointed
to The sands below, along which the
maddened breakers were leaping
nearer and nearer to the foot OF the
cliff as the tide came in.
And there, with the cliffs and
the waves hemming her in, Jimmie
Blake, the fisher wife'S pride and
darling, crouched on the frowning
rock around which the waves were
leaping, her Drowned face whilen-
ed by terror, her bare feet cut on
the rocks.
Then, with a sudden quiet, de-
termination on her face, Adelaide
turned TO her sister,
jean" she shouted above the
mad winds and The laundering |
waves, Jean, the men are out, but |
the women are in. Send Jack for
for them while | find a rope, then
come back with me-"
The younger girl obeyed, not com
pretending her sisters intention,
and swiftly The errauds were done.
As the women, leaving their un
finished nets, haStened up in reply
TO the message. Adelaide, with
delt fingers, fastened the coil of
rope around her waist, and secured
the other end about strong, stunt
ed tree near, calling to her sister to
assist her, that they might be ready
when the women came.
"Adelaide, Adelaide - cried Jean,
fearlully pressing close to her sis
ter's side, her face raised excited
ly to hers, while full knowledge
of what the other was about TO un-
dertake flashed into her mind.
You must not 90 down by that
you shall not 60 down, say. What
is that child to us that you should
risk that beautiful life for hers
You shall not go-you shall not go,
Ilell you?"
"Jean I" the dark eyes were
flashing with her noble spirit.
"Jean, you know not what you are
sayingl 1t is only that you fear
for me. Surely, if The child is moth
ing to us, what is she to her moth
erg Be quiet, dear, and help me
Quick, the minutes are preciousW
Jean grew desperate. adelaide,
Adelaide! /! if you 60 what will be
come If me 2" she cried. "Lst The
child 90! What is she 10 you or
me that YOU should throw away
your hfeF'
Adelaide turned to her with
slow, brave smile.
"Jean." she said, "dO what you
find to your hand.' mother always
said, beyond that is God"
And Jean dared not answer, and
the women we're ready.
Their hands were hardened to
rough labor; and steady, with pray
ers IN their hearts, they lei out the
rope longer over the ragged, peril 4
Gus edge, the terrified child wait
ing below. the hungry waves leap
ing around her.
The rough wind xhirled around
the girl going down The face Of the
cliff, tossing her lOosened hair, tear
inr ai her garments. shrieking 10