The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-04-13
What the Sea Cast Up.
BY ARTHUR L. MEsERvE.

1
sea and land.
Huge waves threw themselves with
mighty force against the great jag
ged cliffs as though they would force
them from their foundations, rs for
ages they had been trying to do.
On the land the wind had better
success. Great trees were uprooted,
and the air was filed with flying
branches wrenched off and carried
along on the blasts as though they
had been wisps of straw.
twas a night long after remember
ed by the people ongthe coast
and spoken of as the great storm.
That night in an old, large, ram
bling house some half a mile from the
shore, two people were seated on
the hearth, listening apparently to
the warning of the elements without,
for some time had elapsed since a
word had passed the lips of either.
The house seemed somewhat IN
stable, and with every blast it shook
and trembled as though it were
about to come tumbling down about
the heads of it's occupants.
Strange and uncanny sounds were
heard coming from the room in other
parts of the building, as though un-
seen guests were holding high revel
there.
The fire on the hearth burned fitful
Sometimes it would leap high up the
broad open fireplace as if it would es-
cape on the wings of the wind, and
then it would fall down and well-nigh
disappear, save the bed of glowing
embers scattered over the hearth.
The pranks of the fire sent strange
and grotesque shadows dane
ing upon the wall, taking all
manner of uncouth shapes as though
they were holding high carnival
The two figures before the fire sat
speeches. and without motion. They
saw not the strange pranks and the
liberty the freight was taking with
them on the wall. allappearances
they were utterly unconscious ofany-
thing which was passing in the room
and unmindful of the warfare with
| out.
One was an old man, gray and bent
with years. His hands clutched
long staff which he had planted on
the hearth, and his eyes wide open,
were fixed on the glowing embers as
though he saw something which fas-
cinated him among them. His face
was almost bloodless and as white
as the long thin hair which fell upon
his shoulders.
His companion was girl OF not
more than twenty years even if she
had seen as many. She was beautiful
as it was, but she would have been
far mole 80 had it not been for tir-
ed, weary look upon her face. Itwas
a discouraged look, as if all the hopes
of her life had fed away forever, and
what she saw before her was only
dismal blank.
"Nellie," said the old man, at
length, but at that moment such
blast struck the house that it would
have drowned much stronger voice
| than that of her companion.
"Nellie," repeated the old man in
a louder key, don't you hear me?"
"Didyou speak before, grandfather
said the girl, looking up into his
face.
EYES," said the old man, queru-
lousy. "But you were thinking of
something or somebody besides me.
1t is always SO when l speak. i
might as well be all alone"
81 did not hear you, grandfather.
The wind is blowing such gale that
it is no wonder. What is it l can do
for your
Nothing, nothing" replied the
old man, testify.
JYes, there was, grandfather" said
the girl, laying her hand on the old
mans knee. "Tell me what it was.
You were at least thinking of some
thing. But listen q moment. Did
you ever know a harder gale than
this?"
Again the old house ratified, and
creaked, and groaned. The wind
whispered if possible more like fiend
than before, and above all was the
roar of the ocean as if enraged to
think that it could not engulf the
land and sweep everything before it.
"Pve known many a bad night
since this roof has covered my head;
nights in which it seemed that the
waves would wash the old house from
it's foundation. Alack. it is pity
that it did not. would rather that
it would have CHANGED to do so, than
to have lived so long, and then to be
turned out of it in my old age by ST.
mon Grover. But it is to be, and we
have only a week for it to shelter us.
Could but have my wish the storm
would lay it low tonight, and fill up
the field and meadow so that it
would only be an expanse of drifting
sand"
"Do not talk in this way, grand
father. You shall not come to want.
You know that have got strong
hands and am willing to work. We
will find a little cottage somewhere
hereabouts, where lean get work to
do at home, and we shall be happier
than we have been here for many
year"
There was a panied and bitter look
upon the face ofthe old man. Itwas
evident that the words ofthe girl had
brought no comfort to his heart.
ga curse be upon the head of
Simon Groverl" he cried. eff itwere
not for him I should not be turned
out of my home in my old age like
dog. You know that I always
thought that it was hewho stole my
strong box, when l was SO sick as \
not to know what was passing about
me. He sat up with me one night,