The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-13

that sang il was wondrous clear and res
onant, ringing out ike trumpet peal
above the dash Of the waves. vet swee,
and tender as the note of q wood thrush.
Over and over again he thrilled the
quaint ditty, until every echo caught up
the strain, and the whole place and the
great sea itself seemed thrilling with
melody.
Just then the door Of the old farm
house swung open, letting out broad
food Of lamplight and slender girls
figure; and an instant later this self-same
figure, quaint and prim in its gown Of
gray, stood just behind the singer. He
sang on, utterly unconscious.
Harry.v
He was near losing his balance, and
his song came to a sharp and sudden
end, leaving the closing night in silence,
The girl broke into merry laugh.
~Well, Syria ?" he asked.
Nothing g--only supper is waiting,
and Aunt Sarah is growing impatient,
she replied.
"Oh, that's all?7 The eager light died
out'of his eyes, leaving them gloomy and
abstracted. 81 don't want any supper
I've made up my mind, Syria"
She gave a quick, grasping breath, but
face and voice were quiet.
Well, Harry? %
"rm going"
When?"
At daybreas."
Her very lips paled, and her slender
fingers shook and trembled, but her eyes
remained true and steady.
Well" she answered slowly, "God
bless you, Harry
The boy stooo silent, his eyes fixed on
the fair coast line, where the red sunset
fires were slowly burning out, his
thoughts busy with the past One night,
especially, stood ont clear aud yivid-a
wild, stormy night, when the sky was
like ink, and the mad sea thundered un-
til the old farmhouse shook 10 its very
center. They were down on the strand,
his father and half dozen fishermen
himself, sturdy lad, following like a
young spaniel. Hand work lay before
the men. A stately vessel lay ont on the
bar, and the strong gale was driving her
to pieces.
Boat after boat started out as her
booming guns begged fer assistance, but
each one was swamped or driven back.
1t was mere desperation, an old sailor
said no boat could stand such gale
they could do nothing. His father
chuckled to himself, and bringing out a
sturdy craft of his own placed himself at
its helm, and went out into the darkness
never to return again. the men averred ;
but Harry did not believe it. He had
never known his father 10 fail. and he
sat down amid the crash and roar to
watch and wait And not vainiy, for by
and by The sturdy boat beat its way back
bringing only one trophy, little sea
wait that he had picked up-a tiny girl
with fiaxen hair and blue eyes
The rough men bore he- up 70 the old
farm house, Harry trotting on behind ;
and before day dawned the booming
guns were silent, for the stately vessel,
after brave fight, had gone down be-
meath the hungry waves.
Captain Melville and his wife could DO
nothing more or less than TO adopt the
little storm gift and bring her up a. their
own child. So they called her Syria, az
ter all and as she merged into maiden
hood the lads called her the belle of the
ocean,
She and Harry had been sister and
brother for ten years, eating their frugal
supper from the same porringer, and
sharing the same bed in childhood.
Yes, the Black Dragon sails at day
light and I'm going on her, Syria" he
said, his eyes solemn and tender and his
voice tremulous.
The girl stood silent momont then
putting the question with forced
laugh
How far are you going. Harry she
said. when do you expect to come
back p
The Black Dragons bound around
the world, l believe" he responded,
@and as to coming blackwell. it viii be
years before l see the Headlands again,
/ guess"
Then sudden light blazed up in his
eyes.
Shall you miss me when Tn gone, do
you think, Syria - he asked.
A swift rose color blcomed in her fair
cheeks, and her eyes oyerfiowed with
tears.
Harry, she said, her voice sweet with
unspoken tenderness. " I'm supers:itiOus
you know. want you to take this with
you,r unclasping slender gold chain
from her neck. Il always had fancy
that this little trinket possessed a hidden
charm. Put it on your neck, please, and
if you are ever left to the mercy of the
waves it will save you, msy be, as it did
me-"
At moonrise everything was ready,
and with his knapsack strapped across
his shoulders, Harry stood in the door
way
GOOD by, fatherlv his voice husky.
Good by, Harry. Make man of
yourself before you cast anchor again"
sAy, ay. father"
Then he broke down. and pulling his
cap over bis eyes strobe away without
another word
One affer another the seasons followed
each other The gray moss on the old
farmhouse roof grew larger and thicker,
the old captain was getting rheumatic,
and dozed away the afternoons in the
chimney corner, and Aunt Sarah was los
ing something of her old busting aetiv-
ity.
Beautiful Syria The promise of her
..-a.. n s~xt<. <xl<.~,