St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-04-12

1HeTe WcEe IO VfSSCutAuk >VsSSS d IlC
turned and ran of taough the sands,
fast as his leg. could carry him.
Some twenty minutes later a flushed
and breathless tow-headed boy stood in
front of Mrs. Symonds' open doorway. }
"%Mothcr," he painted in an exciting
whisper. you'd better 70 right M to
little Miss Bartcn's-she's most cried
her eyes out Give her this" and he
laid the cherished bit of amber ur~,r. the
table.
Without q word Mother Symonds put
her fiatiren On its shelf, tied hcr-blue-
checked apron over her head and started.
bub ran after. tucked his love-gift into
his mothers hand, and then went back
to mind Granny and the baby.
'Come In" said Miss Barton, cheer
fully. in answer to her visitors hesi-
Eating knock. There she sat quietly
sewing. True her eyes had distinct red
circles round them; but her voice was as
sweet as ever. Mrs. Symonds felt her
alarm subsidc.
'lsub sent you this" she began, dis
closing the little gift vile was passin'.
and he said he looked in-he wanted
me -" she stopped confused. 'He
was Worried about you" she said at
length, in a troubled tone.
'Sit down" said Miss Barton. quiet
'Dear child" with an admiring glance
The told you that he saw me crying.
Was that it?' with a faint blush).
And you came all the way to sec if l
needed any help-yOu good wOmafr"
said Miss Barton, simply.
That's about. it." admitted mother
Symonds, greatly relieved.
1T was the thought of a wedding
that was to have been," said Miss Bar
ton, softly. Il am making Matte Deer
ing's wedding gown, you know. She is
just the age l was to be; and the month
is the same. ! seldom give way" she
said, half alphabetically. though her
firm lips quivcrcd. ''Besides, tears,
you know, arc unlucky over a wedding
gown" And then her kind neighbor
saw how sweet Miss Barton's smile was.
You're one of the Lords own, my
dear; and there1l be greater love for
you in that land where there's neither
marryin' nor givin' in marriage, where
your faithful waitin's over" said the
younger woman, tenderly, to her. Then
she turned and went out of the rose
covered door, home through the summer
noon.
Every body said that Matte behring's
wedding was the prettiest that Brock
port had ever seen. And they had trim
med the little wooden-spired church till
it looked for all the world, as One child
said. like a great big nosegay!"
Afterward there was . great gather
ing of the town folk 1T Martin Deer
ing's house to bid the pretty bride God
speed, and chief among them WAS little
J Miss Barton.
BLESS her, she looked as REet5 "a
| pictur!!" said one bedaiaden old man
whom she'd stopped : see on her why
] homo, and to whom she brought some
wedding dainties.
''Bless her." he said to his good wife,
there couldn't non Of EN- beat her, l
know, 'cepting it might he the bride!"
"Shc did look SO sweet when she come
here in that shinin' gray gown. with the
l III la ASi SLONhS 0lA luo I
posies on her breast and in her hair" he
added.
And it really did as if the rest Of
them thought SO, too.
After the wedding came days Of damp
and misty weather, with rain in sudden
angry showers. And all this time it
seemed as if the frowning sea was run
ming itself back only to dash in sullen
roars with greater violence upon the
far-strctching coast.
The clouds hung black and threaten
ing above. Here and there desolate sea
birds flew to hidden coveys in the rocks
seeking shelter. their frightened cries
making still moro desolate the dull-gray
days.
"Dirty weather ahead" the old tars
said, and shook their heads as they
spoke.
One by one over the mass of heaving,
seething waters the little fisher boats
came steadily sailing home.
And on the night Of July 6, 49,, the
storm burst in all its violence.
In the cottages and along the shore,
how the men, m and children
l pTbySu tult ulSuJ loT LuOSe III VNsTll Ou
the Deep" as lurid flashes of binding
light tore the sable heavens asundcr.
and showed the sea dashed by the winds
into a seething mass of awful, towering,
foaming hills of water! How they prayed
and peered a~nxiously out from time to
! time into the inky darkness.
Upon the beach fishermen waited in
little groups ready to man the life-boat
should need of it arise, though the
chances were very slender for aiding in
that terrific storm.
Far beyond and sharply to the left,
where some ragged rocks lifted their
black heads. a steady golden, cleaning
star, the beacOn-light, shone forth.
Slowly the night wore on.
just before daylight in that hour
which of all others is the darkest. q
slender stream of red fire pierced the
darkness, followed by a faint booming
sound. Faces blanched, hearts throb-
bed fearfully among the watchers.
Again the red flash, followed by another
boom.
my God!" cried an old man, "'tis q
sinking ship"
Sick with terror they watched and
waited while the life-boat was manned
and the men made ready.
\ few hurried directions, and all was
done.
.'Who goes with me, lad??" cried one
young fellow. jumping in.
God bless you, Toni" cried . clear,
high voice. ''I1l care for your mother