Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-08-02

Thus, then, after long years of sb-
eence, was her father TO come back to
perish In sight of his very homel And
he would not be the first brave mariner
brought up on that rugged coast who
had been drowned almost at his very
door.
She closed her eyes and sent up tc
God silent prayer that her father
might be saved. and as she did so new
strength seemed to come to hel
"a courage born of despair. There was
but one hope, and that a slim one.
No one on that great ship knew
of the new channel that had
been cleared the year before. Gould
they but be told, they might yet be
saved.
They must be saved, and Kate John.
son must do it. Her little boat was In
the cove below-a frail craft in which
to trust ones life In such a tempest
But it was the only way to save the
lives of those so dear to her: She
rushed to the boat, cast off the lines
and, commanding herself to the care OF
Him who controls the tempest, rowed
out into the storm and bIackness.
Would she be in time to intercept
the great ocean monster as it swept
past?
Would they see that little speck on
the ocean in the blackness and storm
The chance was so slight that she shud-
dered as she thought of it. And then,
shutting her lips closely together, she
use6 her utmost efforts to keep her lit
tie bark afoat.
Now the great ship doomed up before
her. There was but one thing to be
done, and she threw her boat directly
in front of the ship! There was crash
as of nutshell hit by asledge hammer,
and the boat was sucked under the ship,
hopeless wreck. Kate with ready sight
and active muscles, had grasped the
forechains firmly with her hands and in
a moment drew herself safely to the
deck.
There was no time to be lost if she
could compass the object for which she
had come. She rushed up and gave a
few hasty commands to the man at the
wheel, which, in his superstitious fears,
he obeyed without question. A quick
"hard-a-port!" steady" "hard-a-
portI" and in an instant the proud ship
shot through the narrow passage, her
spars on either side grazing the cliffs,
and had grounded on the sandy
beach.
Then the Captain had an OPP
portunity to look for the young
pilot who had saved him and his ship
from its inevitable doom, but she had
tainted, and lay lifeless heap on the
deck.
She was taken up and 5enderly cared
for, but it was many long and weary
weeks before Kate johnson recovered
from the dangerous brain fever which
ensued.
But, papa, said Kate, as the three
Kate, her father and Ned Bolton
sat on the little porch overlooking the
sea one quiet afternoon, now that I am
well enough tell me how it all hap
pened.
1T is long story, lass, and Ned can
spin the yarn better than 1, replied the
old man, as he filed his pipe for .
smoke.
We'll, to begin said Ned, at was
like this: After we had been out
about week, we were struck by nor
wester that didn't let up until we had
been blown into the South Sea. One
of our boats was stove in and washed
overheard, and part of that which was
picked up was what gave rise to the
theory of our wreck. But soon we
found that the vessel had sprung a leak
during the storm. In vain we pumped,
the water kept gaining, and we were
obliged to put in at the first land we
made and beach the vessel. No sooner
mad we struck ground than we were
surrounded by the natives and made
prisoners. Here we we're kept until
six months had passed, when your
father, being somewhat of physician,
as you know, affected a miraculous
cure, as they thought. on the king, who
was suffering from some disease they
could not understand.
"This got him in high favor and he
was allowed to take his vessel and what
was left of his crew and return to his
own country. After pleasant voyage
we arrived on the coast of Maine, Just
in time to meet our end, in sight of our
own house, if it had not been for your
courage and daring"
Three months later there was q quiet
wedding at the Cape, and Kate johnson
became Mrs. Bolton. Many guests were
present, and all agreed that Mr.. and
Mrs. Bolton were the handsomest and
best couple that the Cape had turned
out.
To-day, should stranger visit the
little village on the Cape he would see
the dismantled hull of the ship, lying
in the sand. and, on asking a question,
would be told the story that I have at
tempted to tell.
The harbor that received the good
ship in her hour of peril refused to give
her up, the water not being deep enough
to float her, and there she lies, telling
to the world the story of the daring and
courageous young girl.