Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-29
PARTED BY PRIDE.

and it was with extreme difficulty that
they could keep alight the fire which they
had kindled, hoping that its light would
warn any ship that happened to be in the
ofting to keep away from the dangerous
coast.
On Cape Dreadnought the revolving
light cleaned bright and lurid for a mo-
ment, then disappeared, making the dark
ness which interviewed seem even thicker
and more palpable by contrast.
Before midnight half of the little popu-
lation of Breakwater had gathered on the
headland, discussing the dreadful wealth
er, and the probability of wrecks before
morning. Women wrapped in rough
cloaks, whose sons were on the sea; young
girls, whose lovers had sailed away
months BEFORE and must now be on their
voyage home. Children whose fathers
were exposed to the cruel mercies of the
great deep, and wives whose sole hope and
support were out at sea SOmewhere-the
Lord only knew where
BY and by, afar off, sound was heard
like the rumble Of distant thunder; but
those gathered on the coast shuddered and
drew in their breaths. They knew that it
was a signal gun-the sign of vessel in
distress.
Heaven help theml" cried a hard fea-
tured woman, whose only son was at sea
In the fishing schooner which was daily
expected in port. at is only the help of
Providence that can reach emp
doomed over the water; nearer and nearer
with each repetition. 1t was evident that
the vessel was drifting shOreWard, and il
she once got within the current that swept
in from Dreadnought Cape she was lostl
Nothing could save her from going to
pieces on Blue Rock Reefs.
They piled higher the driftwood-fire, and
hoped the ship might keep off, if those on
board saw the warning light; and they
could not well help it.
But the wind set strong to landward; the
tide was coming in also: and there seemed
little probability that the vessel would es-
cape the impending doom. She was visible
now by the red light of the beacon, her
white sides distinctly outlined against the
black horizon.
There was mOmentary lull in the
storm, and the crowd of anxious watchers
had an accession in the person of a tall,
graceful woman, wrapped in a waterproof
cloak. The hood was blown back by the
wind, revealing the pale, beautiful face,
with its violet eyeS-black now with ap-
prehension-and framed in rlppling masses
of gOlden-DrOWn hair that were tossed
about over her white forehead by the rude
blast.
There was hurried movement among
the crowd, a falling back to give the new
conner room, and Il whispered exclamation
among The women:
Miss Archelausl 1t is Miss Archie
lauS!"
Miss Archelaus came forward to the
cage or the prOmontory, where half-a-
dozen of the oldest men were standing,
ana touched Tom Comfy on the arm. Tom
was an old salt, and had made more than
one voyage round "the Horn"
He turned quickly: and pulled awk-
wardly at mis- cap. Tom had probably
heard that a gentleman should lift his
hat to lady. And Miss Arche,aus was
the only lady Tom happened to know.
Twill she weather it, think yOu?" asked
the girl, pointing to the tempest-tossed
vessel
It's matter o. doubt, num-" replied
Tom, rolling his quid to the other cheek.
"lts rough night TO be out and the tide
sets round the cape like a horse. No,
mum. | don't think she'll weather it,
She's bound to founder cause, you see,
she can't help it,"
Miss Archelaus drew long breath.
But the crew-the passengers! Cannot
assistance be given to them?'
'Onp0SSlble, mum-intirely OnpOSsiblei
Unless the Lord sees fit to tend to their
cases hisSelf, there hain't no mortal man
that can do 'em any good. A boat would
be SWamped in five minnitS, and brave as
the BreaSwater lads be, there isn't one
foolhardy enough to think of venturing
ont among tI0 IcefS tonight
Miss Archelaus suppressed a sigh which
was more like a groan, and fell back to
where the women were standing. None
of them addressed her; she was not of their
Kind. She was the daughter of Mr. Arch
claus, the wealthiest man in the county,
and she lived in state at the great mansion
on Farview Hill, the house so large and
high that its lighted windows could be
seen almost as far out at sea as the great
lamp in the lighthouse
Why was she there? She had no fisher
lad abroad exposed to the peril of the
storm. Why did she intrude upon them,
with her costly dress and her high-bred
ways.
Why, iudeedp Miss Archelaus herself
could not have told.
1t was quite as much wonder to her as
TO the women themselves.
She had been in bed, and had been wax
ened out of a troubled sleep by someone
calling her. She was almost certain that
she had heard her own name: and it was
his voice; the voice of the man who once
had the power to stir the remOteSt depths
of her spirit; for whose brightest smile she
cared more than for the admiration of the
world.
She supposed she must have dreamed it
all; but still, the spell was so strong upon
her that she had risen, put on her clothes
and stolen out without the knowledge of
anyone.
All the way to the headlaud she had been
thinking of Kenneth Lerond
Years agO-aS many as five-they had
parted. He was tickle; she was proud and
unrelenting. There was in her nature no
gentle spirit of forgiveness. Single heart
ed herself, she would not pardon one in
whose nature was the least shadow Of
turning.
He had gone away: she knew not, cared
not, whittier; and she had killed. the
strong, passionate love she had borne
him: and showed herself to the curious
world cold and naughty, as such women
are liable to become when love leaves
them desolate.
Maud Archelaus suffered as a meek,
clnging woman never can suffer, but
she gave no sign. There was secret
place in her heart where she never dared
to look; she did not care to see the grave
where she had buried her love and trust
Bat this night it seemed as if he had
called her, asked her TO help, and she could
not help obeying. There was no other
way.
Meanwhile the ship drifted in, and by
and-by she remained stationary. Aud over
and above the wild wall of the wind and
storm. and the roar of the breakers on
the beach, came TO their ears the despair
ing cry of those who We're doomed to per-
ish
1t was dreadful TO stand there and listen
to those agouized shrieks: to see the
wretChed vessel beaten to pieces by the
strong pillows: to know that scores of fell
low beings were dying for want of the help
which those on shore would so gladly
have rendered; but, alas! they were pow
erleSS.
Every wave now brought to land boxes
and bales Of merchandise, fragments Of
broken timber, and by-and-by they bore a
more dreadful burden. The vessel had
sunk long before day break, and the bodies
of the crew strewed the stony beach for
half its extent.
Dead, all of them! The fishermen saw
that at once, and made no attempts at re-
suScitatiOu A thrill of relief was felt nv