Connecticut western news., 1891-02-25

two nOlt$ ana UfSue eVeryCn1nB roaQy for q starr.
 The young men made a nasty survey, to see that their crafts were in ship shape. and having satisfied themselves that everything had been properly at tended to ssrasped the tillers, gave the signal to cast off and darted away from the shore like birds on snowy wings, amid lusty cheers from those left be- hind.
 The sky looked rent and threatening. There was distant thunder and frequent flashes of lightning. Dark, towering masses of clouds rose slowly upon all sides of the horizon. The wind was due east, blowing stiff breeze. The two boats were close hauled on the wind, barely making their course. The water was rough and the waves ran pretty high, casting a drenching spray over everything as the little crafts were forced straight through them. The crews of the two boats-the girls as we'll as the boys-were well protected, however, by long oilskin coats, reaching down to their feet, and southwester hats
 For the first ten miles it was 8 pretty even race, then the wind died out com pletely. Night had set in. The thunder sounded louder and closer, and the light hing came in binding flashes. The clouds rolled upward from every side un- til they met overhead. For few min utes the thunder stopped its loud can nonade and the lightning ceased; the only sounds that broke the silence being the dying murmur of breaking wave and the gentle swash of the water against the sides of the boats.
 The darkness was intense; the air was hot and stifing. Then an ominous sound came from distance-a sound that the occupants of the boats had often heard before-a low murmur at first, increas- ing gradually in volume, until at last, as it drew nearer, it sounded like roar of wrath, mingled with shrill shrieks of agony and despair.
 Sim and Jay hastily lowered their sails and furled them snug and fast, and just as the first chilly breath of the squall touched their sweat beaded cheeks and foreheads they threw the anchors over board.
 Then the storm broke loose in all its fury. The thunder roared more deafen ingly, the lightning flashed more blind ingly than before. The phosphorescent water gleamed as an ocean of fire lashed and driven before the gale, The two frail boats were tossed like corks upon the angry sea, but their anchors held them head to the wind. while strong, nervous hands grasped the tillers and steadied them as they plunged up and down among the furious waves. The two boats seemed to be riding the gale safely until suddenly the Annie's cable snapped. The Annie was to the windward of the Lily, and when the cable parted she drifted straight down upon the latter. They came together with fearful crash. Then came a wave higher crested and more furious than its fellows. It burst upon the boats while they were yet side by side. sweeping their decks from fore to aft. at the same time tearing them apart and carrying one far astern of the other.
 Jay looked around for his sister. At his feet, in the small cockpit in which he was sitting, now half filled with water, he saw a motionless figure, which he thought to be hers. He reached down his hand and dragged her toward him. A long and vivid flash lighted up everything around him, revealing in- stead of the expected face of his sister that of Annie Jason. At that moment woman's piercing cry rang out above the voice of the storm. Jay heard it and sprang to his feet.
 "It is Lily, and she is downing" he cried. ''rll cut the cable and drift down with the wind. may save her yet"
 He started forward, and just then the topping lift broke and the boom came down with all its weight upon his head. With moan upon his lips he sank down unconscious.
 It was a week after the night of the squal on the bay when Jay Spratt awoke to consciousness again. He was at his home in Tomsburg. Two sweet faces were bending over him, while the arms belonging to the possessors of the faces were wound lovingly around each | others waists.
 | Where am I?''
 "You are at home, Jay, and all is | well, said Lily, with smile. ''And you didn't drown?"
 "No, dear; thanks to Sim Jason, who
 risked hls own life to save mine."
 "Row did get home?' | "Annie"-
 But here the blushing Annie placed
 her disengaged hand over Lily's mouth
 "Did you sail the boat and take mo
 home, Miss Jason?" asked Jay, looking
 up into her face.
 "Yes," she whispered; "but be quiet
 now, and try to go to sleep"
 The great majority of the people ilr
 Tomsburg are we'll pleased to know that
 the fend between the Jasons and the
 Spratts is at an end A double wedding
 is announced there to take place in early
 autumn.-John P. Sjolander in Times
 Democrat.
 His Reward.
 Sniggs-Brash was bad man in his
 youth. What became of him?
 Jiggs-Went west and became prece-