The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-08-22

the upper story, guess, but thought
could make the bay afore it struck, an
I rowed tremendous. But the harri-
cane came on like race horse, an with
the first scoop it lifted me an the boat
clean outen the water. / hung in 'er,
though a good many times I thought
she was goin' upside down, but she KEEP
on 'er bottom some way an run on in
the darkness an lightnin' like all pos
sessed I nabbed holt Of the rudder an
KEEP rightin' her when the lightnin' fell,
which was about every second. The
sea looked white like kettle Of water
bilin' over, an suddenly see a ship was
about to run over me from behind. It
was flynn afore the wind like all crea-
ton and list missed me. heard things
rippin and breakin' on her an shouts
and screamin' as she passed; then some
thin come crashin' ag1n the boat and
knocked me outen it. The next second
I see by the ightnin' that it was a big
platform or stagin' of boards, an (
climbed up onto it. AS soon as l got
my breath heard something cryin' by
me and looked around, and 10 and be-
hold! this little thing was layin' there
tied fast to the platform. I got her
loose an she cotched me round the neck
and hilt me fast. an doyou know, Lucy.
in my scare an confusion I thought it
was Breeze? WAL" he continued, after
a pause, II hilt to her an she hilt to me,
an thought, my soul and body, we'd
be throwed ofen the pitchin', rollin'
raft, but it went straight for the head,
and all of student I looked mp and
saw the front of the cliff as white an
terrible in the ightrin' as the face Of a
corpse, and the next minute we struck
with a crash, and me and the child was
shot up one of the pillars, and I clinched
holt of it and l got footin' an hung
there till Paul come with the rope
A heavy silence fell between them.
He longejl to speak Of the boys bravery,
but in the face of his own shameful life,
the words stuck in his throat. Present.
ly he arose.
81 guess, Lucy, I'll go up to the
wharf and see Eric Iverson," he said.
"Mebby ken get him to come around
this way tonight and talk with the
little thing. I'm thinkin; she's Norwe-
gian, an' mebbe he can find out where
she's from
Eyes, Trave,' said the woman.
Then he stopped down and said:
"Good-by, little canary; I'm goin' to
fetch some one that can understand y'r
pipin'.'' The child looked at him wonder
ingly moment, then put her arms
about his neck and kissed him.
''Oh, Trave," said the wife, you won't
drink any more, will you? See. it's like
as if Breeze had come back from
Heaven and was begin you with kisses
not to be bad any 1nore.'' and she was
crying On his breast
The man gave a groan Of wild contri~
ton and helplessness.
''No, Lucy, I won't ever fetch it
again" he said. 'Ill strive agin it, an
won't ever fetch it no more!'' And he
went away with clinched fists, swear
ing in his soul that liquor should never
pass his lips again. But alas, for the
man who once sets himself OH fire with
this inhuman thirst. His will is turned
to ashes in the flames.
Paul came home at noon with a shin
ing string Of fish, but the father did not
come. When dinner was over the boy
shouldered his big bag Of clothes and
started for the mills.
:'I'll bring him home, mother, if I
ken,' he said. Don't worry" and he
went linaping on.
When he had delivered the clothes,
he turned off into the town. There all
the streets ran stumbling down and
converged upon the wharves, and he
went mp one and down another looking
vainly for his father. Presently, with a
thrill of horror, he saw the man come
Keeling from little grog shop down by
the water side. An aching heavi-
ness spread through all his being
as he stood dumbly watching him.
What had it all come to, his saving this
man and bringing him back into the
world? With bitter throb he started
toward him. The man saw him COM
ing, as he stood leering about, and
started down the shore toward home.
The boy followed, hoping in some way
to turn him aside that his mother might
be spared this torturing sight. Sudden
~, as the father zig-zagged forward, he
turned and confronted the boy.
''Son, you're a trump, and want the
money We got for the washin',' he said,
thickly.
Paul gave cry of horror and sprang
back, but in his lameness he stumbled
and fell, and the father jumped heavily
upon him.
''Gimme the money! he yelled wild
ly, as they struggled; but the boy
only gave a pitiful cry, and got up
with him. Then they began to strugg-
gle as they stood, writing. reeling,
striking, and suddenly they plunged
headlong down towards the water.
There a cup-like dent in the bank
caught and held them, but the boy fell
beneath and was partly stunned, and the
man got upon him with his knees and
held him while be tore the money from
his pocket. AS he got up, the boy, like
one in a terrible dream, clutched him
desperately about the knees, but the
rum-crazed father struck him a cruel
blow in the face and he fell back sense
less at the waters edge.
1t seemed a long time before con-
seriousness returned to him. The saws
sang on at the mills. the clouds blew