The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-12-24

The words We're echoed around.
Alice alone stood silent, but of all
those present none felt so miserable
as she.
$ = ::
Sixyears had gone by with only the
most scanty tidings of Philip Ford
Somebody had seen him at Monte
Nideo; another had met him. in China
reports corroborated by odd little
presents, such as Seamen send to their
friends. being received now and 2gain
by Miss Lefty and the rector; but to
Nice never sign, never Il word
evidently he was keeping his VOW that
he had said good bye to her forever.
The rich farmer had had his
dismissal SO long ago that he was
married and had children climbing
round his kness. Other suitors had
followed with no better favor Wien
expected to say Yes" Alice invariably
sad No" What was she waiting for
She herself could not answer. She
only knew that there was a vacant
place III her heart into which no man
entered, and that about Christmas
time memories We're aroused which
left her ineXpressibly sad.
Again it was the eve Of Christmas
Day the night OF the rectory party
\ neighbor had promised to look after
Grandfather Niner- grown very in
tlrm-while Alice went to the dance.
where she was sure to be the bell e.
for the palm of beauty had never been
Wrested from her.
There's dirty weather blowing up"
Grandfather Nlner had said early III
the day; and as evening came the
wind rose, lashing the sea into fury.
1t the cottage window the old man
sat, relating tales of shipWreck, and
repeating Lord save ali at sea-
For Alice 10 reach the rectory by
the cliffs WIS not possible She had
to take q lnore sheltered but very
circultOu' way; even than she arrived
very much stormbeatcn; but once in
side those hospitable doors the wind
and rain were oryot5en, then blus. er
and roaring swallowed up III tho din
oI merrlment within. Suddenly there
was loud knocking. 4 figure IL
dripping oilsllins stool III the door
way.
A vessels bein' driven over the
bay. he shouted, they've been
sendin' up signals O distress for ever
50 long. ! don't see no way o heipin'
'em, for the boat amt built That
could live on this sea"
Then down to the beach. men,
cried the rector: and in almost as
little time as it takes TO tell. he and
they were on their way. The women
did not linger long after, Alice. fore
most among a chosen few. retracing
her steps home, Tor. should the cruel
waves spare any, it was in her cottage
they would find shelter The storm
had so increased, that it was barely
possible to keep their footing, al i
more than an hour elapsed before
they reached the little dwelling where
would be found the simple necessaries
for restoring animati N. Already On
that rockbOund shore the naD'ess
barque lay heap Of timbe'rs; of her
crew only three had reached the shcre,
two of them had revived. the third
was engrossing the energies 3f the
rector and Grandfather Niner when
Alice entered. She went over to the
group, and then gave cry.
Yes, poor Phil. it's him. come oac1
again; and Ally look here" and her
grandfather lifted a crooked sixpance.
suspended by a ribbon round the
apparently dead mans neck
In an instant Alice recalled the time.
the spot where that token had been
given when. all but children, at part
ing they had promised to be true to
each others forever He had kept
that promise. She? Yes, vain. cruel.
weak as she had been, in spite OF her
self she had been trae to him, and. for
the first time realizing her great love,
she silently registered q VOW that if
Philip did not live TO make her 1is
wife, she would be wife to 10 man.
Poor Alice, That night was the
saddest she ever spent. Several times
those present were on the point of
giving up their attempts ct restoration.
only that she pleaded 50 piteously that
they would continue to try For his
sake" she said; for mine; for If he
dies it is / who have killed him"
"If he lives. Alice. will you make
his life worth having?" said the rector.
''As soon as he can listen | Will ask
him to marry me" she answered,
solemnly.