The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-08-15
looking up. 'sHe sold the fish he got

yesterday, guess.
After that they were silent. In lit
tie time their meager supper was over,
and darkness was thick without. It
was singularly warm and still even for
the mild California coast. and after
putting the children to sleep the mother
went out and listened. Paul was lean
ing upon the ruined wall with his face
turned seward, and nothing stirred
the silence save faint whispering of
waters out in the darkness. The at
mosphere seemed utterly becalmed.
But suddenly as they listened there
came q little puff of wind like some
thing invisible fleeing before the storm,
then a sort Of seething rose far over
head. as if the clouds were turning in
helpless fear about the ceiling Of the
sky, and the sea began to chop and
purr like an unseen animal whetting it's
teeth in the darkness. In moment
the few remaining stars were ingulfed,
and in another moment there came d
shivering crash, and the whole scene
leaped into view.
''My God!'' cried the woman, starting
forward, and Paul, with faintness
rushing over him with thought Of the
wish he had made in his heart, knew
that she was praying for his father, out
in his double darkness of his evil weak
ness and the gathering terrors of the
night.
Together they hurried in and made
the doors and windows fast against the
coming storm. In a moment it broke,
and roared and dashed across the cliff
for hours, while the mother, with white
face, went to and fro, soothing the
children, and turning now and then as
if she would go out into the storm and
find the one she feared might never
come again. Paul:s eyes followed her
troubled face, with a look of pleading
terror Suddenly he seized the latch.
Mother. I'm going to the shore!' he
said.
mo, child, no!' she cried.
ooh, mother, must! must! Father
may Gomez and he sprang out into the
tempest.
At first he was thrown from side to
side and dashed against the house by
the wind, but presently got his feet and
went Keeling through the falling tor
rents down the hillside, and came upon
the beach.
The sea seemed alive with leaping
ridges as the lightning fell upon them,
and all along the base Of the head it
! burst al times into lurid fire. The boy
drew back before il, but nis father was
out there--ou6 there where all things
rolled tcgether in convulsion~ and he
chung in the teeth oi the tempest,
straining ear and eye upon the sea.
Suddenly q ship burst into the glare.
1t seemed coming straight upon the
shore, and the boy shouted with fear,
but it veered and passed away into the
darkness. But what was that leaping
along the pillows? There it shone in
the glare; now all was swallowed up
in night; there it came again-a boat!
and he ran into the very arms OF the
pillows to meet it as a long wave hurled
it high upon the beach. With a leap he
was beside it, and when the lightning
came again he SAW it was his fathers
boat, but-empty! A shock OF horror
passed through hin; his wish had come
true. The lightning fell about him. the
| ocean turned to froth, and the pillows,
bursting against the head, leaped up
the shattered pillars in blush, snowy
sheets. But lie gave no heed. Sudden
" he seemed to hear voices calling
Now they seemed in the roaring wpod
across the bay; now far out to sea; then
high up in heaven. 1t must be his
fancy. he thought, or the winds walllng
in the holes and hollows Of the cliff,
lie passed around toward the front OF
| the head and listened, but the blast
! roared in his ears, and the noise OF the
inro]ling food was so great ne could not
hear distinctly.
| How uaspeakably fearful it was; his
father cut there in the wallowilg
| waters. a picture Of the man more
vivid than kfe came Into the boys ex-
! cited mind; his tall stature, STOPPING
! shoulders. ragged clothes, and laugh
| ing, vagabond air; his native good
humor, save when liquor made him
| harsh; his love for children, and dogs,
| and hunting, and how, when ne did not
| drink, he was the best axnan and the
| strongest man in all the region. All,
how darlzly it all had ended.
But presently, while he was thinking,
the wind lulled, and a voice leaped out
from the very lips of the head in long,
quivering cry for help. His blood
bounded and stood still; then the cry
came again, rising above the clashing
elements like peal Of anguish. All, it
was his fathers voice; and his blood
leaped forward again with great
thrill, and forgetful Of his lameness he
ran in close to the bursting rollers and
| began to climb the face Of the head. 1t
seemed an attempt fit for something
mad, for all below him lay boiling
abyss, flashing and laundering and leap
ing after him: but he had no time for
fear: was not his father calling for sue
cor somewhere out there in that abyss
! of noise and cOmnotion?
He knew every hole and shelf in the
face Of the preciplce, and soon by the
aid of the lightning flashes he was on
ledge leading toward the voice. 1t
was frightful place. Once he slipped
and hung over the edge Of the shelf,
very close to death. a thick sweat
| 1,,.ol-a o7,t ,non him and his heart