Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-09-24

dren saying: "trandlatner ID verT Ill
tonight. You had better 60 into the |
bedroom and lea We me alone to watch |
by him." They obeyed at once crossed
themselves before the image of the
Virgin, kissed their brother babe me
good might" and softly entered the
little room on the other side OF che
partition.
We still sat and watched together.
I could utter no word OF comfort for
] knew the fate OF the two out on the
storm tossed sea admitted no longer OF
a hope. The youth knew it. too. as he
listened to the dashing waves and
thought with superstitious awe Of his
grandfather's words. The old man lay
still now, as If sleeping. and his face
looked 80 CHASTITY in the Pickering
light that 1t might have been the face
of death. Very dreary was the moan
ing OF the night storm, very sad the
vigil we were keeping.
Again the old man awoke. trembling
and shivering. Victor. do you hear
the slow dripping OF the water on the
floor at the foot Of my bed?"
Il hear nothing, grandfather, but
the cracking Of the fire and the roar
ing of the wind outside"
.'Drip-drip- drip! Faster and fast
err! Take the torch. Victor! Look
with all your eyes down on the floor
there. Is the place wet or dry? Does
the rain of heaven come with its warn
ing, alsO?"
Victor took the torch with trem-
bling fingers and knelt down on the
floor to examine it closely. He started
back as he saw that i: was quite dry;
the torch dropped upon the hearth; he
fell on his knees before the statue OF
the Virgin and hid his face.
II hear it STILL" the old man said.
1T tells me my weary time in the
world Is over at last
Victor shuddered at these words but
in spite OF the storm. the darkness and
the distance. he thought not for a
moment of neglecting the duty that
had been taught him from childhood
the duty OF summoning the priest to
the bedside OF the dying man. As he
began to pull on his coat, the old man
| CTlCu OuV. -JtOR. Sou
not leave me! command you to stay
by me.
"But grandfather, the priest-youl
confession. Would you die without
the holy comforts of the church?'
IL shall not need II priest before
morning my son. My life will last
until daybreak. You shall not leave
mer'
The clock was already striking 4,
and the storm had begun to lull a
last. Suddenly the sound Of footsteps
was heard outside the door, Il
opened. and man appeared on thu
threshold. pausing for moment in thu
dim, uncertain light.
Victor gazed ut him with starting
eyes; then. springing to his feet HI
gave loud shout of JOY: Father
Father! Have the waves given bacl
the dead to us?"
1t was the fisherman Pierre himself
dripping wet, but uninjured. In hi
arms he CARED the almost insensibl'
form of little Francois. The glad CT.
awakened the children. and the oil
man started up in his bed. and will
streaming eyes stretched ont his arm
toward the little shrine by the fire
place, murmuring prayers OF thanks
giving to the virgin. Victor quicki.
took the boy from his fathers arm
and laid him where he could get tn
full warmth of the fire. He was sim
ply numbed and chilled by the vim
and waves soon reviving and eagerl
telling of the storm that had agai
and again nearly swamped their littl
boat. I'VE gave ourselves up as lost,
the fisherman said, land escaped afte
all only by a miracle"
1t was u happy group that gathere
around the table, which the youth ha
quickly prepared for the hungry fathe
and brother. They placed a chair ia
, me, with apologies that they ha
, nothing better to offer me than blac
bread. smoked herring and coffee.
ate with such relish as made tha
breakfast the one OF all my life tn
most enjoy able. When l babe thel
, "Good-by!'' the old man was chattin
, quite cheerfully from his bed, with n
more thought of priest or confession
The last glimpse through the ope
, door. showed me the little girls on
, in her fathers lap his hand restin
, on her curly head the other wit
chair drawn close TO that OF the lad
who had escaped the cruel waves an
storm, her arm clasping him aroun
, the waist. So left them. Russo
: l.. Osborne