The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-02

to ingulf him, whereat Nellie laughed.
Then Henry flushed with something
akin to anger.
"And that is all?' he asked; and after
slight pause, II think we understand
each other" he added, and walked rap
idly away.
To everybody but Henry and Nellie
the afternoon passed happily. The tide
had nearly reached it's height when all
noticed that the horizon seaward was
nearer at hnnd than il had been. AS thev
watched they saw the sky slowly but
surely eat up the rolling waters, and
presently across the pounding breakers
dense and gloomy fog stalked in upon
the beach, and in another moment,
wind driven, it had wrapped itself about
Woods and hidden in blank grayness all
the land beyond the bay. But it made
little difference to the party Of excur-
sionists; there might be necessity Of
waiting before venturing across the bay,
but that would merely prolong the en-
joyment, and so the fun went on.
It was some time between and 5
o'clock, and fog and wind and tide were
at their height, when u man came trudg-
ing through the gray obscurity with
| message that turned the thoughts of all
| the party from amusement or patriotic
celebration. His message and the deeds
| it led to are well remembered along
| that part of Long Island, and they have
| taken their place in the history of the
! United States. The man was Keeper
Baker, of the government life saving sta
ton situated at Lone Hill, and he
brought word that a big vessel had
stranded about half mile east Of the
station. When the southeast wind
gathered up the dense fog of July 4, 1884,
Baker began to patrol the stretch of
beach guarded by his station, and so it
was that shortly after she drove in upon
the sands he was able to distinguish dim
ly the outlines of a great boat beyond
the surf, and he knew at once that all on
board were in imminent peril. He did
not say all this to the party Of excursion
lists: one glance at his strong face told
them that he sought volunteer crew.
He had hardly begun his hurried expla-
nation before Henry Martin had placed
himself at the keepers side. 1t was but
moment, and then the keeper, followed
by six stalwart men, hurried to the sta.
The surf boat was already on the car
riage, and loaded with all the appliance.
for saving life. The men dragged the
heavy carriage over the sands, the broad
fanges of the wheels sinking but little
and excitement of the work making the
task an easy one. The whole party o1
excursionists followed until they, too
could distinguish now and again dull
black shadow in the fog seaward thai
they knew to be the hull of the stranded
vessel Then they saw the experienced
long, deep boat from the carriage to th'
sand and into the surf. More than on.
woman's heart grew faint as the valiant
workers completely disappeared in tht
spray of the first roller that struck them
Then with great glow of Il
relief thev saw the ~
boat uprisa upon
the tumbling
wat water, nn15 four Z
~SGE -
k1
e. a, 'sR' tn
fMSS ~ the keepe
M9IAGESo directing he
48R1S@ head straigh
e[HuN @- against the on
AEafsge3 coming waves, ant
ENH ~ after that they watch
Hiih1Sl ed with straining eye
and bated breath the sur
boat slowly make its way toward tn
vessel, until the fog shut it wholly out Q
vision.
The men pulled away, and at last b