Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-28

SbOTu. WINS vlSlEln9s ESnticmau
who lives on an islnnd just west OF the
mouth of the Rhine. We had dined
and were enjoying some cigars when
the daughter of one of the dyke guards
came to the house with the news that
northwestern storm was blowing
tho one wind tho Hollander breads. AT
once the whole household was in COM
motion. had been once in q hurri-
cane in Cuba, but that was dry storm;
the Holland storm was fferent was
provided by my host with on oil coat
and 1shcrman's hat.
as all the other men won't out, felt
1t ny duty to follow them, but when
got out OF tho door became bewil-
dercd. could hear the booming of
the sea against the dixie, but could not
see; elsewhere l had always found,
even on the darkest nights, certain
glimmer of light, but there the dark
ness was like that of closed room.
and the rain did not seem rain, but like
the downpour of cataract; the ground
was covered everywhere with water,
which, as the island lies twenty odd
feet below tho ordinary level of the
sea, could not run oil. was so bewil-
dered that turned to go back to the
house when friendly hand was laid
upon my arm, and q gentle voice said:
Come, let me show you the way"
Recognizing the voice / said, in
amazement: Surely you are not 60
ing out in this tempest?''
'Oh! yes; 1 always help when there
is danger to the dixie"
We reached the dixie safely, but
soaked, ut least 1 was, for not being
amphi bious the water had the better
of me.
The scene ut the dixie was, if the
term Is permissible, sublimely hideous.
Tho seq was piled up almost to the top,
and every wave washed over. The
roar was deafening. Such masses OF
water came over that the men were
constantly knocked down, but my little
friend seemed Us by miracle to escape.
She was but slip Of girl, not over
seventeen, but she took her place in
the line of men like true heroine.
What astonished me most, however,
was the singular change IN her appear
| ance; there was q row of lanterns, so
saw her clearly. at the dinner she
had been exqu'sitely and most daintily
| dressed, and as she sat at the piano I
caught glimpse of O fairy-like foot
clad in q silk slipper made from the
same material as her gown. At the
| dixie she had on q pair of rough fisher
man boots which came above her
knees; into these were poked pair of
boys trousers and the astonishing cos
tune was finished by long, yellow
oilcoat and mans hat tied to her head
with handkerchief. Yet she could
not help looking pretty. told her
afterwards that she had reminded me
of Rosalind.
AS l could be of no possible help,
after an hour went back to the house.
The distance was only about q quarter
of mile, but how I ever reached that
house has ever since been q matter Of
wonder to me. Three times / slipped
in the soft, spongy mud; my hat blow
off and never was found; was so wet
that although it was summer time l
felt bitterly cold; missed my way and
got into plowed field, but l reached
the house at last, and q cup of hot tea
brought at once by an obliging house
maid cheered mo immensely; but then
came serious question. had taken
only little handbag with mo; what
should 1 wear? But tho maid solved
that question. She took to my room
O. pair of trousers, slippers, and
| u A AIOoS SOLAAOAbAbO4S OECSS1AK kO"u,
saying that she would come
when had changed my things and get
my wet clothes and dry them for me.
Within ten minutes 1 was by COM
Portable fire that had been built in the
and decanter of brandy at my side,
and the maid disappeared with my wet
garments.
That girl was a genius.
In about two hours she brought my
things back; not only were they dry
and clean, but had been ironed SO that
they looked better than they had
In the morning. The shoes, dry as q
bone, had been neatly blackenAd, and
with q clean shirt from my bag 1
looked myself once more. The tenn
pest went on with undated fury, the
wind howled and shrieked like an
angry demon, and the downpour OF
rain still continued, and could not
help thinking with the most sincere pity
of the gallant men and that fair young
girl who were guarding their dixie.
What use their being there was, or
what they could have done, heaven
and the Hollander alone know. I can
understand protecting q dixie from the
outside with mats, but what can be
done from the inside. They certainly
were not there for pleasure. Doubtless
the shrewd Hollander knows trick or
two about his bikes that q stranger
would never guess Not only his fields,
but his very life depends upon it.
After a time the wind went down,
the rain ceased, the Sky frightened and
the watchers returned with tho infor-
nation that the wind was still blow
ling, had changed its direction and the
dixie was safe.
On account of their kindly courtesy
} l shall always have a tender spot il
: my heart for the Dutch, but should po-
litely request to be excused from being