St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-04-02
GRACE DESMOND'S PERIL.
Bx HARRY O'CoNNoR.

of al inn, in small fishing hamlet on
the western coast of Ireland.
Every voice in the company ceased
speaking at once. The roar OF the
neighborlng surf and the wild tumult of
the tempest, as it whistled and shrieked
without, broke distinctly on the hearing,
but for more than a minute, during which
ell listened intently, nothing else was
heard.
at was merely fancy, PIERCE said
one Of the group. You ought to
The speaker stopped short, for, at that
instant, the deep boom of cannon, out
at sea, sounded distinctly and fearfully
across the night.
"There is ship on the coast" said
Pierce. "Hark! third gun, and it
sounds nearer than the last" "And the
wind is right on the shore and blowing a
hurricane" said another. Lord be
merciful to Them" calculated Pierce,
"but let US hurry to the coast and see if
we can help them in any way"
With one consent the party moved
toward the door, first, however, calling
to the landlord to bring lanterns and
ropes in case the latter might be needed.
AS tho door was opened gust Of wind
eddied into the ROOM faring the candles
in their sconces, and whistling keenly
around the corners of the apartments.
When the adventures stepped outside
they were almost borne down for mo-
ment by the intensity of the gale: which,
sweeping unchecked across the plain
that lay betwixt the inn and the beach,
burst on the house with almost incred-
ible fury. 1t was showing violently, and
the flakes, Kissing and spinning in the
hurricane, almost blinded the eyes Of the
adventures; but drawing their frieze
topcoats around them, the warm hearted
travellers bent their heads against the
wind and hurried to the coast.
The shore to which they turned their
steps was a high, bold, rocky coast,
against which the surf was now beating
with violence that shook the cliffs to
their base and flung the spray in showers
over their edge 100 feet above the raging
deep below. The party had stood some
time, however, on the summit Of the
rocks before they could distinguish any
thing through the storm.
At length light, shadowy object
gradually assumed the outlines of a ship
flying before the tempest and started out
Of the misty distance. For one moment
she was seen driving up toward the spec
tators. That moment, seeming to them
on age, was spent in brenthless horror
Each one involuntarily clenched his
hands tighter together and gazed with
straining eyes on the powerless craft that
was sweeping onward with such mad
velocity to the cliffs at his feet. On, on
she came, driving amid the white foam
A moment more and there was crash
followed by shrek that rose.even above
the storm, and froze the very hearts OF
the listeners 1t ceased and the hurri
cane alone was heard.
at is all over,' said ono of the
listeners.
May the good heaven give rest to thu
souls of those who have goneto their los
account this blessed night"
"Amen, said another, and again ;
breathing silence followed. At length
Pierce Ryan spoke.
"Did you hear that cry %
81 did. 1t sounds like the wall Of
child"
1t is just beneath the cliff" sail
Fierce. 'Listen! there it is again--it i
a woman's voice"
There was no doubt any longer that
living being was crying for succor from
the foot of the cliffs, and dozen lantern
were Immediately lowered over the edge
For an instant, and an instant only, b.
the light Of u lantern lowered furthe
down the precipice, but almost immedi
ately shattered to pieces, the face of
female had been seen, cast upward il
earnest supplication. But what could b
done for her? The frenzy of the gale for
babe any attempt to rescue her by de
scending the cliff, and it was certain tina
she could not live until morning, expose
to the driving snow, the intense cold, tn,
washing Of the surf and the fierce eddie
of the gale around the precipice. TIL
spectators looked ut each other in dismay
and when in lull of tho hurricane, tn
cry OF agony came again to their ears,
shiver ran through their frames. Mean
while the cliffs were becoming crowde
with people, who, apprised of the wrec
by the signal guns she had fired, pouro
forth from their cabins to render wha
assistance was possible to the sufferers
A fire was soon kindled ON the verge o
the precipice. AS the fire flung its ligh
across the countenances of the group
there might be traced in every face a
expression Of the most anxious concern
while each spectator gazed out towar
the ocean, striving to catch through tn
heecy storm q sight of the wreck, G
peered down over the cliff to discove
the exact position of the sufferer below.
During all this time persons had bee
: arriving at the scene Of the disaster
bringing ropes, tackle, and other appl
ances by which aid might be rendere
to tho crew and passengers of the diE
mantled ship. At length, the fire
finging its rudy blaze far and wild
around, enabled the spectators to cate
momentary CLEANS Of the wreck. Sb
> appeared to be ship of heavy Tonnage
, and had ran SO high up ON the rock
that she stuck there as if impaled, he
stern falling off seaward, while her bow
overhung the boiling vortex on the Ian
side of the sharp rock on which she la,
! The racking Of the sea had by this tin
} broken her hull in two, and the forwal
Q part, crowded with living beings, fe
a away into the gulf below, just as Il
. ruddy blaze of the flames enabled tt
, spectators to catch their first glimpe
the wreck One wild shrek rose over a
o the uproar of the gale and then silenc
}, if silence there could be amid that hurl
cane, fell on the scene.
a "There is not soul left alive. fe
\ the sufferer below is the sole survivor
-. said Pierce.
y "Can nothing be done to save her
asked some Of the spectators. Mar