The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-13

women gesticulating, screaming. almost
mad with terror. Their hot Celtic blood
would not allow them to look upon any
thing quietly. Indeed, this time they
had good cause for all their passionate We
hemence, for there were but seven men,
and two of these old and feeble, trying to
launch the life-boat.
''Were are the rest of the menu asked
Winnie, bTeathlessly, of a great, strong
woman. with a child on each side of her,
who was standing near,
"Gone for the pilchards week ago."
cried the woman with terrible despair in
her ringing tones. Maybe they're
drowned most likely, for what boat, let
alone fishing-boat, could live in sea
like this? And now this ship, she's cry
ing for help; we don't know what ship
she is, nor who's aboard. Some of our
men most likely, or she would not be in
these waters"
Then suddenly the woman caught sight
Of Arthur. She fell down on her knees
and lifted up her clasped hands in fren-
lied appeal.
. "Do'ee CO." she cried, with them.
You're not strong, but you are q man;
you could help! The Lord requite you'll
1t may be my children are fatherless. Go
and save the men on board the ship who
have wives and children OF their own.
There are but seven of them to man the
life-boat, and two of them are feeble"
Winnie turned round upon the woman;
a great leaping fear came into her eyes.
Her Arthur He must not go; he must
not leave her; she could not bear to lose
him. Arthur" she cried in a dry,
strained voice, don't. You cannot GO
you belong to me now; you have wife.
Let those who have none 60"
She held him by the arm in her agony,
looking into his face trying to fathom,
by his expression, whether or no her APP
zfn1tlI q Sy1appSGfIll Shn 6arn1
scarcely hope that it would be. He, her
hero, to refuse to do an act of herOiSm.
There was strange look on his face. She
thought it was the look of one about to do
deed of valor.
Arthur" she walled, 'think Of me-"
At that moment another distress signal
doomed from the unfortunate ship. The
woman who had been appealing to
Arthur flung her children away from her
with a quick gesture of despair, then
strobe down toward the life-boat, turn
ing back her sleeves from two mighty
arms.
a hot flush dyed Arthur's cheeks.
He stood still and irresOlute for mo-
ment, then ran bliudly after the woman.
Arthur" painted Winnie, "what are
you about to do?"
They had come to the little slope whence
all the fshing7 bOats, and also the life
boat, were launched. The seven men,
aided by the woman, were pushing her
down amid sheets Of white foam into the
boiling waters. The waves were piled
mountains high and fell with q thunder
ing, murderous roar upon the surround
ing rocks. The ship was invisible from
moment to moment.
Arthur Hill stood still hesitatingly. He
gazed from his wife to the boat and back
again at his wife. Then, with a mighty
effort, Come away, Winnie" he said.
He shivered. God bless themp he muir
INJURED, brokenly.
She slipped her arm through his and
would have led him away, but he turned
again.
Coward, coward, cowardr he cried
with sort of impotent rage that hurt
Winnie, for were not the words meant
for her? Was it not she who was max
ing q coward of him?
They walked home in silence. Then
Winnie stole a look at her hero, who was
now playing such an ignoble part for her
sake. He is angry with me-" she said
to herself, seeing that he was fighting
with some great emotion. He is think
ing / take his maniness from him by my
weak, Womanish fears; but ii | am al
ways to live in dread of his performing
some desperate deed of valor, my life will
be a burden to me. l would rather he
were less brave. | fear | am no proper
wife for him."
ON they walked separately, without
exchanging word, until they reached
their lodgings. by this time the tears
had crept into Wmnle'S sweet eyes, for
silence was unusual between them. She
stole another look at her husbands face
i { was still pale. She felt suddenly as if
her heart must break. She ran up the
stairs to her room and flung herself face
downward on the bed.
She lay there some time with a horrible
Il IYarc
her husband had not followed her, as she
had hoped he might when he saw her
tears. But although she listened with all
her tears, she could not hear mis- footsteps
on the stairs. She waited, for what
seemed to her an interminable time, I'M
I'll a sudden thought caused her to spring
up and hasten down the stairs. Arthur
had doubtless taking the opportunity of
her absence to steal from the house and to
betake himself TO the work OF rescue
where his heart was.
But when she reached the sitting-room
she found that her fears had been ground
less. Arthur was seated by the table his
face on his hands, his head bent in an al
most effeminate attitude of despair. The
sight of her hero in such distress stirred
Winnie's Womanly heart to its utmost
depths.
"Oh, Arthur" she cried, 81 thought you
would not care that l should be able 10
make up to you for not helping. But go,
then, since you desire it. I will keep YOU
back no longer-oply do not be angry
with mel'
Her lips were all quivering and the
tears falling fast. He looked up suddenly
at her with pale and dlstTaught face.
Winnie" he cried, in a hoarse, APP
pealing whisper, "help me TO do what is
right!'
He seemed so broken down that her
hnQTt felt hFA0 lE She TS him
knelt down beside him, and putting her
arm lovingly round his neck drew his
bowed head on to her shoulder. Her
touch seemed to revive him.
Winnie, " he cried desperately, 81 have
sinned horribly against you"
against me?" she cred-''against
me?"
She was SO much surprised that she
stared at him open mouthed.
Yes" he whispered; help me to con-
TESS, Winnie"
Tell me-" she said soothingly, what
ever il is it had better be swept away
from between u.s."
He took her hand in his and pressed it
gratefully. 1t seemed to help him to hold
it. And then he looked at her and spoke,
keeping his eyes fixed on her.
MY SIM" he said, 'dates from the very
first day l saw you, Winnie, when I
saved your life. Oh, Winnie the deed
that you all eulogized as the deed of
hero was in truth the despairing deed OF
despicable coward. Try TO see that |
am nothing but coward, Winnie. No
hero-ah no, not even as brave as an or
binary man. 1t was fear-sheer, blind
fear-not courage, that made me lose my
head and spring down after you that day.
They had been pressing against me so; it
was with no thought OF you, but only
that L grew SO desperately frightened for
myself that [ lost all self-controI. l had
no intention of springing down when l
did it. l scarcely know that | had done