The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-08-03

His story was soon told. It needed few
words to place the whole scene like
picture before the eyes Of each ono OF
them. The old man broke down COM
pletely and wept as his daughter might
have done. He had come to feel toward
Maurice as to his own son. His own
eldest boy, pilot also. had gone adrift
during short summer squall. The skiH
was picked up weeks afterward hundred
miles at sea empty What chance was
there, then. FOR this other boy, gone in the
same way in the midst of winter storm?
Under the infection Of their misery even
Truxill's endurance gave way at last.
The old man checked his grief sud-
denly.
'Where's Nell?'' he queried.
''She's gone up to her room, sobbed
her sister without raising her tear
stained face. II heard her lock the door.
''Some one must look after her" COM
manded her father, and Anna went slow
~ up the narrow stairs. As she expected.
the door was fast.
'aKhat do you wanty cried voice
from within in answer to her knock. It
was hard voice. cold voice, without
q quiver suggestive of tears. At any other
time or place she would not have be-
lieved it Nell's
''Can | do anything for you. Nell?'
Grief was new thing to the girl. She
wanted to comfort her sister, if only
some one would tell her what to do or
say, but youth and inexperience were
against her. The mother who had died
at Jims birth could have told her. It was
just before that that the other son had
gone down into the sea.
mo. Go away and keep the rest
away" The coldness of the tone sent a
chill to Anna's heart. She crept down
the stairs like a frightened child. "She
won't let me in and wants us all to keep
away" she whispered to the expectant
group.
do you think she has been cryingr
inquired Truxill. turning deep GRIM
son. 1t was an awkward question to ask,
but he remembered the girls stony face
as she had turned from him.
mo. I'm sure she hadn't. Her voice
didn't sound that way.
They gazed at one another doubtfully.
The old pilot seemed incapable Of taking
the lead. Anna was too young to know.
BEST let her alone for awhile" said
Truxill after pause. Tomorrow, if she
doesn't cry"-he misunderstanding
will have to be done." he concluded
lamely.
Obedient to her wish. no one went near
her room that day. On the morrow,
fearing they knew not what. since she
did not answer to their knocking, they
broke open the door and found her lying.
white, half frozen heap, upon the floor,
When she recovered. there was that in
her face that forbade them to speak Of
what lay nearest their hearts. She ate
and drank as usual. but spent the whole
time wandering about the house, unrest
ing. Every hour she went to the gate
and looked up the street expectantly.
Friends passed by, and with faces half
averted greeted her with words meant
to comfort. She never seemed to hear
them. Once-it was on the morning of
the third day after Maurice was lost
SIlc WAIKIKI lOWu W LI0 Uct1Cu, t1l0 ldltu-
ful Jim following at a distance. a..d
gazed long and wistfully out to sea.
Great waves dashed fiercely against the
massive rocks of the breakwater and
sent the spray flying over the low light
house. She could see others, coming
from afar out. pass through the gap and
pass on. each one in hot chase of an
other. to break at her feet with hun
cry roar.
One sail was visible far ont in the bay,
the blue ensign displayed at its peak. It
was the ''takeof boat waiting to receive
the pilots coming home from up the
river. Coming home! She knew well
why none OF the other boats of the pilot
feet were in sight, even beyond the cape.
She turned back. with convulsive shud-
ders rending her, and went to her own
room. locking the door.