People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-11-24
[CHAPTER Ill.-CoNTINUED.l |

"a NoAAAh w eAoN 'NAAf oANNA WIZ
people got ashore, and those that was
drowned laid out in Seth GLASS; fish
house, some of us come along the shore
to see how Luke was gettin' on at the
light. The sea-wall was broke up con-
siderable by the seas in the night, and
we were standin' lookin' at it, when
some one see the wreck driftin' in. 1t
was a bark, and she was waterlogged
and staggerin' in the seas as if
they couldn't keep her head to the
wind. Then she seemed to keel over
broadside to the seas, and she struck
on the shoals, for it was most low
tide. We give word to Luke, and he
hung out red table cloth from top of
the light to rouse the folks, and we
ran back to get boat l was among
the first to reach the wharf and help
launch a wharf-boat, but, Lori it
wasn't any use. 1t seemed to blow
harder, than ever, and tween the
squalls we see that the folks on board
had got out boat and was tryin' TO
come ashore. They didn't get far; for,
when big wave hid the boat from
sight, we never saw it again. Then,
just as we were debatin' whether
we'd better risk it to get out to the
ship, another boat was put off from
under her lee. 1t wasn't no use. 1t
never come ashore"
"Not a soul escaped?"
Just one The seas were a-fyin' in
clouds over her, and it was almost
dark. That night it shifted to the
west'ard and blew a gale, and the next
day was as calm and pretty day as
ever you see. We didn't go to bed that
night, and bout daylight me and Tom
Larkin and Jack Hathaway and one or
two others rowed out to the wreck.
1t was most gone to pieces. Only
the aft part was standin' anyway
whole, and we climbed up into it. l
was the first on the deck, though it
was fast fallin' in. The cabin door
was shut, but kicked it open, and
there in berth in the cabin was you,
-alone,-a little girl not big enough
to speak. 1t was me found you, and
the boys agreed you naturally belonged
to me-"
The girl came nearer TO him and
kissed him again.
"Dear fatherr'
at was strange you lived through
that night. Mebby you were too young
to be frightened. 1t made a great
time bringin' strange baby ashore
from a wreck. Mother had lost her
boy, 'cept Sam, more'n six months,
and when put you in her arms she
hearted right up and said you should
be her baby"
"And you never learned the name of
the ship, nor where she came from"
mo. The boats came ashore COM
pletely smashed to pieces, and not a
soul was left to tell thing except
you and you were a baby. The
excitement O fndin' you made us
forget everything. We rowed right
ashore, lest you should die before we
could get you to mother. Nobody
thought of anything 'cept the girl
baby found in the cabin. Folks came
for miles to see you and to see where
the ship sunk. 1t wasn't more than
an hour after we took you away when
the wreck Just quietly broke up and
sunk. Not trace of a paper or a
name was found"
Except the broken name board"
Eyes. That was all. 1t was found
by Caleb Be tess boys more'n month
after, wedged in the rocks on the shore.
Just piece of broken board with three
letters carved on it. Eve got it now
somewhere. Nothing on it but three
letters, NJ and a A and Mai; the
name l gave you"
For few moments not word was
said. She had heard the story many
times before. Never before had it
made such an impression on her. But
for this old man she was without
name or parents. Who was she? Where
was she born? And where was her
father-her mother? We're they living?
She could not think that her mother
could have been in the ship. She
would not have abandoned her. She
would have stayed on the wreck to die
with her. Then the ships captain
dead and silent forever-was he her
father? She could not think that. He
would not have left her on the wreck
to die alone, even if only an infant.
At least he must have known her
mother or something about her. And
ne was dead-like the poor unknown
ship with the broken name-silent for
ever.
Now she was to take with love a new
name. Could she take it? Yes. Love
accepts love masking, unthinking.
Yet
The old man seemed to guess her
thoughts.
Haven't / been a good father N
you, Map"
1.-THE best,-the best that could he
But father, did you never make search
for any ship with a name having those
three letters?"
She had never thought of this uues-
ton before in all her life. Her girl
hood had been so peaceful and happy
1t had never come into her heart to
think Of it She was his daughter by
the adoption of love and care. She
had never thought to ask more.