Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-07

side tho dil1es, merged into n st
 sandy beach and were finally lost in the
 blue sea. They owed their existence to
 the sea, and were the most valuable
 possession of those islanders who were
 farmers, rather than seamen, and
 whose wealth lay in the herds that
 thrived upon them. Only now and then,
 when old ocean, jealous of his domin-
 ion. strove in wild rage t6 reclaim his
 own, were the herds endangered.
 It was a ghastly day, sultry and op-
 pressive in spite of the lateness of the
 season. The sun lurked behind a
 brazen curtain unable to pierce its sul- phurous density, while the wind shift ed uneasily from point to point. The
 herdsmen had great trouble with thelr cattle; usually so docile, they now
 became quite manageable; they bel lowed and plunged as if thunderstorm were brewing, and more than one usually quiet animal had to be rescued from the miry pools in which the mead ows abounded.
 Marya need not wait till twilight to get her water, for Karl was in Ham burg, and, for time, she must sadly miss his wooing. She could not help loving him, for in the first hour of their love he had told her that through her he had become a better man, and re- pented the wild life that had brought bitter heart-sorrow to one maiden and her family. The thought that she can make n mans life better is the surest snare for woman's heart. Karl did not bear the best reputation, and for that reason Marya had kept their love affairs secret, till-yes, till they could be married; when that was to be re- mained quite undecided, for Karl had Jokingly evaded that point. Now, hay ing betrayed her secret to the hated Hans Frerik, the young woman was well-nigh exhausted with impotent rage at herself and an intense longing for her lover.
 Many women and maidens like Ma rya had gathered at monday around the fountain that so freely dispensed its sweet waters for all, aud the GUS tomary gossip ensued. Each burned with an eager desire to question 'The Stranger herself about the unprece- dented occurrence of the day before, and then to judge her accordingly.
 'He kissed her r-"
 Anu She slapped nln-
 "She acted like an enraged wildcat, and if he had not quickly closed the door, a piece of burning turf would have been hurled at his head"
 "He has gone away in anger, and should he not return, should evil come to him, The Stranger will be to blame"
 "That Is what comes of an alien fore ing herself among sensible people,"
 The chatter ceased as Marya ap- preached, but she had heard enough to bring tears of anger to her eyes. After filling her pails, she withdrew without a word, the wave of gossip rising doubly high behind her.
 So Hans FrcrilI had talked about it; perhaps he had also talked about Karl and her.
 Unfortunately Marya did not know that during her interview with Hans, Jan, her grandfather's assistant, had passed the kitchen door on his way up to the lantern, rejoicing greatly over the interesting bit of news he had thus gathered for the people.
 Peter Eilt did not depend entirely upon this assistant. At night, his four hours of quiet sleep were often broken by anxiety about his light;,during the day, he dispensed with Jams services, for then his own falcon eye swept land and sea, ready to discern any signs of distress. To-day the old man kept closer watch than usual, for it was the time of the new moon and there were ominous signs in the air.
 Toward evening, when the islanders had relapscd into careless indifference. a heavy black wall of clouds appeared on the western sea line, climbed the heavens with the rapidity of the wind, and, borne on the wings of storm, closed over the island so quickly that Peter Eilt could not send warning from his high watch tower in time to insure the safety of the herds on the sea mead Ows. The storm descended with dark ness and flood; now, when the light of day should reign, the low-hanging of cloud spread midnight dark ness over the frightened creatures In wild fury the flood rushed on: over the sands rolled scc:hing waves. whilh, lowering crest over crest. advanced far ther and farther upon the shore
 The storm had surprised the herds 'AASA dLSl @hSI. lSItlS El,lic tn:tn the watcher upon the towrr; the prals of with which 1t broke, put the cattle in state of wild confession In stead of seeking safety within the dykes. part of them rushed toward the roaring food, the remainder plunging hither and thithcr ill dazcd bewildcr- ment. The brave herdsmcn risllcd their own lives in their endcavors to save the endangered herds. Some of the cattle fell into miry pools, and as the men at- tempted their rescue, they, too, sank in the slimy ooze, the raging sea coming ever nearer and nearer.
 Suddenly the light flashed out from the lighthouse. The excitement on the shore increased; all rushed to the aid of the herdsmen who were battling val lantly with the destructive clements. Numbers of the cattle that had fled to the higher places for safety were swept away by the rcsistless waves, their aeath-cry lost in the roar of the sea. One of the hcrdsmen, who had dcsper4