Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-03-09

q few days after Stephens illness,
but his presence so Infatuated the
sick man that he could not go near
him, and Nancy had only such help
as the neighbers could give. OF
this she accepted but little. for she
did not wish strangers to hear
Steve's raving. The tenth day
Steve seemed better, and when night
closed in he slept calmly, and Nancy
sat down by the cradle and also fell
asleep. She was very tired and
slept soundly, till blast of cold
air in her face aroused her. She
started up. The cottage door stood
wide open, and the damp night
wind was blowing in. Her first
thought was Stephen. She looked
at the bed. He was gone. Half
stupid with fright, she then turned
to the cradle. Great God! 1t was
empty! She stood a moment
frozen with horror, and then with
the cry Of q wounded panther, she
rushed ont of the cottage. It took
but few minutes to rouse the.
neighbors for n search. The iecid-'
ed to 60 to the beach first; and they
were right, for they had gone but
short distance when they saw some
thing white lying in the path. Ii
was the baby's blanket. Nancy
seized it and Rugged it to her heart.
and they hurried on. They reached
the spot where the boats lay. Steve's
was gone; but he had not taken it
to the water. A deep furrow in the
sand showed that he had dragged it
up the beach. This they followed
till it was opposite the old hull that
still lay on the bar, and there it dis
appeared in the sea. There was a
full moon in the heavens, but the
thick clouds so shrouded it that it
gave but faint light, and the little
group vainly strained their eyes to
discover the boat that could not he
far of. Suddenly the clouds parted
and the moon came out, casting a
broad stream of silver over the sea,
and in the middle of it, poised on
the top Of a wave, they saw the
boat! A shout went up. Another
boat was run to the water. and four
strong arms were ready to launch
it. when Nancy sprang in.
Let me go, men, she pleaded.
i won't be in yer way, and it's my
man and baby, yer know!
She crouched down in the bow,
aud the next moment they were
bounding over the waves. On, o,
the went. Those four strong arms
must snrely gain on the two weak
ones; Blu. Steve was doing good
work. Tn" clouds were scattering.
and the moon shone out steadily.
Bnt "a few lengths now law between
the boats.
Call to him. Nance said one of
the men. He hint seed us yit.'
| Nancy rose aud called
Steve! Steve.
He heard her and turned his
head. He held his oa.s a moment
and then, with wild laugh. he
bent them again, and the boat shot
up to the side of the wreck. He
dropped the oars, and catching the
babe from the bottom Of the boat.
seized the rope ladder that hung
over the side of the ship, and began
to climb up. A piteous cry from
the babe smote their ears.
Nancy flung out her arms and
groaned.
ooh, men, for Gods sake, pull
hard" she cried.
But the oars hung motionless in
the air, and Nancy's arms stiffened
in their outward stretch. There,
on the outward side of the wreck.
rose from the water the form of a
woman; long, dripping robes hung
about her, and a mass of dark hair
fell over hei shoulders. One arm
tightly clasped a babe to her breast.
The other was stretched out to
Stephen. A moment she stood
there; then terrible shrek rang
through the air, and the figure.
Stephen, and the babe we're gone!
And witha despairing echo Nancy
fell to the bottom Of the boat.
AS soon US the men could shake
on their horror they pulled slowly
back to the shore. Nancy was lifted
tenderly from the boat aud restored
to life. But the terrible agony had
done its work. Her reason was
gone, and, although she lived many
years after, a ray of light was never