The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-29

! had time TO look around, for the tller
was lashed fast-no man could hold il
| in sea like that-an' / can remember
Miss May as plain as if it was yester-
day.
They told me afterward that her
| grandfather was q famous sea-captain
| that went down standin' on the bridge
of his ship; and l guess she took after
him an it come to the top when it was
| wanted, cause she was as cool as a
cowcumber. As fast as the others got
scared, she grew quiet; an her voice,
that was so soft and gentle when she
used to sit beside me, rang like bell as
she told 'em what to do. 1t seemed
queer to see her standin' there among
them great girls that had laughed at
her cause she couldn't keep up to 'cm,
an they cryin' an screamin'-an' the
men warn't much better.
Death amt pleasant thing to face,
especially on the water I've had lots
of narrer escapes in my time, an seen
lots of wrecks, an for one man what II
meet it brave, twenty IL act like ours.
You see you can't do anything but wait
for the end, an to plow through
ragin' sea with nothin' before one but
the certainty o bein' pitched into the
boilin' fury-is hard u takes the
nerve out err one. Drownln's hard, but
/ reckon the waitin' for it's harder |
didn't like it myself, an | didn't blame
them poor young things-but couldn't
keep my eyes off Miss May.
'Shc was wet to the skin now, stand
in pretty well forward, as she was.
every wave that come aboard splas he'd
over her.
"The wind or somethin' had brought
the color to her checks, an every now
an then she'd take her cap off an shake
the water from her hair. She seemed
to grow taller, too, an her voice. which
the wind brought bacl, to me, sounded
for all the world like the last echo o
the fog-bcll t'other side the bar.
1--WE were gettin' on now. With that
wind at our backs an the racin' cut OF
tho Foam we couldn't nslp y, We
were in past the lighthouse. an begun
to think we'd weather ii. Jest then
there was report like a pistol, an
went heelin' to leeward with my arm
in flinders. I remember thinltiD' that
was the end o. things, an then |
tainted"
Uncle Jerry drew out a gorgeous red
cotton handkerchief and mopped his
brow. from which the perspiratiou was
rolling in streams; then he continued:
When | come to. there was Miss
May and Mr.. Hugh boldin' the tiiler
with all their might The derned rope
had used TO lash the handle had
broke. They told me aftcrward that
when it happened Mr.. Hugh and Miss |
May sprang to it. an between EN- they |
managed 10 keep her head before the |
wind.
My arm was painin' ne Just awful, |
but managed 70 put my well shoulder
10 the wheel. 50 To speak, an found |
could help considerable The rope had !
got pushed about the painter Of The
jory an was trailIa' in the water be-
hind.
THE girls had kinder walked up, all |
out Miss Julie. She couldn't seem 20 /
yet over her fear. bat sa, there white
y ghost with her teeth chatte-in'
Miss May looked at her minute. then
he got up an went over 20 her. ]
never knew. bat thiniin' Of u after
ward. il seemed 20 ne she must have
eit sonethin of what was comm.
Miss May stood there 50 sweet an
ender. an ri she:
- 'Sever niud. Julie. dear, the rvors.
afelv an. be harry Then suddea-Hke
ne stopped an kissed Miss julie, an
ONE back 70 Nr- Hugh an me
Il think Hr. Hugh's eyes begun 20 be
.pered then. for he gave her the queer
- lo9i. She met his eyes. Al for .
moment her bright ncvv color went
way; then she turned % rzs an sslG:
Poor Uncle jerry Hugh, hclp Ine -