The Redwood gazette., 1893-08-03

purpose Of ngnaling. Tie tall aaeDtslfa
BY the .breakWater light were strung
from top to toe with 6ags and pennantS
Of curious pattern. while every pilotboat
displayed both the American tlag and
the great blue Jack" Of the pilot Aeet
at the mainmast head and had her hal
yards strung with gaudy bunting. The
girl gasped rs she looked ont. Some
great event was being celebrated, and
for her there. Was only ono event, Il
run. Ar1a: gee what il is. !" she cried
family. sinliny back in her chair. It
was the first time she had shown 3 sign
of interest ia anything since John Trux-
i'll had come to her a. a messenger Of
evilEtidings.
y Once more she saw TruxiN coming
up the street, with the wind at his back
But this timo he did not hold back against
it's pressure He seemed to long for
winged feet. As he saw Anna come to
the door he waved his hat and shouted
He did not think that Nell might be look
ing. nor. in truth: if he had known. could
he have easily restrained himself. As he
came within hearing distance his pent
up exultation carried him away.
We've fotnd MaErice Hurrahr' he
shouted Where's Eeliy She heard
him through the open door: she sprang
to her feet as if electrified. and in a mo-
ment had showed her sister aside.
What is thatY' she cried. There was
the torture Of uncertainty and anxiety
in her voice. She had surely heard Alright,
but it seemed impossible to believe the
news all at once.
Maurice is found! Picked up at sea
after four days. The steamer that found
him brought him into breakwater last
night, and they are bringing him home.
I hurried ahead to tell you the good
news"
AS he was speaking young Jim ap-
peared at Nell's side. coming from no one
knew where. sa"Hurrahr' he shouted
with wild yell. finging up his arms a,
beginning war dance for joy. Nell
caught the infection.
''Hurrahr' she cried too. She seized tie
cap from her brothers head and flung it
high in the air. ''Hurrah for our sid,r'
The old minister was approaching TIE
house. She had learned from him the
same prayers he had taught her mother
30 years before her.
"Ah, you can laugh nowr' said he. He
smiled as he spoke, but his eyes glistened:
perhaps the wind was too cutting.
''Yes, l can laugh now," echoed the
girl and proceeded to prove her asser-
tion by burst of hysterical tears. They
were soon over, however, and she turned
to Truxill, who had been an awkward
and helpless witness of her kaleido-
scopic changes.
Where are they taking him?" she de-
manded.
"Ho1ne. of course"
He stared at her blankly. Was she
losing her mind? He had heard of such
things. In moment she undeceived
him.
Bring him herer
He had no longer doubt of her san
ity. but for the moment alnazement de-
prived him of speech.
"Don't-you understand" impatiently.
Bring him here" Napoleon in battle
could not have been more peremptory.
''She is right" said the old minister
aside to Truxill. ''It is fitting place,
and no one could care for the motherless
lad as she will. She will bring him
through if it is possible"
Nell did not hear him. but Truxill
shivered at the word.
''Tell them to hurry" exclaimed the
girl impatiently. She hastened into the
house to make whatever slight prepara-
ton was necessary.
They bore him toward the house. She
could not endure to see him carried in so
like a dead man. Tell me when they
have left hir"," she whispered to her sis
ter, and then crept up to her room and
sat shivering with shut eyes and fast
stopped ears. Her ,impatience would
carry her away if she allowed herself to
know when tney brought him in.
They bore him into the house: it was
done at last. Anna called her sister.
now suddenly faint and weak.
Grave men stood outside the door dis
cussing the pilots chance of life or death.
They were silent as she approached and
stood aside reverently with bowed heads
and averted faces as she passed them.
There was no reason why she should not
see him alone: they had done for him all
that human skill could do for the pres
ent. Coming from the light into the
darkened room for b moment, she was
blinded. but her eyes straightway sought
the place where she knew the bed should
stand.
Oh. Godl Is that her lover?
She sees great bundle Of white band
ages lying motionless upon the bed, with
huge, shapeless mass projecting like
club on either side. These are his arms.
The poor, frozen hands are not to be dis
tinguished, they are so closely wrapped,
but their size is immense. On the pillow,
lies what must be his head. also closely
wrapped, save where at rare invervals
there is visible patch Of crimson skin,
disfgured further by dull, purple
blotches. Is that awful thing her lover?
She remembered her last words to him
only week ago. She bit her lips fiercely
<o roe%roiv, a c,vf For tho yro,,oonf she