The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-02-01

knitting, and there was no chance for
sentiment.
By and by the girls began to count
Miss Milly's age and declare that she
really was an old maid, and the young
men with sparkling intentions went
elsewhere, and MiIly, looking in hel
glass, knew that she was altering that
her lips were not 50 bright, nor heI
cheeks 80 rosy, and that she was follow.
ing love like dream.
"B1t so" she thought, "than TO marry
another While my heart is still all his y
And then she would draw her broken
tenpence fro her bosom and kiss it
fondly.
1t was tarnished now, and the blue
ribbon faded and frsyed, bat the letter
] was as plain upon its worn surface as
ever.
The place where Milly lived was moi
far from the seaside, and from her win,
dow she could see many a gallant ship
as il lay at anchor. Knowing thst John
Turner was a slilo: gave her an interest
in these she might not else have had
and in times of storm the tempest tossed
mariners neverguessed how the pale lady
who had watched the sea until dark lay
upon her pillow praying for them.
She had qnarreled with John Turner
she had sent back his letters and hi:
ring-but she wore the tenpence he had
broken next her heart, now that ten
years were gone, and was kind to every
sailor.
The Sc; tember gales came on fercely
and suddenly one year, the eleventh oi
tue lovers separation. All along the At.
lantic coast old people still remember
what frightful year it was. Many a
brave vessel floaled wreck many
another was swallowed by the ravenous
mouths of the greedy waves. In the
little church the place was full of sobs
when in his Sabbath prayer the pastor
pleaded for the safety of those upon the
sea. And captains wives who dwelt
there and held their heads high at other
times humbled their pride and sat fol
hours in the cottages of the common sail
or's wives because they found comfort
there, and Polly had stout heart and
would declare that "her jack must come
home safe, and 'Lord love We, Mrs. Cap.
tain, I've heard him say many's the good
time there warn't no danger nowhere
with the captain aboard and such a
ships plank under 'em. Danger? Oh
course notv'
Bat with all the hopes and fears, and
despite the prayers, the Lord saw fit &c
lay heavy hand upon those who sailed
the sea that year. and at last, one awful
night, a ship went to pieces On the rocks
just below the lighthouse, and though
their own friends might be on board, and
many in the town went half wild with
agony, no help could be given until the
day broke. Then the storm having lull
ed little there seemed some hope fol
the few who yet cluDg TO the unhappy
vessel. Boats wens cat, and with ths
first load of benumbed wretches came
the news that the crew were all appa-
rentIy foreigners, at which more thar
one sank down upon the sand to thank
heaven. Yet they were none the lea
kind to the poor souls. They fed and
clothed them and opened their homes tC
them.
The inn nearest to the shore, known
as the Sailors Retreat, was transformed
into perfect hospital, and thither cam'
the charitable ladies of the village with
articles Of food and clothing for the des'
titute strangers and offers of such acts o
kindness as only women can ittingly
perform, MilIy Gray among them. Sh'
came just in time, for woman with wilC
black hair floating on the breezs STOOD
down upon the beach talking and ges
ticulating wildly, while a group of vel
iaientioned individuals stood around be
evidently as obvious of her meaning a
though she had spoken an unknowI
tongue.
There's Miss Gray" cried a sailor'
wife among the nunber "p'raps sk'
knows Dutch
The woman turned to Miily and be
gan:
@yous parlez vous Francais, madame {?
'She is French" said Milly. Il thinl
l shall be able to understand her"
Then the wild eyeed woman began he
tale:
There was still another sufferer upol
the wreck sailor who had been III
She was sure Of il All had forgoitel
hin, and he had been so good to them
so kind to her little E.telle, 50 pitiful o
the poor blbe who died aud was burie'
in tue sea. 1t was cruel to desert him
Madame would influence the gentlemen
they would send boats to his s1ecOr. ii
was countrymau Of madams's osr
In an hour i, might be too late, for sc
the poor ship and the awful waves. Al
the saints in heaven would petition Go
10 bless madame if she would interced
for her poor countryman."
Milly needed no persuading, and a
soon as the womsn's meaning was III
derstood boat was manned and left tn
shore for the wrecked vessel. There, ly
ing insensible in sheltered spot OF tn
deck, they found in truth mana tai
broad shouldered sailor, withan immens
black beard falling over his bosom an
his face pale as though he had been
corpse.
Tney brought him 10 the seaside tay
ern and laid MIN in an upper chambs
and stood around him looking at ii
solemn sight of life 50 very near the verq
OF death.
All was done that could be, bat still b
quivered in the balance, and when th
sun went down was lying just as pale an
senseless upon his pallet as when the
took him from the wreck.
There were others who were almost a
bad as he, and some must watch wit
them all night.
Among them was Milly.
The long room where many tin
squeaking fiddle and clatte-ing plan
had set merry folks a-dsncing looked Lib
! . h,>-r;,oi -,o,,, vri,b n row ,,f hads adow