Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

But Therese was an independent 1t
tie thing and she would not stand th;tt.
SO they had their quarrel and Otto said
more until she was sorry that she had
talked so to him.
He meant to punish her. 1t was only
the other side of his patronizing. The
reese said very well, and that was the
reason she sat on the doorstep wishing
that she could die.
Perhaps the worst thing that he did
was when he told Eleanor about al
this. She listened to him Just little
started. and then she laughed and pre-
tended to give him good advice, while
all the time he knew by her tone that
she was laughing at him and his story.
That made him desperately hard on
Therese, for singularly enough he be
gan to think that she had done a mon
strously clever thing in getting him to
fall in love with her.
He talked about himself TO Eleanor a
good deal more than ever that evening.
and when he went home he was we'll
started toward being very disagree
able young man.
Otto had done enough certainly to de-
serve to lose his sweetheart altogether,
and no doubt that is what would have
been if something had not happened
that brought him to his senses. Fortrl-
nately, however something did happen.
There came a great storm one night.
r1onFr1iir1r yx-hn-1 tho alnIJ9S
began to scatter and the waves began
to subside the people on the shore saw
that during the night q huge coasting
vessel had drifted upon the sandbar.
She was caught there fast enough,
but it did not appear that she had stuff
cred any serious damage.
When it grew calm enough the cap
tain of the vessel sent a boat ashore
and offered large pay to men that
would come out and help throw enough
OF the cargo overheard to tighten the
ship and release her from the bar.
There were plenty who were willing
to go. They went out that Gay, and
returned at night to their homes.
There was another days work before
them. Then it was hoped the vessel
would float clear of the bar.
Therese's father was one of the men
that went out to do the work, and on
this second moring Therese wanted to
go out with him. There was room in
the boat and it was quite calm, so there
did not seem any reason why she
should not 60. Her father took her
quite willingly.
Otto did not 60. Under ordinary cir
he would have been one
of the first to undertake the work, but
the change that had come over him ex-
tended to his habits of industry as
well us to other things.
Late in the morning of the second
day Eleanor came down to the shore,
and Otto, seeing her from a distance,
Joined her there.
Il want to go out thereto the ship
said Miss Southland.
Otto looked at the sky and shook his
head.
Il don't like the looks of things" lie
said. Il wish SO many of our people
We're not out there already"
Eleanor laughed mockingly. $50 you
are afraid" she said II thought that
belonged to women; but II am not
afraid"
You do not know the signs" ventur-
ed Otto.
Never mind the signs. I want to
go out there. Have you a boat?"
Otto bowed.
Then you will take me, will you
not?" Her tone had lost its hooking
ring and she was looking UP at him
dangerously.
He hesitated a moment and then
there came a laughing light again into
the great dark eyes Of the girl for she
saw that he had yielded.
wait for me here" he said, as he
started up the beach. IF you will go
of course / will take YOU
Presently he returned in his dory and
took her out to where his boat, clever
little sailing craft, was lying at anchor.
There was just enough breeze to
carry the boat at an easy speed. 1t
was a glorious day, but Otto looked
troubled. The little piece of bunting
at the head of his mast tapped I'M
steadily and the sea gulls were making
their way shoreward.
They had gone but a part of the dis
lance toward the great ship when dark
clouds began to pile UP above the hori-
zon.
Eleanor saw them and began to be
frightened.
There is going to be a storm" she
cried.
They reached the ship just as the
storm broke. Therese was standing
with her father, watching the approach
ing gale The work of tightening the
shin had been abandoned.
It was an awful moment, for the
wind began to blow perfect gale, and
the little craft was in danger every
moment of being dashed to pieces
against the larger one.
Otto managed to get up under the lee,
however, and then there was a panic
on board the ship, for there were twice
as many persons as the little boat
would hold, even if it could reach the
shore in that terrible storm.
Otto quickly pushed his boat as far
as he dared from the side Of the ship
and called for Therese and her father
II won't take one Of you," he shouted,
until they are in the boat
Not one Of the men and women on
that ship were lost that day, althogh
before the Sun set all that could be
seen of the great vessel was piece Of
broken spar held up gaunt and naked