Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-02

nears o !"
"Oh, I'm moan mistaen-not me-"
answered the seaman, positively. II
seed him mysen L Grimsby not three
days back, an card it read out i
church--the second time o. akin 1t
were--last Sunday
Poor maid-poor maid! An her
waitin' for him here as patient an
lovin' as anybody could wish. All, them
men-them men"
While the frowsy old crone was
shaking her gray locks over the per-
hdy OF mankind she stole sidelong
look towards the window-bench,
against which Andrew Copley then a
weil-set-up young fellow of four-and-
twenty-was modify leaning.
"Ay, but he takes on badly wi t."
she said, jerking her head in
Andrews direction. I'm main sorry
for him, too. He al'ays were sweet
on her, We know, an do believe she'd
a had him if that man fro Grimsby
hadn' come this way WI his pert, weel-
favored face"
Further tattle was nipped short by
the appearance of the letter bag. In
all there must have been close on a
dozen letters-a goodly batch for Port
st. Bede. 1t was one of the last which
the postman held aslanr to catch the
light. Miss Kellett!' he called out
wheezily.
"Why, that mum be Hilda." ex-
claimed one of the bystanders. "She
isn't here. Yell haze to take 1t up the
hoose."
III save We the walk" said Andrew,
stepping forward. I'm boun' that way
an I'll see she gets it."
Don't tell her O the goings-on O.
that Grimsby chap" cried the fshwife
before mentioned. 9TH drive her
clean daft. Conscience sake, Audrey,
don't tell her that"
During the period we are dealing
with education at Port st. Bede was
at wofully low ebb. Not twenty
people in the whole thorp could write
their names or recognize them when
penned; few could read anything but
''print;" fewer still were able TO puz-
zle out written characters. Among
this community Andrew Copley was
reckoned Zine scholard;" and by
virtue of that reputation his services
were In frequent demand by those
who, having passing need of the
Farming CHANGED to be in the bad
books of the rector or the Wesleyan
minister.
He stuffed the letter into his Jacket
pocket long before he came abreast of
the cottage Rapping tattoo on the
door, he lifted the latch and-as was
the custom-walked straight in. A
slim, fair-haired girl peeped into the
room from side door. "Oh, it's you,
Andrew" she said, coming forward.
Andrew perched himself on the edge
of the nearest rush-bottomed chair
and fumbled hesitatingly with his cap
between his knees. 81 was down by
the 'Trawlers when the letters came, -
he said, after a strained interval.
There was one for We, Hilda, an I
made free to say I'd bring it. Here
it's"
For met and Hilda's eyes bright
ened as she stretched out her hand.
Then it's fro Ben, isn't it, Andrew"
ITS the Grimsby mark" replied
Andrew, softly.
Then it must be fro Ben. He said
he'd let me know as soon as the brig
got back to Grimsby. An how | trem-
bled for him all through that storm O.
Monday. But he's safe-this shows
he's safe, Andrew" A plaintive look
of alarm crept into her blue eyes as
Andrew, never answering, kept his
gaze clamped to the floor. This shows
he's safe!' she repeated, quaveringly.
I'll tell We straight out, Hilda. VIVA,
they were sayin' over at Morperland
yesterday. P'r'aps that letter may
contradict it all, but there was a deal
o nasty talk about the Vampire--a.
how she'd gone doom + the"
Read it to me-" cried Hilda, thrust
ing the missive into his hand. "Ye
knaw / can't mysen. Read it, An
drew!'
Taking firm grip of his lips, Andrew
opened the letter and glanced at the
signature. Its moan fro him." he
said. Its wrote by Peter Worsley
the skipper o the Vampire"
Not fro Benz exclaimed Hilda
t., tDti.T "Hb isn't-a, isn't
dead?"
Andrew nodded. ''Drowndedr' h.
murmured huslxiIy.
Catching at her throat, Hilda sanl
into chair and hid her face in hel
palms. Presently she looked up, hel
lips pallld, her eyelids scarlet II car
bear il now, Andrew" she said. "Reae
it all to me"
The caligraphy Of the Vampire
master must have been all but illegi
bic, judging from the difficulty An
drew. had in dociphering it. He reat
slowly, humming and having through
the whole epistle, Here is the gist o
1T. In the recent heavy gales, tn,
Vampire-a crazy, undermined tim
ber-ship--had sprung leak, her crew
oelng eventually compelled to aban
don the laundering vessel and take t,
the long boat Their parlous case
was little bettered thereby, for twic,
the boat had been capsized; when she
was righted the second time only fou
of the sailors succeeded in scramblins
into her OF the two men missing, tn,
mate. Ben Webb, was one. The sur
vivors were picked up on the follow
ing day aud landed at Grimsby.
was In fulfilment of pledge made a.
the outset of their peril, and IN fate
| full anticipation of it's outcome, tina,
Capt. Worsley now broke the sad new
to the dead mans sweetheart.
Even in the intensity of her grie
not cry escaped Hilda's lips. An
drew, the big, clumsy, soft-hearte,
Vomeral saw that no Svrnpathv ~ h;