Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-03-09
SHE WAS A HEROINE.

We were great friends, he and |, and
many long summer day had spent
beside the bent old frame, watching
his rough fingers mend nets or sails with
the dizziness grown from long practice
and listening to his tales with keen en-
joyment.
But there was one incident of his life
on which he never touched, nor could
any amount of coaxing induce him to
approach it.
II had happened while 1 was in Eur
rope. l found him greatly changed on
my return after six years absence.
This afternoon, for the first time, he
betrayed a willingness to confide in me.
1t were nigh five years ago-the year
before the hotel was built. The cove
was crowded. 1t seemed like we all had
MORN we could make comfortable, and
the bcarders was crowded inter old Miss
Hollis in way that did seem wonder
ful when we heerd how they lived in
their big city homes. he'd jest bought
lew GC11 ~ lOOlCl ILL q 1CS
lar goer. calculated ter make a heap
out O pleasure parties an sech-an !
did. I tux the same crowd pretty reg
lar. an in time got to know 'em well.
They was as nice lot of young things
as ever came in my path, but they was
carelesslike, an they didn t allays think.
1.-The sailin bothered me. They was
Ill a.
would do but l must larn 'em to sail.
II grew powerful fond of 'em all,
but there was one little girl tux spe-
cial shine to. She WASH t very strong
| herd tell she was jest gettin over a
fever. She had sickly look, but you
could see she'd been bonny.
II remember trick she had of takin
off her cap an lettin the wind blow her
short hair. an if the day was damp it
would curl up tight, an she'd run her
fingers through it an pull it out straight
to see how it was GROWN. AS said,
she warn't very strong, an when they
all got to larkin it seemed like she
rest. an with her little polite bow she'd
come an say SO gentlelike. Uncle Jer-
ry. do you mind if l stay here with
you?
Gradually the rest of 'em kinder for
got her, al by an by she'd come right
away from the start. an got SO used to
havln her there at my right hand that
when she staid home | felt real lone
some. She begged me to larn her how
to steer, an when saw she meant it
showed her one thing and another. an
somehow she never forgot what told
her. An one day she says to me, I'm
Gle jerry. believe could sail boat
as we'll as any one if were only strong
er. Bless her heart! I'd have trusted
her sooner'n any young Teller in the
party if she'd had little more muscle
in her arm.
There was young Teller in the par
ty named Grey. He was likely chap,
about 90. reckon. He had lots of mon
ey, an | herd from some of the ladies'
gals that he used to be great friend o
Miss Mays before she was sick, but
he was a great sport, an after she begun
TO 60 about, an he found she couldn't
do things as he did, he jest naturally
slipped away from her and tux to goin
with Miss Julie Webb.
Miss Julie was mighty pretty, with
frowserly light hair, mouth big enough
to swallow a doughnut hull, an rows Of
teeth like pearls, heard Mr.. Grey
say. She had voice like steam whis-
tie. There warn't nothin she couldn't
do except keep still. an bein Mr.. Hugh
was always dom himself they spent
most of their time together.
Miss May used to watch 'em with
that heart breakin look on her dear face.
1t was the 10th of August. The month
had been very hot, and we hadn't had
any sailin breeze for four days. but that
mornin nice, stiff breeze begun to come
in from the sea. Well, was settin in
my door mendin a SAIL fer my catboat.
when herd the crowd a-comin. al
ways knew EN- by Miss Julie S voice.
most generally could hear that by the
time they left Miss Hollis door. They
ia a couple of city fellers down from
the city for the day. an nothin would do
but must take 'em sailin.
II wouldn't have gone, but Just at |
the last minute little Miss May came
up all tux my old brown fist in her two
little white paws, an SEE she: Oh, Un
Gle Jerry, do go! I'm goin home to-
morrow, ali | want one more sail, an
this is my last chance
The tide was Iunnin out. an the |
wind was due east. which made the |
white caps fly, but put in tack and |
started for the mouth of the bay. just |
about the time we got o;lt from under |
the cliffs the squaii struck us. an | SAW |
my mistake. The Foam heeie6i over till |
her storm deck was two feet under water |
| thu :. her head up into the wind. but
as she came around cross sea struck
her bow, an when | looked fer Tenn t.
take in sail Tom was gone. Well,
didn't dare tell them young things what
had happened. | looked at little Miss
May, an there she sat, her head Oh her
knees, her two little hands over her fac<
somehow she'd never looked so small
before. Just then she raised her head
| thought she'd gone clean out of her
mind with fear, but it was nothin OF
the kind, for the next moment she says,
still jokin like: The idea Of Tom S be-
in such a coward! Hugh, will you an
the boys git down the sail for the cap
tain? Toms below an can't do any
thing.
Then knew she knew, an that she
saw our danger as plain as l did. The
boys sprang for ard, but they hadn't
time to reef it. SO they jest cut it away
an tried 10 reef the jib instead. The
mast bent like a fshpole, all every min
nte thought to hear it crack.
IAN this time the water was comm
over the sides. an little Miss May stood
there up to her knees in it, coaxin those
great. healthy boys an girls, an scoldin
when she couldn't keep 'em quiet with
out it. Then, as this boys turned to
come aft, the city Teller lost his footin,
Ell over he went after Tom. Mr.. Hugh
an the ether Teller just looked at each
other. an staggered to their places, an
they ran into Miss May. She didn t give
'eni time to git more scarf. She Jest
handed EN- two buckets, and said. kind
er stern: Here, don't be towards. IF
we must die. let's die bravely, but in tbe