The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-17
SHE WAS A HEROINE.


seaport of L..
We were great friends, he and 1, and |
many a long summer day had 1 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.
1t had happened while was in Eu-
rope. l found him greatly changed on
my return after a six years absence.
This afternoon, for the first time, he
betrayed 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 boarders was crowded inter old Miss
Hollis i'll Il way that did seem wonder
full when we heerd how they lived in
their big city homes. he'd Jest bought
new sailboat, a SO footer an reg
lar goer. l calculated ter make heap
out o. pleasure parties All sech-an
did. TUX the same crowd pretty reg
lar, an in time got to know 'em well.
They was rs nice IA lot of young things
as ever came in my path, but they was
carelesslike, an they didn't allays think
The sailin bothered me- They was
all over the boat at once, an nothn
would do but must larn 'em to SAIL
Il
but there was one little girl tux Il spe-
cial shine to. She WASH very strong
hcerd tell she was Jest gettin over
fever. She had sickly look, but you
could see she'd been bonny.
81 remember Il trick she had of tnkin
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
couldn't stand it, for she'd leave the
rest, an with her little polite bow she'd
como an say SO gentlelike. Uncle Jcr-
ry, do you mind If | stay here with
you?'
Gradually the rest of 'cm kinder for
got her. an by an by she'd come right
away FROM the start an | got so usedto
havin her there at my right hand that
when she staid home felt real lone
some. She begged me to larn her how
to steer, IN when | saw she meant it |
showed her one thing and another, IN
somehow she never forgot what | told
her. An one day she says to me- I'm
Gle jerry, | believe | could sail IA boat
as well as any one if were only strong
er.' Bless her heart! I'd have trusted
her soonern any young Teller in the
party If she "a had little more muscle
in her arm.
There was Young Teller III the par
ty named Grey. Ho was likely chap
about 20. | reckon. He had lots Of mon
ey, an hcerd from some Of the ladies
gals that ho used to be great friend O.
Miss Mays before she was sick, but
he was great sport, an after she begun
to go 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 Julio Webb
Miss Julie was mighty pretty. with
frowserly light hair, mouth big enough
to swallow doughnut hull an rows of
teeth like pearls, | heard Mr.. Grey
say. She had Il voice like Il steam whis-
tie. There warn't nothin she conldn't
do except keep still, an bcin Mr.. Hugh
was always doin himself they spent
most of their time together.
Miss May used to watch 'em with
that heart brcaliin 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 for my catboat.
when heerd the crowd a-comin. | al
ways knew 'em by Miss jules voice.
most generally could hear that by the
time they left Miss Hollis door. They
hal couple of city fellers down from
the city for tho day, an nothin would do
but must take 'em sailin.
II wouldn't have gone, but inst at
the last minute little Miss May came
up an TUX my old brown fist in her two
little white paws, an seq she: oh, I'm
Gle Jerry, do go! I'm goin home to-
morrow, an | want one more sail, au
this is my last chance"
1.-The tide was Iunnin out, an the
wind was due east, which made tho
white caps fly, but l put in a tack and
started for the mouth Of the bay Just
about the time we got out from under
the cliffs the squall struck us, an | saw
my mistake. The Foam hecled over till
her storm deck was two feet under water
threw her head up into the wind. but
as she camo around cross sea struck
her bow an whom ! JooI.o1 for Ton, 70