Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-12
DEMOCRATIC NORTHWEST NAPOLEON O. July - 1894

~ II IL w LIN Il ~ 4-4 VII
] thought she'd gone clean out Of her
mind with fear, but il was nothin of
the kind. for the next moment she saws, t.
still jokin like: The idea of Toms be-
in such a cowardl 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
paw 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 TO reef the jib instead. The
mast bent like fishpole, an every min
ute | thought to hear it crack.
"All this time the water was comm
over the sides, an little Miss May stood
there up to her knees in 1t, coaxin those
great, healthy boys an girls, an scoldin
when she couldn't keep 'em quiet with
out it. Then, as the boys turned to
come aft, the city feller lost his footin,
an over he went after Tom. Mr.. Hugh
an the other feller just looked at each
other, an staggered TO their places, an
they ran into Miss May. She didn't give
'em time to git more scarf. She Jest
handed 'em two buckets, and said, kind
er stern: Here, don't be towards. If
we must die, let's die bravely, but in the
meantime-work.'
"They told me afterward that her
grandfather was a famous sea captain
that went down standin ON the bridge
of his ship, an guess she TUX after him,
an it come to the top when it was want
ed, cause she was cool as a cowcum-
ber. AS fast as the others got scared
she grew quiet, an her voice, that was
80 soft and gentle when she used to sit
beside me, rang like bell as she told
'em what to do. We were gettin on now.
With that wind at our backs an the rae
in cut of the Foam we couldn't help it.
We were in past the lighthouse, an be-
gun to think we'd weather it. Just then
there was a report like pistol, an
went heelin to leeward with my arm in
flinders. remember thinkin that was
the end O. things, an then / tainted.
when l come to, there was Miss
May and Mr.. Hugh holdin the tiller
with all Their might. The derned rope
l had used to lash the handle had broke.
My arm was painin me jest awful. but
managed to put my we'll shoulder to
the wheel, so to speak, an found l could
help considerable. The rope had got
pushed about the painter of the dory
an was trailin in the water behind.
The girls had kinder walked up, all but
Mis- Julie. She couldn't seem to get
over her fear, but sat there as white as
a ghost, with her teeth chatterin. l
think Mr.. Hugh's eyes begun to be open
ed then, for he gave Miss May the queer
est look. She met his eyes, an for mo-
ment her bright new color went away;
then she turned to me an said, so pitt
full: Poor Uncle Jerry! Hugh, help me
to lash the rudder again; Uncle Jerry
can't stand much more
II moved little over, an they both
reached for the rope. The next moment
Miss May gave horrid, groanin cry,
an Mr.. Hugh was in the water hold
in on by the, rope. Miss Mays face
was deathly pale, an she was all bent
over in the queerest way-tellin Mr..
Hugh to be patient. She didn't seem
able to move, an remember was sort
er cross at the idea of her givin out jest
when she was most needed. l called
one of the boys, an between us we got
Mr.. Hugh on board, Miss May all the
time leanin more an more over the side,
till | feared she'd be over too"
Uncle Jerry paused to control the
quiver in his old voice.
LAS we pulled Mr.. Hugh on loard
there was sudden jerk, an Miss May
went over. saw then what the trou-
BILE was. The rope that held the dory
was only partly out, an the sudden pull
Mr.. Hugh had given it had hauled it
tight, an drawn Miss Mays arms tight
across her chest. The pain must have
been awful, for when we found her both
arms were broken, an there was a great
dent across her chest where the breath
had been knocked out of her, almost.
She knew if she said anything Mr..
Hugh would let go, SO after that first
cry she never let sound pass her lips.
'Goodby, Uncle jerry she says.
Then she looked at Mr.. Hugh, an that
look has haunted me ever since, it was
so full of love! 'Goodby, Hugh. My
dear, dear Hugh, she said, an his name
as it left her lips was the last sound she
made. Then the water closed over, an
she never rose again"
Uncle J Try didn't care to conceal
the honest tears that rolled down his
cheeks, and something in my own eyes
blurred the sea from my vision. Nei-
ther spoke for minute; tnen said:
Did you say they found her?"
Uncle Jerry replied gruffiy:
II found her myself, after the storm,
lyin on bed of seaweed, that same
lovin look on her face. 1t closed the
season at Miss Hollis, an sold the Foam
for SEQ to get her out O. the bay, an l
hain't never took pleasure party since.
Guess won't paint any more terday." ="
And gathering up his brushes Uncle
Jerry left me abruptly and started
through the heavy sands for home, while
/ moved my seat out of reach of the in
coming tide and watched his STOPPING
figure till j. vanished in the door of his
cabin and meditated on what / had
heard. FRANK Leslie's Weekly.