Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-03-15
SHE WAS A HEROINE,

ACAt AlC dDOub IL, " uCl6 Jerry.
He was character in his quiet way
the skipper par excellence of the little
seaport of L.
We were great friends, he and 1, and
many long summer day had l spent
beside the bent old frame, watching
his rough fingers mend nets or sails with
the deftness 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. I found him greatly changed on
my return after six years absence.
This afternoon, for the first time, he
betrayed willingness to confde in me.
1T were nigh five years ago-the year
before the hotel was built. The cove
was crowded. 1t seemed like we all bad
morn we could make comfortable, and
the boarders was crowded inter old Miss
Hollis in way that did seem wonder
full when we heerd how they lived in
their big city homes. he'd jest bought
new sailboat, 80 footer an a reg
lar goer. calculated ter make heap
out O. pleasure parties an sech-an |
did. TUX the same crowd pretty reg'-
lar, an in time l got to know 'em well.
IL Idgbeey yYess. s..g as nice lot . Of young things
carelesslike, an they didn allays think.
"The sailin bothered me. They was
all over the boat at once, an nothin
would do but must larn 'em to sail.
II grew powerful fond of 'em all,
but there was one little girl l tux spe
cial shine to. She wasn't very strong
l heerd tell she was jest gettin over a
fever. She had sickly look, but you
could see she'd been bonny.
Il 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 CROWN. AS l said,
she warn't very strong, an when they
all got to larkjn it seemed like she
couldn't stand it, for she'd leave the
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
your
Gradually the rest of 'em kinder for
got her, an by an by she'd come right
away from the start. an got SO used to
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, an when l saw she meant it l
showed her one thing and another. an
somehow she never forgot what l told
her. An one day she says to me, I'm
Gle jerry, believe l could sail boat
as well as any one If were only strong
err Bless her heartl I'd have trusted
her .sooner'n any young feller in the
party if she'd had little more muscle
in her arm.
There was young feller in the par
ty named Grey. He was a likely chap,
about 90, / reckon. He had lots of mon
ey, an l heerd from some Of the ladies'
gals that he used to be a 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 Julie 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 voice like steam whis-
tie. There warn't nothin she couldn I
do except keep still, an bein Mr.. Hugh
was always doin himself they spent
most of their time together.
Miss May used to watch 'em with
that heart breakin look ON her dear face.
It 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 a nice, stiff breeze begun to come
in from the sea. Well, l 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 the day, an nothin would dc
but must take 'em sailin.
IT wouldn't have gone, but just al
the last minute little Miss May came
up an tux my old brown fist in her two
little white paws, an sez she: Oh, Un
Gle Jerry, do gol I'm goin home to
morrow, an | want one more sail, al
this is my last chance.
| 1.-THE tide was Tunnin out, an the
wind was due east, which made the
white caps fly, but put in tack ant
started for the mouth of the bay. Jus
about the time we got out from undel
the cliffs the squall struck us, an | saw
py mistake. The Foam heeled over til
| her storm deck was two feet under " ater
! threw her head up into the wind, bu
as she came around cross sea stiucl
her bow, an when | looked for Tom t
take in sail Tom was gone. Well,
didn' dare te71 them young things wha
had happened. / looked at little Mis-
| May, an there she sat, her head ON he
knees, her two little hands over her fac
| somehow she'd never looked SO smal
before. Just then she raised her head
thought she'd gone clean out of he
mind with fear, but it was nothin Z
the kind, for the next moment she says
still jokin like: The idea Of Toms bt