Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-12
SHE WAS A HEROINE.

"Tell me about it, Uncle jerry"
He was character in his quiet way
the skipper par excellence of the little
seaport of L..
We were great friends, he and l, and
many a long summer day had I 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. 1 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 in way that did seem wonder
full when we heerd how they lived in
their big city homes. / he'd jest bought
new sailboat, so footer an req
lar goer. calculated ter make heap
out O. pleasure parties an sech-an !
did. TUX the same crowd pretty reg
lar, an in time 1 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.
"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 WASH t very strong
| heerd 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 CROWN. 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
come an say SO gentlelike, Uncle Jer-
ry, do you mind If stay here with
you?'
"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 saw she meant it
showed her one thing and another, an
somehow she never forgot what l told
her. An one day she says to me, Un-
Gle jerry, believe could sail boat
as well as any one if / were only strong
err Bless her heart! I'd have trusted
her sooner'n any young feller in the
| party il she'd had little more muscle
in her arm.
"There was a young feller in the par
| ty named Grey. He was likely chap,
about 20, reckon. He had lots of mon
ey, an heerd from some of the ladies'
gals that he 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 7
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.
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 sail for my catboat,
when heerd the crowd a-comin. I al
ways knew em by Miss jules voice.
I most generally could hear that by the
time they left Miss Holt's door. They
hal 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 an TUX my old brown fist in her two
little white paws, an sez she: oh, I'm
Gle Jerry, do go! I'm goin home to-
morrow, an / want one more sail, an
this is my last chance"
"The tide was runnin out, an the
wind was due east, which made the
white caps fly, but I put in 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 heeled over till
her storm deck was two feet under WAFER.
| threw her head up into the wind, bu'
as she came around cross sea struck
her bow, an when / looked for Tom te
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 on hel
knees, her two little hands over her fact
somehow she'd never looked SO small
before. Just then she raised her head