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

ehought 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 TOMS be-
in such 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
saw our danger as plain as I did. The
boys sprang for'ard, but they hadn't
time to reef it, 80 they jest cut it away
an tried to reef the jib instead. The
mast bent like fishpole, an every min
ute l thought to hear it crack.
"All this time tho 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 the boys turned to
come aft, the city Teller lost his footin,
an over he went after Tom. Mr.. Hugh
an the other Teller just looked at each
other, an staggered to their places, an
they ran into Miss May. She didu It give
'em time to git more scarf. She Jest
handed 'em two buckets, and said, kind
- WILL 1lClC, 0OH UO COWdTuS.
we must die, let's die bravely, but in the
meantime-work.'
They told me afterward that her
grandfather was famous sea captain
that went down standin OH 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 cowcum-
Der. AS fast as the others got scared
sho grew quiet, an her voice, that was
so 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 Il report like pistol, an l
went hcelin to leeward with my arm in
flinders. remember thinkin that was
the end O. things, an then tainted.
when ] come to, there was Miss
May and Mr.. Hugh holdin the tiller
with all Their might. The derned rope
had used to lash the handle had broke.
My arm was painin me Jest awful. but
managed to put my well shoulder to
the wheel, so to speak, an found | 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
ghost, with her teeth chatterin. !
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 won't 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 stand much more
II moved Il little over, I'M they both
reached for the rope. The next moment
Miss May gave Il holrid, groanin cry,
an Mr.. Hugh WAS in the water hold
in on by the, rope. Miss Mays face
was deathly pale an sho was all bent
over in the queerest way-tellin Mr..
Hugh to he patient. She didn't seem
able to move, an remember was sort
er cross ut the idea of her givin ont Jest
when she was most needed. | called
one of the boys, an between us we got
Mr.. Hugh OH board, Miss May all the
time lcanim more an more over the side,
till feared she'd be over too
Uncle Jerry paused to control the
CULVER in his old voice.
AS we pulled Mr.. Hugh on board
there was IL sudden jerk. m Miss Nav
went over. saw then what the trou-
bic was. The rope that held the dory
was only partly out, an the sudden pull
MIR. 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 IL 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 90. so after that first
cry she never let Il sound pass her lips
'Goodby, Uncle jerry she says
Then she looked mt Mr.. Hugh, an that
look has haunted me ever since, it was
so full of Lowell 'Goodby, Hugh. NY
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 Jerry didn't care to conceal
the honest tears that rolled down his
cheeks, and something i'll my own eyes
blurred the sea from my vision. Mel
thcr spoke for a minute; then l said:
Did you say they found hcr ~
Uncle Jerry replied grullly:
found her myself, after the storm,
lynn on bed of seaweed, that same
lovin look on her face. 1t closed the
season at Miss Hollis. an sold the Foam
for $50 to get her out o. the bay, an
haln't never took Il pleasure party since
Guess l won't paint any more tcrday."