The record-union., 1895-06-01

What can Meadows mean, Powell?
1t is d dirty night, no doubt, but twill
clear before morning, l should think.
What say your
my teeth.
But be is not one to croak. and he is
very rarely out in his predictions" Ben
continued. Would it not be wise to
stay on shore?"
"Do so, by all means, if you are
afraid" / replied with a sneer. 'Y on
are yonr own MASTER"
Tie taunt stung him I could see, dark
as it was; but he kept his temper and
only said:
II don't deserve that, George, and no
one knows lt better than you do. What
ails you to-night?"
'Iain't your business"
thing?''
You can hold your tongue"
What Will Lizzie say?"
She'l care as little as you or any one
else. How dare you talk of Lizzie to me?
90 your own way and let me go mine.'
Nay, Powell, Iisten-' he began: but
L would not stay to hear. l broke away
from him and ran down a narrow lane
that led TO my lodging. l WAS boiling
over with wrath, and his GOODNESS irri-
tated me past all bearing. What right
had he 10 bring in LiZzie's name? lie
had stolen her from me; let that content
him. And how Meadows had deceived
me! he knew, no man better, what took
me to his cottage, and yet he encouraged
Ben's suit on the sly. | felt as if l could
have throttled him.
In such a frame of mind it was not
likely L should sleep. and, as a fact. l
spent the night in walking Up and down
my little room resolving in my mind one
plan OF revenge alter another. Holding
and Lizzie should never come together
II, by fair means or foul, / could prevent
1t. Who would have thought | reflected
bitterly, that Meadows was SO mercena-
ry? Because Ben had boat of his own
and two men in his pay, while worked
with Tom Ford at weekly wage, she
was ready to throw me over. l felt glad
had tainted Holding with being cow
ard. Now he would go out III the morn.
ing, whatever the weather, and who
could say what might not happen? His
boat, the Mermaid, was, every one knew,
rotten tub. In his anxiety to rise above
his fellows he had bought her without
consulting any one, and had been griev-
ously cheated in the bargain. Lizzie's
sweet eyes seemed to plead for him; they
haunted me. turn where | would, but l
would not let them influence me. II her
lover persisted in the waves she deserved
all the pain it would give her. the little
tiirt. But however matters turned out
no one could impute blame to me.
Before sunrise l was out and on my
way 10 the beach. The morning brok 9
gloomy and dull; the clouds were ragged
and torn at the edges, telling of wind;
but the sea just then was calm enough.
The barometer at the COast-guard Station
was lower than it had been tor weeks;
still, l had gone out many a day more
stormy-looking than this, and l made up
my mind that if Ford wished to go [
would say nothing to dissuade him. 1t
was not likely he would care to stay on
shore. He was bold, determined fell
low, and knew his boat, the Vixen, to be
one of the StOutest and best built in the
place.
He came down presently, and, with a
shrug of his shoulders and the remark,
We'll get wetting to-day, more than
likely" motioned to me to shove of.
Ford was a man of few words.
As we took our seats | saw Holding
and his men getting in their nets and
preparing TO follow us. So, then, he
had not taken the old mans advice. He
nodded TO me as we passed. and smilingly
waved his hand; but | kept my eyes
turned away and made no answering
sign.
We got on much as usual till about
O'Clock in the afternoon. Then | saw
Meadows prediction would be verified.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and
the waves were high and sullen. Sud-
denly the wind sprang up, and it was all
we could do to shorten sail before it was
down upon us. Ford said it was souall,
and we had seen the worst of it; but he
was wrong, as the event proved. The
gusts of wind followed each other fast.
Every wave threatened to engulf the
Vixen and her crew. and it soon became
struggle for life. For my own
safety L cared little; life had ceased to
have any attractions for me, but remem-
bering ford's wife and little children l
worked mantully to keep the boat on her
course.
who would have thought it would
blow like this?' Ford said this in his
usual phlegmatic fashion as we crouched
together in the stern.
Meadows said last night 'twould be
rougher than common" l rejoined.
But he is getting old now, and thinks
more of a hattul of wind than he used to
do"
''You should have told me that" said
Ford gravely. IT'S never safe to go
ag'in' old Luke-he knows the weather
signs better than any man. l say. George
Powell" he went on, looking keenIy at
me, sis Holding to carry off pretty Liz
zie? He was at the cottage last night,
my wife says. He seems to be there most
days"
~ can't tell you," 1 replied. tits
nothing to me or to you either"
Nothing to me. certainly" returned
Ford. But the folks used to say she was
Tor you. lad"
doesn't look much like it." was my
somewhat equivocal reply.
riO LODI
Ford, as another great wave broke over
US. But if that is what you mean, Hold
ing's chance Is no better than your own,
or as good. Look! Isn't that the Mer-
maid yonder?"
1t was not easy to distinguish any
thing, Tor my eyes were full OF salt water;
but alter a bit l managed 10 make out
Holdings boat, with three men on board
OF her, being driven before the gale. 1t
was madness on his part not to have put
back hours ago. for he knew well enough
how little the Mermaid was fitted to en-
counter such sea as this. For a few
minutes the wind lulled, and We came
within speaking distance.
George" Holding shouted as soon as
he could make himself heard, Meadows
knew what he was about last night, eh?
| was a fool not to take his advice. I
shall never set foot on shore again"
Ford stood up, rope in his hand, and
called 10 him to come on board the Vixen
But Holding shook his head He was
seaman enough TO know that to attempt
such thing would in all probability
swamp US all, and be would not risk it.
Tell the folks you saw u.s." lie said
calmly, though his face was white as
DEATH IBID them good-by. | know
Meadows Will look after my little girl,
God bless her! And you, George-Liz-
zie-"
His voice was lost in the roar of the
waves, and indeed MY heart beat so fast
should hardly nave made out his words
in any case. a flash of lightning, more
vivid than any we had had YET, half
,,,o a,I n tho ,n,,,a w -