The Van Buren press., 1895-05-04

built for the crew aad early In Septen,-
Der in 1888 the station with its outfit
was completed.
dedication party was to be held In
the club house, and everybody in Bel
mont was In Joyful anticipation of that
brilliant event H
Young ladies with their manly escorts
roamcd the hillsides in search of au-
tumn leaves and evergreens for the
decorations and the boys who were
members Of the crew trimmed the club
house with many bright colors. The
evening before the day Of the party
had been to the boat house with Ralph
to see the decorations We were look-
ing forward to the party with SO much
pleasure. As we wended our way
homeward from the station that beau
tiful, calm September evening I felt in
my heart that he loved me ard was
blissfully happy.
AS we entered the parsonage gate
and stood together in the moonlight he
put his arms around me and asked me
to become his wife.
My darling Ralph, how much loved
him, but told him to wait for his an
swer until we met at the party the
next evening. a
How happy I was that night! An,
too happy. I went to my wardrobe
and looked at my dresses. There was
the lovely white one had made for
the party. would wear that dress
when I gave him my answer, which
should be: "Yes, my love, l accept the
most sacred gift man can bestow
upon woman-the gift of his love, his
name and his honor"
After awhile went to bed and fell
asleep. It must have been near Inorn-
ing when was awakened by a terrible
crash Of thunder and vivid display of
lightning. - EsN
The house itself seemed to rock to
and fro, for. the wind was blowing a
tremendous gale. Igotup Immediate
lyNand ran downstairs to my parents
room. 4 found them both up and
dressed. 15gl y
'"This is a fearful wind" my father
exclaimed. God grant that there are
no fishermen near our coast tonight,
for boat could not be manned in a
tempest like this" ..4, asa# aisss
.But we have a life-saving station
and crew now. father" l cried, but
then shudder of fear ran through my
heart when I remembered that my
lover was the captain of that crew,
n nd tfr1,t = hnr 10 sv,
storm as this My father and mother
thought also of Ralph, and for awhile
we were silent. t
Harkl What was that2 The alarm
from the boathouse. Was there fish
ing boat with life in danger, or why
was the watchman calling for the
crew. The alarm bell rang on.
at must be the wind that is ringing
the bell," my dear mother said, Our
boys could not go out in terrible
storm like this"
"Oh, father" cried, "let us go
there and see, for Ralph know will
be there" .,f.....t..,
My father commanded me to be calm,
and said: SIT would do no good for us
to go out in the storm even If Ralph
and the crew were out" 100 4. tssis
Again the alarm bell sounded, and l
cried out in despair: "Father, l must
and shall gop' ren fnte Dae
rushed to my room and dressed, and
going downstairs entreated my father
to hurry. AS we opened our house
door the wind blew in and extinguished
the light of my mothers candle, as she
stood near the door and begged us not
to go. N .e@
Almost every moment the thunder
would peal and the lightning would
fash and light up the village and coast
for miles, and the rain poured down in
torrents. 1t was fearful struggle,
but clinging closely together we st
last reached the boat house. y9r
There was the old watchman and
two or three members of the crew, but
where were the captain and the others?
Over the water came the faint cries
Of two fishermen, whose boat had been
shattered upon the'rock, to which they
were clinging, and the shouts Of the
brave boys could be heard, who had
gone out in a small boat to save them.
Oh, why had they attempted such q
dangerous thing in this awful stormP
Would they succeed?
My father and fell on our knees and
prayed to God to guide that boat and
bring them safely back, but the sea
was too angry that night and the wind
and the waves too high, and soon the
cries OF the perishing fishermen were
hushed forever by the roar OF the
angry waters.
There on the shore we waited and
prayed, while the waves dashed furi-
ously on the rocky beach. The min
utes seemed like days to us, until al
most half an hour had passed away,
while we watched there and prayed,
but our boys did not return from their
errand of mercy.
At last there was a momentary lull
in the storm, and we went nearer to
the water and peered out over the angry
sea.
A fash of lightning revealed to us
for moment the beautiful new boat
tossing empty on the foam, and sank
upon the sand unconscious.
When came to myself the sun was
shining brightly and was in my own
room at home. My father, mother and
many of my friends were with me, but
they could not comfort me, for knew
that my lover had perished.
Ali that was sixty years ago, and I
have lived to bury all my friends, and
all things have changed since then, and
am an old, old woman now.
People wonder why l do not sell this