The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-02-21


"Who are-you?" he demanded, land
what is your business hereG"
There was no reply for moment.
though he felt sure his voice must have
carried to the quay door. The figure
paused for second or two, then unbar-
red the lower flap of the door and ad-
vanced across the wallis shadow to the
center of the bright grass plot under the
window. It was the figure Of young
woman. Her head was bare and her
sleeves turned up to the elbowa She
wore no cloak or wrap to cover her from
the night air, and her short skirted.
coarse frock was open at the neck. As
she turned up her face to the window
the minister could see by the moons 8
rays that it was we'll favored.
"Be you the new preacher?" she ask
ed, resting hand on her hip and speak
ing softly up to him.
"Iam thenew Independent minister. +"
''Then I've come for you"
''Come for me?"
"Iss. My names Nance Trewartha,
an you 'en wanted across the water
quick as possible Old Mrs. Shades
a-dyin tonight over yonder
''She wants me?"
''She's one o. your congregation an
can't die easy till you've seen her. I
reckon she's got something pom her
mind. an was to fetch you over quick
as could"
As she spoke the church clock down
in the town chimed out the hour, and
Immediately after ten strokes sounded
on the clear air.
The minister consulted his own watch
and seemed to be considering.
every we'll, said he after pause.
"I'll come. ! suppose I must cross by
the ferry?"
Ferry g closed this two hours, an you
needn't wake up any in the house. I've
brought fathers boat to the ladder be-
low, an I'll bring you back again.
You've only to step out here by the back
door. An wrap yourself up, for tits a
brave distance
"very we'll. suppose it's really Sc
rious'
"Mortal. I'm glad You'll come,' she
added simply.
The young man nodded down in a
friendly manner, and going back into
the room slipped OH his overooat, picked
up his hat and turned the lamp down
carefully. Then he struck match, found
his way to the back door and unbarred
it. The girl was waiting for him still in
the center Of the grass plot.
"I'm glad you've come" she repeat
ed, but this time there was something
like constraint in her voice. As he pull
ed to the door softly she moved and led
the way down to the waterside.
From the quay door long ladder ran
down to the water. At low water one
had to descend 20 feet and more, but
now the high tide left but three of its
rungs uncovered. At the young minis
ter's feet a small fishing boat lay ready,
moored by short painter to the ladder
The girl stepped lightly down and held
up her hand.
''Thank you," said the young man,
with dignity. "but do not want help"
She made no answer to this, but as
he stepped down went forward and un-
moored the painter. Then she pushed
gently away from the ladder, hoisted
the small foresail, and returning to her
companion stood beside him for mo-
ment with her hand on the tiller
Better make fast the foresheet,"
she said suddenly.
The young man looked helplessly at
her. He had not the slightest idea of
her meaning-did not, in fact, know
the difference between foresheet and
a mainsail. And it was just to find out
the depth of his ignorance that she had
spoken.
Never mind" she said, "I'I do it
myself"
She made the rope fast and took hold
Of the tiller again. The sails shook and
filled softly as they glided out from un-
der the wall The soft breeze blew
straight behind them, and the tide was
just beginning to ebb. She slackened
the .mainsheet a little, and the water
hissed as they spun down under the
gray town toward the harbor's mouth.
A dozen vessels lay at anchor below
the town quay, their lamps showing
strange orange yellow in the moonlight.
Between them the minister saw the cot
tages of Ruan glimmering on the east
ern shore and above them the coast
guard station. with its flagstaff, clear
white upon the black hillside. It SEEM
ed to him that they were not shaping
their course for the little town.
II thought you told me-" he said at
length. "that Mrs. -, the dying wo-
man, lived across there.
The girl shook her head. "Not in
Ruan itsel'-Ruan parish. Well have
to go round the point"
She was leaning back and gazing
straight before her toward the harbor's
mouth. The boat was one of the class
that serve along that coast for hook and
line as we'll as drift net fishing, clinker
built, about 81 feet in the keel and
nine in the beam. 1t had no deck be-
yond small cuddy forward, ON top OF
which light hoar frost was gathering
as they moved. The minister stood be-
side the girl and withdrew his eyes from
this cuddy roof to contemplate her
do Won mean To saw - he asked