Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-08

~ MS eyo1s b1u NC UEuSncu tneIu away
with his sleeve.
They were now drifting past Peel. two
miles from the coast 1t was Christmas
eve. Old Quilleash thought of this, and
they talked Of Christmas ewes gone by and
OF what happy days there had been This
was too tender q chord, and they were
coon silent once more. Then, while the
waters lay cold and clear and still and the
sun was sinking in the west, there came
floating to them from the land through
the breathless air the sound Of church bells.
1t was the last drop in their cup. The rude
men could bear up no longer. More than
one dropped his head on to his knees and
sobbed aloud. Then Quilleash, In a husky
voice and coarsely, as IL ashamed Of the
impulse, said, "Some one pray, will you%
Aye" said another. AYE" said third.
But no one prayed.
"You, Billy" said one. The old man
had never known prayer.
"You, Davy." Davy shook his head
None could pray.
All lay quiet as death around them.
Only the faint sound of the bells was
borne to them as mellow whisper
Then Danny rose silently to his feet
No one had thought Of asking him. With
that longing look in his big eyes he turn
cd to the land and began to sing. He was
thinking of Mona. All his soul was going
out to her She was his anchor, his hope
his prayer. The lads voice, laden with
tears, floated away over the great waters
This was what he sang:
Her brow Is like the snawdrift
Her neck is like the swan.
Her face 1t Is the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on,
That e'er the sun shone on.
"And she's o. the world to me.
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doom and dee"
The boys eyes were bright with ra-
diant brightness, and glistening tears ran
down his face in gracious drops like dew
The men hung their heads and were mute
All at &nce there came o breath Of wind.
At first 1t was as soft as an angels whis-
per. Then 1t grew stronger and ruffled
the sen. Every man lifted his eyes and
looked at his mates. Each was struggling
with painful idea that perhaps he was
the victim of q delusion Of the sense. But
the chill breath of the wind was indeed
among them. Isn't it beginning to puff
up from the so'westp" asked one in a
hoarse whisper.
At that Davy Cain jumped to his feet
The idea of the supernatural had already
gone from him at least. "Now for the
sheets and to make sailI" he cried.
AS mate formerly, Davy constituted him.
self skipper now.
One after one the men got up and bus
tied about. Their limbs were we'll nigh
frozen stiff.
"Heave hearty, meni Heave and awayl"
All was stir and animation in an in
stant Pulling at the ropes, the men had
begun to laugh-yes, with their HUSKY
grating, tear drowned voices even to lal. h.
Bear hand. menl We're drifting fast
into the down stream to Contrary" cried
Davy.
Then q grewsome sense Of the ludicrous
took hold of him. 1t was the swift reac-
tion from solemn thoughts
Lay on, Quilleash, my mani Why,
you're going about like brewing pan
What are your arms for, eh?"
The old fellows eyes that had been dim
with tears a moment ago glistened with
grisly mischief.
"Who hasn't heard that a Manxman' 8
arms are three legsp" he said, with hun
CRY smile.
How the men laughed What humor
there was now in the haggard old saw!
Where are you for, Davyp" cried one.
"Scotland-Shetlands, answered Davy
indefinitely.
"Hooraai Bold fellowl Ha, ha, ha,
heI'
"I've been there before today, Davy, +"
said Quilleash. They're all poor men
there but it's right kind they are. Aw,
yes, it's safe and we'll We'll be when we're
there What's it sayinP when one poor
man helps another poor man. God
laughs"
How they workedl In two minutes
mainsail and mizzen were up, and they
filed away and stood out. But they had
drifted into the down stream, though they
knew it not as yet.
From the shores Of death they had sailed
somehow into the waters Of life. Hope
was theirs once more.
They began to talk of what had caused
the wind "It was the blessed ST. Pat
rick" said Killip. St. Patrick was the
patron saint of that sea, and Killip was a
Catholic and more than half an Irishman.
"St. Patrick be''- cried Davy Cain,
with scornful laugh They got to high
words and at length almost to blows.
Old Quilleash had been at the tiller.
His grizzly face had grown CHASTITY again.
drop it, menl" he cried in voice of
fear. "Look yanderl Dye see what's
comin?"
The men looked toward the west. The
long, thin cloud which Danny knew as
the cats tail was scudding fast in the line
of their starboard quarter.
MAKE all snugP' cried Davy.
A storm was coming 1t was very near.
In ten minutes it was upon them. 1t was
terrific tempest, and they knew now that
they were in the down stream.
The men stared once more into each 9th
er's faces. Their ouips were gone; their
hopeful spirits had broken down. "God,
it's runnin a ten knots tide" shouted
Quilleash.
And we're driving before it-dead on
for Peel, answered Davy, with an appall-
ing look of fear toward the west, where
the wind was seen to be churning the long
waves into foam
Danny saw it all, but there was no
agony in his face and no cry Of dread on
his lips II think at whiles I'd like to die
in big sea like that" His despair was
courage now
CHAPTER XIX.
In the old house at Balladhoo three