The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-07


mont was in Joyful anticipation of that
brilliant event
Young ladies with their manly escorts
roamed the hillsides in search of au-
tumn leaves and cvergreens for the
decorations and the boys who were
members of the crew trimmed the clui,
house with many bright colors. The
evening before the day of the party
had been to the boat house with Ralph
to sec the decorations. We were look
ing forward to the party with so much
pleasure. As we wendell our way
homeward from the station that beau
tiful, calm September evening felt in
my heart that he loved me and 1 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 ut the party the
next evening.
How happy l was that night! All,
too happy. went to my wardrobe
and looked Mt my dresses. There was
the. lovely white one had made for
the party. l would wear that dress
when 1 gave him my answer, which
should be: Eyes, my love, accept the
most sacred gift man can bestow
upon n woman-the gift of his love, his
name and his honor"
After awhile l went to bed and fell
asleep. 1t must have been near morn
ing when l was awakened by terrible
crash of thunder and vivid display of
lightning.
The house itself seemed to rock to
and fro, for the wind was blowing
tremendous gale. got up immediate
ly and ran downstairs to my parents
room. I found them both up and
dressed.
This is fearful wind" my father
exclaimed. God grant that there are
no fishermen near our coast tonight,
for boat could not be manned in q
tempest like this"
But we have a life-saving station
and crew now, father" 1 cried, but
then shudder of fear ran through my
heart when l remembered that my
lover was the captain of that crew,
and might have to go out in such
storm as this, My father and mother
thought also of Ralph, and for awhile
we were silent.
Hark! What was that? The alarm
from the boathouse. Was there q fish
ing boat with life in danger, or why
was the watchman calling for the
crew? The alarm bell rang on.
''It must be the wind that is ringing
the bell" my dear mother said, Our
boys could not go out in o terrible
storm like this"
"Oh, father" I cried, "let us go
there and see, for Ralph know will
be there"
My father commanded me to be calm,
and said: 1T would do no good for us
to go out in the storm even if Ralph
and the crew were out"
Again the alarm bell sounded, and I
| cried out in despair: Father, I must
and shall go''
rushed to my room and dressed, and
going downstairs L 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 60.
Almost every moment the thunder
would peal and the lightning would
flash and light up the village and coast
for miles, and the rain poured down in
torrents. 1t was n fearful struggle,
but clinging closely together we at
last reached the boat house.
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
~ fcharrnnY, xt-1,Aca -
shattered upon the rock, to which they
were clinging, and the shouts of the
brave boys could be heard, who had
gone out in small boat TO save them.
Oh, why had they attempted such
dangerous thing in this awful storm?
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
GRAND of mercy.
At last there was 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 I sank
upon the sand unconscious