Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-12
UNEXPECTED TREASURE.

nc SIOU L udu SdNSu "Oulu uSlp IuS
to buy fishing boat and leave little
to furnish snug place l knew of for
Elsie and me.
Elsie, my lass 1 had said to her,
just before going on my last voyage,
Its about time we settled down. So
if you've no objection We'll get spliced
when 1 return
My lass put her hand in my big
rough one, and-she kissed me. What
palmer sign could a tar have than
that?
I didn't expect to find her when I
reached Southampton, but l must say
that I was disappointed when 1 didn't
find her waiting me at the railway
station, for I had sent her a telegram
saying exactly when I'd reach Lancing.
I hurried to her home, but she wasn't
there. Her mother said she had gone
her every minute.
Soon my lass came in. But l
couldn't make her out. Her greeting
was cold. She wasn't the happy Elsie
l had left.
Next morning 1 paid a visit to old
limbs boat-house along the coast.
When l entered old limbs was gossip
ing to a swell of fellow about ships,
sailing, and navigation generally. AS
| reckoned | knew something of navi
CATION, I put in my spoke.
who is your nautical friend?'' asked
the gent, in tone of voice l didn't
like.
Paul Allison" said old limbs, 'jest
back from the Injies, and a jinun tar
OF the first. water"
"Oh," said the gent, looking at me
through an eyeglass. After that in
spection he went out.
And who is that swell, Timbs?"
asked.
"A swell he is. His name is Mr..
Willerby Seaton, and he's a staying at
Worthing, but he comes down here for
his boating"
Well, after had had my chat with
old limbs | went to see Elsie. AS
reached the cottage I CHANGED to
glance down the long lane at the side.
Could it be? Yes, had no doubt of
it. There was Elsie taking leave of a
stranger, and that stranger was the
man l had seen in the boat house
Mr.. Willerby Seaton.
l waited at the door until she came
up. When she saw me she turned
white as a new trimmed sailing sheet.
Elsie" said l, that's a strange
craft I saw you with just now?"
why, Paul, you're not going to be
jealous? He's only visitor in these
parts, who's been very kind to Granny
Mills-the old lady's down with rheu
matism, you know. 1 met him when I
was visiting there, and l couldn't do
more than say Good day to him,
could u"
1t must have been three days after
that, when, on coming down to my
breakfast I found a note awaiting me.
1t ran:
Dear Paul-Don't think anything
more of me; [ am unworthy of you.
By the time you read this I shall have
married another. Forget and forgive.
Elsie"
1 built my boat, but it wasn't called
the Elsie. I ch1istened it the Maria,
after the woman who, !. year later, be-
came my wife.
If ever woman was born to comfort
disappointed man, it was Maria
Easterbrook. A son came to US, and
as the boat was christened after the
wife, it was only fit and proper that
the boy should be christened after his
father-Paul Allison.
Paul had reached his 10th year.
have cause to recollect that night.
/ The March wind had been sweeping
in big gusts over the sands, sending
them like needles into the flesh. had
a difficulty in reaching home, although
knew every inch of the road, so dark
was it.
Little Paul had just brought me my
slippers, and the words were scarcely
out of my mouth when there came the
booming of a gun.
TITS a ship on the sands" she fall
tered. They'll want you, Paul. Shall
you go?"
Shall, lass? There's no question of
shall Must is the word"
The sea was running so high that
we were twice beaten back before the
lifeboat was launched. Launch it at
last we did, and there was wild
cheer from the folk who mad gathered
Oh the beach as we put off.
Heaven knows we needed cheering
of some sort, but we at last came in
sight of the sinking vessel.
When we reached her side there
were only four solitary beings clinging
to the taffrail.
Jump for itr' shouted cur captain,
Hal Moxon.
Even as he spoke big wave came
and swept away two Of the four. The
other two sprang over the side, and
were dragged safely into the lifeboat.
Anybody else on board?" asked Hal
MoxOn.
/ There's a sick man in the cabin,
with a little girl who won't leave him,
said one of the half-drowned seamen.
The boat was again swung round TO
the sinking vessel, and | leapt up and
caught it's side. [ had clambered to
the deck in the twinkling of a hand
spike. Then l staggered down the
companionway to the cabin.
[ saw a man lying in one Of the
L cir hnT hoe