The Van Buren press., 1895-01-12

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" drawing attention to the rents be-
tween the fingers. ''Triends all." he
began. For Esther an mysen thank
you every ono for what you've said
about wishin' Us both good FORUM.
We mean to pull together all through
life, as Z parson said. till death do us
part'-an' hope that'll be q goodish
while yet. As for them other things
you've Almost all spoken aboot-well.
we'll. you've had q 60 at me to-day, an
welcome; an / hope shall have q
chance one o. these days O. having .
60 ut some o. you."
"Hcar, hearl" broke In Simeon How
ker.
A loud burst OF merriment greeted
the interruption. Simeon's exclama-
tion had been simply thrown In to fill
up the hiatus caused by Dicks mo-
mcntary hesitation. A vile misconstruc-
tion had been put upon his sympathet-
ic encouragement, and It only needed
his wife's angry glance to drive away
for that day all poor Simeon's enthusi-
asm and appetite.
WELL" continued Dick, as soon as
the mirth had subsidized ~ trust
you'll all luik back o. this day wi as
mich pleasure as allays shall-nn' l
can't wish you better nor that. Let
me thank you again, for Esther an
myself. An now you mum a haze bit
o. bride cake"
The sugared pyramid In the center
Of the table had been specially ordered
and baked at jennings. Of Morper-
land. Admiring eyes made it their
cynosure; It was unanimously voted q
real cAef.d'eurre of the confectioner's
art Hardly had Kate taken up the
knife wherewith TO cut the cake, when
the landlord of the Trawlers' inn
hastily entered the room. His usually
placid visage was pale with agitation;
he piled his short legs rapidly as he
hurried across the floor to utter few
brcathless words into the ears Of
Ralph Thwaites, the smack owner.
II hopes you'll oil excuse me-" Ralph
said, rising quickly to his feet I'm
called away sudden. Theer's ship
on the Forksl'
Instantly the smack owners excite
ment was communicated to the rest Of
the company. Thwaites could have
been summoned for one purpose only.
An effort was about to be made to save
the crew Of the Inflated vessel.
There was no lifeboat at Port st.
Bede, the nearest static being Morper-
land, ten miles distant Unfortunately
the absence of the means of help does
dot imply absence of It's need, for in
clustering weather the services Of
lifeboat were only too frequently re-
qured ut Port st. Bede. The fisher
men, however. had organized volun-
tcer crew, captained by Thwaites, and
many lives had Gr@me's pilot gig VEN
turously snatched from the sens nav.
Dick was only one OF dozen-to
their eternal honor be it said-who
often pitted their lives again st wind
and wave to succor their tempest
smitten fellows.
"Theer's ship ON the Forks!" said
Thwaites.
The words were scarcely out Of his
mouth before Rube also rose. II mum
go, too," he said. quietly.
AN l." cried Bob Yardes, making
for the doorway.
Strnightway the whole assembly fol-
lowed suit. There was stampede for
the door-the women impelled thereto
by mingled dread and curiosity; the
men, by a laudable desire to help,
should their help unfortunately be re-
quired. Dick seemed to hesitate a
moment before he also rose to his feet
and sidled from the table.
"You need not go to-day, Dick"
murmurcd Esther, tremulously; "sure-
ly not to.day?'
Nay, nay, my lass, don't talk 30" re-
piled Dick, with smile. ~ may be
o some use down thecr. Think bit.
Theer's men aboard that ship belike
as haze wives an sweethearts at home,
wearin' their cen out for 'em. You
can tell what their feelin's is, just as
can. You wouldn't haze me stop here,
easy an comfortable, II could do
aught for 'em; now, would you, lass?"
Esther made no answer. She dared
not trust herself to words; she felt
that her utterance would show the
selfshness she we'll knew was at the
bottom OF her reluctance to let her
husband go. Yet how hard it was to
forswear her thoughtsl
"Come cher up. Esther" added Dick,
kissing her. "We've had { boat out 4
as ugly weather us this before, an you
may be sure won't stop away fro you
q minute more'n can help. I'll Just
step across home an doff these fine
clothes; must not spoil them"
Meanwhile, the whole population of
the village had gathered ON the Shore
Overhead, the murky clouds sped rap.
idly by, SO low that they appeared to
touch the rugged headlands to north
and south OF the little bay. The air
was darkened, as 1t were dusk, Vast
mountains of water curled and broke
over the beach with thunder-like peals,
kissing and spuming up to the very
feet Of the watchers. The chill, cut
ting rain beat in their faces so fierce
ly that they could scarcely discern the
quivering ship that was beating out
her heart upon the rocks. Heavy seas
swept her decks, on which the stump
Of the mizxen was the only spar left
standing; fore and mainstay had both
gone by the board. She was fast up
on the Forks. every succeeding wave
just lifting her clear to dash her down
again upon the Jagged mass
A man had been dispatched on
horseback to apprise the Morperland
lifeboat crew Of the disaster; but it
was plain that before aid could arrive
from that quarter the vessel would be
a total wreck. She could not hold to-