The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-04-17


the harbor and then at that. Bill Kisseck
was also there in his capacity as admiral Of
the fleet-an insular office for which he
had been duly sworn in, and for which he
received his 20 year. Bill was big
black bearded creature in top boots-a relic
of the reign of the Norseman in Man.
Tommy Bill-beg was chaffed about the
light going out on the pier. He looked
grave; said there was something in it."
Something supernatural, Tommy meant.
Tommy Bill-bcg believed in his heart it
was call along of the spite OF Gentleman
Johnny bogy, erst a thief, who
in the flesh had been put into q spiked
barrel and rolled over the pier into the sea,
swearing furiously, as long as he could be
heard that to prove his innocence it was
his fixed intention to haunt forever the
scene of his martyrdom.
Kerruish Kinvig was standing by and
heard the hagbor masters explanation OF
the going out of the light.
Its lniddling strange" shouted Kin
Wig that the ghost should potter about
only when the government cutter happens
to be out of the way, and Tommy Bill-bug
is yelping and scrcoching at the jolly her
rings. I'd have u law on such bOgies and
clap them in Castle iiuShcn, " bawled Kin
Wig land all the 1lddlcrs and carol singers
nlong with them, - he added.
Tie harbOr master shook his head ap-
parent!y more i'm SorrDw than in anger,
and whispered Bill Kisscck that, as the
good ould book says, Fad is the man
that has never DO music in his sowl -
1t was one Of Tommy Bill-bGgs pGcul-
iaritics of mental twist that he was full Of
quotations and never by any chance failGd
to msaScribe, niSquOtC and misappy
them The fishing boats were rolling gen
tly with the motion Of the rising tide
When everything had been made ready
and tho flood was at hand, the fishermen,
to the number of several hundred men and
boys, troopcd off to the shore of the bay
There they We're joined by great multi
tudc of women and children. Presently
the vicar appeared, and standing in an
open boat he offered the customary prayer
Cor the blessing of God on the fishing ex-
2edition which was now setting out.
"Restore and continue to US the har
est of the sea. +"
And the men, on their knees in tbs
sand, with uncovered heads and faces in
their hats, murmurcd, "Yn Meailley."
Then they separated, the fishermen re-
turning to their boats.
Bill Kisscck leaped aboard the lugger
that lay at the mouth Of the harbor. His
six men followed him See all clear, /"
he shouted to Danny, who sailed with him
as boy. Danny stood on the quay with
the duty of clearing ropes from blocks and
then following in the dingy that was
moOred to the steps.
Among the women who had come down
tC the harbor to see the departure of the
feet were two who bore no very close re-
semblance to the great body of the towns
women. One was an elderly woman, with
a thin, sad face The other was young
woman, or perhaps two or three and TWEEN
ty, tall and muscular, with pale cast of
countenance, large brown eyes and rich
auburn hair. The face, though strong and
beautiful, was not radiant with happiness,
and yet it recalled very vividly CLINT of
human sunshine that we have known be-
fore.
In another moment little Ruby, red
with running, pranced up to their side,
crying: "Mona, come and see Danny
Fayle's boat. Here look there-that one
with the color On the deck.
The admirals boat was to carry a flag.
The two women were pulled along by
the little sprite and stopped just where
Danny himself was untying a knot in q
rope Danny recognized thsn, lifted his
bat, blushed, looked confused, and seemed
for the moment to forget the cable.
Tail on there!' shouted Bill Kissecb
from the lugger. "Show leg there, il
you don't want the rat 5 tail. Dye hear?
Danny was fuIabling with his cap. That
, poor tagging lower lip was giving yearn
ing look to the lads simple face. He nut
tered some commonplace to Mona ant
then dropped his head At that instant hi:
eye fell on the lower part of her dress
The blue serge of her gown was bleachet
near her feet Danny who could think o.
nothing else to say, mulnbled something
about the salt water having takcp the col
or out of Mona's dress. The girl looked
, down, and then said quietly
Eyes Twas caught by the tide last nigh
, Il mean to say, was''-
She was clearly trying to recall he
words, but poor Danny had hardly hear(
} them.
5 "You cursed boobyr' cried Bill Kisseck
leaping ashore, 'pratin with pack o
l women when I'm a-waitin for you. II
make you walk handsome over the bricks
my man. >"
With that he struck Danny terrible
l blow and felled him.
: The lad got up abashed, and without
\ word turned TO his work. Kisseck, still il
tempest of wrath, was leaping back t.
the lugger, when the young woman steppe,
: up to him, locked fearlessly in his face
seemed about to speak, checked herSel
4 and turned away.
Kisseck stood measuring her from hea,
? to foot with lts eyes, broke into littl
Z bitter laugh, and said;
"I'm right up and down like yard O
J. pump water that's what am"
:. He jumped aboard again. Danny ran tn
rope from the blocks, the admirals boa
cleared away, and the flag shot up to tn
masthead The other boats followed on
after one to the number of nearly 100. TIL
bay was full of them.
g When Kisseck's boat had cleared the han
: Dor, Danny ran down the steps of the pie
: with eyes still ayerted from the two won
: en- and the child, got into the dingy, too
an oar and began to scull after IT,
, SISSY, Sissy" cried Ruby, Juggling a
n Mona's dress, "look at Danny's littl
boat What the name that is on it in re
Z | latto,c9''