Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-15

IL Was one afternoon toward Christmas,
whom Curtis had been away about year.
For week tho weather had continued
vury wild, with westerly gales, so that Luz
cile had been Kept almost prisoner in the
house, but now 1t WAS moderatinR little.
though still thick and rough, and she was
at tho window, looking at the sOdden trees
shaking the wet out Of thom us the gusts
passed, aud wondering II she dared yon-
turc out for breath Of fresh glr to cure
her low spirits. 1hssIiy was low and Lead
IN rnd moved continually in n hurried
presentation over tho lonely house.
AS she Easased tho interminable ad.
vance she was falling into u painful mol
ancholy, when, to her relief, there came
hurry!uR to the window tho welcome
figure OF Dusket, plainly full Of nows, and
she opened tho sash TO hear what he had
for her,
"whst IS It. Duoket" she asked.
II thought maybe, my lady" lie said,
for so he always called her, ''you might
have mind TO walk to the Beacon this
afternoon. There's firing out yonder nc
soa--and not far from the land either. III
lay thoro DO something In trouble near by. 4"
whercaboutsY'' sho inquired incrodu.
lousy, for now that the window was open
the air WINS full OF tho noise of tho gallo. u
heard nothing"
Somewhere yondor to the westward, :"
he repllod, with his hand to his hat. But
'tis very faint. Tberol didn't you hear ID
that timer
My ears aro not so sharp as yours, :"
she said. You can't 600 anything, sup
posef"
Lord, no, my lady, I" he replied. ITS
piceo too thick yot. but twill DO cen
Almost clear by sunset, barring ! haven
forgot thugs moru'n think. The SKY DO
swoetoning fast, though maybe twill bido
a bit shushy awhile yet. +"
"wsll, then. l. II come, she said. "Hcay'
en- knows want some diversion
Under tho leo OF tho old turf rampant OF
the beacon thoy ornucbed together TO
watch For time there was nothing te
SEQ but the gray gloom OF tho seas uhtir-
ing attack. Dueket strained HIS eyes per,
slstsntly in the diroetion In which Ito saiu
bo could hear the firing, but Lucille canght
no sound of IL and sat 10 silence. supdueu
by tho shock OF the white explosions ana
the thunder scream Of tho bench rs tho
rollers attacked and retired. Now and
again Dnckos shifted his position as tho
faint boom of gun roaehod his quick car
but nothing happened.
nThcy must be woupdily near at hand
sa,d bucket. with an increased unoasincss'
nAb. | hoard IL ,hon," cried Lucille
",T'is semgthiugin distress for sure
"Tben there's two Of them, I" Duoke'
blurted out. -, uno
WIN mean to say you thiRk It's an But
,he,o the wind caught her breath anu
swept wild trcss across her eyes
N was still 80 thick 20 ssswnrt with the
,,ct air and tbs spray intermneilnR thAs
,hn farther arm Of tho shallow nay W. W.
INT a duh smear and beyond u sss n,n
sI-v ,ysrs ono, 30 that, peor as shc woalu,
,hs., ,rna pothiur to zee but the uark gray
veil Of clouds and sea- ~, 49,, o.,.d
,,r,ass directiy 10 new ncccss % oAolto
,n,nt 1Dan't yon gee now,
e,r.ininr iirr oycg where he dlrceted w
.,a,s shs Ia at once saw, shaping i'ssN
ont al the danGo wet distance tho form o. Q,
n large shlp close Oh the sincsry ne''''''"'
to the westward, -, a.. ,,o,tbc-
vas beginning To clear and 10 minus
~ two moro the vessul WINS easy 70 ~
hceliur over from tho pressure Of 'ne W. W.
and ulunglns at tho Seas sue was ,' v,pio
asuleJ and carried nothing hut uo '.,..
-raiod toreaail and lib. win some luss,
looking canvas AFT, and her 'ha
seemed gooo altogether ., ), s,,a
Must have been near sqsoas tin {"
nuaket. "but she's clear now iol ~ .,'sv
md as Il 10 cmphasize his wofos -i''