The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-03-26

had been absent six days upon the sea,
searching for the lost man and his son,
and the people of Redwood town began
to wonder IL they, too, had not gone
down 10 rise no more. But the two
men had taken water and provisions
with them, and many who knew of
Erics tender heart said IL would be long
ere they returned could he bring no
tidings to the Borrowing woman and her
children up there on the frowning
head No storm had come; only u soft
and steady wind rolling the shining
swells forever outward, Day and night
II blew. and incoming schooncrs had to
make long taclSs to right and left that
they might enter the little harbor
Over the hut upon the cliff the hours
OF dread and sharp expectancy had
passed, and now the gloom that comes
OF settled. certain death seemed creep
ing on. The mother. torn with grief
and apprehension through the first
DAYS, could do nothing. She seemed to
live day and night there at the edge Of
the precipice, with her hungry eyes
searching the wide, mocking reaches of
the sea.
But now she began TO work and wash
again, moving about much like one in u
saddening dream Little Gale, though
her eyes would sometimes fill with
tears, played with Lannie and Gabc
under the trees, happily forgetful
Of the dark shadow of sorrow
that lay upon the place. But Carl
and Jimmy felt the cloud OF sad
ness about them, and much of the
| time were silent. The elder boy began
| helping his mother as Paul had done,
and Jimmy kept the children from the
precipice and watched the azure circle
OF the horizon for Eric's sail. II seemed
20 the poor mother that the rescucrs
would never return, and the blighted
look grew in her face, and her eyes
looked sunkcn and anxious as she lifted
them hour by hour to the wide world of
water.
Other mothers, touched by pity, came
20 help the drunkard's broken family,
bringing food and clothing, and as the
time passed the village babblcd with
dark prophecies Of shipwrecl, for
| Eric, and conjecture MS TO the fatal
phases of this strange race for life upon
the sea. The men at EIic's wharf
where he had been foreman Of the
lumber leaders so long looked many
times each day towards the west,
| thinking Of their absent leader, and
wives and mothers standing at the gates
or in the doorways of the cottages upon
the heights about the bay thought
often Of the lonely family over on the
head and turned their eyes earnestly
I towards the far horizon line.
| On the seventh day the wind shifted
and lullcd and just before sunset the
mother came YEARLY down the path
and stood looking out upon the shining
flood. Her heart seemed numb with
longing. When would she wake from
this dreadful dream?
The children were playing down on
the sand below. and suddenly Carl rave
a shout of joy; the mother looked no,
and there, seeming not three miles
away, was Eric's boat! She gazed
| trembling from head TO foot. Yes, it
was surely Eric's boat, battered and
| with the sails patched and torn
! Brcathlessly she hurried down and came
among the children, where, whispering
and clinging to each others hands, they
waited at the waters edge.
Just when the sun ras sinking Eric's
yacht swept through the mouth OF the
little bay. The children held their
breath, and the mother strained her
pale face outward. She did not see the
men waving their hats up at the
whaives, nor the wives and mothers
watching from the yards and doorways
about the bay. The boat was all there
was IN the world to her. How slowly
II camel Was Trave and her lame boy
there? That was Eric's face, and there
was his brave companion. What other
object was that lying on litter in tho
bow? The woman shook as with an
ague, but even while she trembled and
questioned the boat rounded on the
CLASSY field and swept up TO the land
ing by the head, and Eric, battered
and worn, leaped out and made il fast
But the woman did not see him; she
was clinging TO the side of the boat and
straining her eyes Down upon that
muffied figure in the bow, Men came
running from the bluff and the plat
form was gently lifted out, and thee
looking like death itself, lay TraYe
Armor, clothed In his rags and the dying
light OF the day.
The woman threw herself upon her
knees beside him and called him pitc-
ously; the children crowded forward
with frightened whispers, and the men
stood about her with averted faces. In
moment, in answer TO her calling.
Armor's eyes opened weakly; then with
a kind OF cry, he tried 10 lift himself
| t,,,r,,.I hos, hat t,rau all too ,,,aalr
"Oh, Trave," moaned the woman,
where is Paul9 Where did you leave
him?"
Gle was lost, Lucyl He was lost lie
saved me, but e-was-lost!"
The woman stared at him moment
blankly, then with a cry of desolation
she hid her face upon the sick mans
breast and wcpt,
Very gently Eric lifted her up and led
her away 10 the hut upon the cliff. Tho
men slowly followed, bearing the mar
upon the litter, and laid him down In his
humble home. In a little time Car
came In with the village doctor, The
physician placed flask OF whisky tc
the exhausted mans lips, but when IL,
fumes smote the patients nostrils, sucl
a look Of terror hatred and loathinl
came into the sufferers face that thC
doctor fell back before IL in wonder
Take II away Destroy itr' hoarse
ly cried Travo Armor. Don't We, fol
the love Of Heaven, ever offer that 10 Tn,
like Of mel Do ye expect TO heal me
with poison9 Oh, think what it hai
done TO us" and his rage fell into
broken-hearted moan, Don't ask m,