Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26
CAST UP BY THE SEA.

One c. those rare old houses-the
relics of the seventeenth century,
whose quaint carving and fantastic
ornaments attract antiquarian tastes,
and the decay of which makes us sigh
when we look upon them as the last
| memorials of bygone age-was a few
years ago the scene OF a gathering of
large circle of young and middle
aged persons. They were the descen-
dants of the first owners of the old
| house, for it was one of the few man
s;ons that do not pass out of the
original family. There was Henry
Broadhurst and his wife and children
Kate Broadhurst. who married into
the equally ancient family of Middle
| tons, and was the mother of brave sons
and fair daughters then came
mingling of bachelor uncles, maiden
! aunts, widows, and widows children,
| second cousins, and others whose re-
| lationship was bewildering to
! stranger, but which all seemed easy
enough to the family group 20 I'M
| rayel.
The house stood on a pleasant slope
! leading to the sea, its broad sweep of
terraces almost touching the sands,
and it's trees scattering their fruit
along the beach whenever the winds
/ held high festival among the branches.
The fine forests behind the house made
| solemn music at these festivals of the
storm king, while the waves supplied
| the heavy undertone But on a fair
| day, when nature put on her smiles
and dimples, there was no lOvelier spot
than BrOadhurst-no sweeter music
than the murmuring OF the waves at
its foot, or the soft signing of the
sumner breeze among the treetops
For most of the year the mansion
was the abode only Of Harry Broad
bursts immediate family; but in sum-
mer and part of the autumn it was
| peopled by the numerous relations who
claimed it as their trysting place. At
| the time I speak of, Percy Broad
hurst, the eldest son of the resident
family, and a young son of his de-
| ceased brother, mere boy, were both
! at sea in the same vessel, and daily
expected from a long voyage The
mother of young Arthur Broadhurst,
| young woman of 80, was among the
| guests, awaiting the arrival of her boy,
whom she reluctantly allowed to make
his first voyage with her nephew
Percy, who now bore the rank of
captain.
Morning after morning Helen Broad
hurst took her station upon an emf
hence where her brother had placed a
fine telescope, and hour after hour she
swept the broad bay by it's help, vain1y
imagining every sail that hove in sight
was bringing her absent child Ar
thur Broadhurst was a boy of whom
any mother might have been proud.
He was nearly IA, tall and stout for
his age, handsome as a picture, brave
and true-hearted, and passionately de-
voted to his young and beautiful
mother. For Arthur's sake she had
resisted the persuasions of Henry
Middleton to become his wife, and re-
solved to devote herself wholly to her
sons welfare.
They had been expected in August,
and it was now nearing the last of
September Already the autumn gales
were blowing high, and the equinoctial
threatened it's yearly fury. The moon
was near it's full, but it was obscured
by f1eecy clouds that scudded athwart
the sky with rapidity that beto-
] al %
heart sank within her, for we'll she
knew the signs so plainly discernible
on the sea coast before storm.
She had stationed herself at win
dow overlooking the sea ever since
dinner, and now it was evening. In
vain had she been summoned to tea. A
dreadful presentiment Of danger or
distress filled her soul AS the wind
! howled and roared in the wide old
chimney, she shuddered.
Fanny Middleton came in and be-
sought her to go DOWN.
81 can not, Fanny" she answered.
"I shall never go until I know some
thing of my child"
| Helen, how perfectly absurd! l
thought you were wise woman. l
will go and tell Henry never to quote
you to me as pattern of wisdom
again"
Hush, Fanny. I am certain that
something is happening, even now.
My impression is as vivid as if it
were really passing before me that the
ship is in danger. I have sat here and
dreamed that it was dashed upon the
shore yonder. I have seen my Ar
thurs face wet with the salt brine
and lying among the sea weeds, and
Percy struggling with the waves,
unable to save himself or my boy. Oh,
Fanny, I may live to see that dream
realized"
Helen, are you a Christian, and
dare you thus distrust Gods goodness?
Gene down among the lights and
cheerful faces below and give way no
longer to these dreamy fancies."
Reluctantly was Helen dragged
away from her secluded room; but in
the parlor she gave way to the cheer
fitness of the party, and was herself
again. Henry Middleton thought that
the pure, pale face was lovelier that
night than ever and he lowered
around the circle of which Helen was
the center.