The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-12

sINEvER FAVORED HIM"
close of the day; he was to take Rose to
church, but her father advised her to
stay in.
You'll be blown over the cliff, and
then there won't be no wedding, he
said laughing.
But they set off in the twilight, which
was prolonged by moon fitfully break
ing through black clouds.
THE Lord help any vessel anigh this
coast tonight" said Robert, as they
heard the sudden swirl of church bells
above the roar Of the sea, and Rose
pressed closer to him. When the moon
sailed out from the wrack they could
see the great breakers caught sideways
by the wind and thrown up in tall white
columns, moving ghostlike and vanish
ing in white whirl Of foam; misty
white wings Of it flew over the land, the
salt was in their faces and hair.
The church was some way inland by
the village proper, second village
having grown up about the seaWard
gorge, the ancient haunt OF smugglers
and wreckers. When the lovers reached
the church they drew up breathless in
the lee of a buttress to recover before
going in. Rose was to 60 home with
her brothers, Robert having promised
to get back early to his mother, who
was lonesome in storms.
so goodnight Rosie, he said. this
here's the last unmarried kiss, my dear.
Ten O clock sharp, mind.
AS he spoke, low, sullen boom
sounded, through a slight lull in the
wind. The heavy stroke fell as If on
their hearts. "Hark!" cried Bob, and
through the fury of the storm and the
broken pealing Of the bells they heard
the low boom again, the guns OF ship
in distress.
THE Lord keep her off this coast"
said Robert, lingering after Rose went
in, and looking seawards in moon
glimpse, and seeing nothing but the
raging waste and the light on the head
land.
His heart yearned to his first love,
the beautiful, terrible sea; she was call
ing him; he did not 90 into the church.
Try as she would to fix them on the
prayers, Roses thoughts wandered to
the lr1s-tlnted 1uture, ana George At
trill's words haunted her. Conscience
tod her that she had given him some
slight encouragement before she knew
that Robert cared for her. Poor
George! She heard him come in with
the other ringers after the service be-
gan.
The clergyman voice sounded thinly
through pauses in the wild revelry
without. The church shuddered at the
fierce onset of the winds, the roof
shook, now and then bell gave out a
tremulous vibration, the storm noises
were multiplied and prolonged in the
lofty spaces of the high vaul' ed build
ing, which had battled with and echoed
the tempests Of centuries.
The congregation was small and thinly
scattered about the large, dimly lighted
church; the responses died in ghost-like g
murmurs; the clergyman's raised voice
was drowned from time 10 time in louder
gusts Of wind; the hymn was like a
faint cry Of distress heard fitfully
through the tempest.
Oh. hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
rose quaveringly from the choir, when
through the dying cadence OF the last
line there broke forth loud and hurried
knocking on the solid church doors,
which were shut and barred against the
storm.
The organ rumble stopped abruptly.
the moro resolute voices beginning the
next verse were left solitary and ceased
in half uttered notes; the knocking was
repeated more loudly and urgently, q
veritable stroke OF doom to some pres
ent. 1t was the call for such OF tAe
lifeboat's crew as were there.
The congregation stood silent and
expectant. The heavy tramp Of mems
feet down the windy aisles sounded
through the rumble and crash Of the
storm, and echoed in the hearts OF
women. Rose was ignorant Of Roberts s
absence; the young men sat behind her;
but she knew, though she could not
see, that George A,trill, one Of the
crew, went out, as did most of the men.
A heavy sadness fell upon her; the
sound Of the church doors closing with
an echoing clang struck to her very
heart.
The organ rumbled out again. the
grand hymn, with its surge-like rhythm
and long gathering swell, became, In
lno LT6UlulOuS WOlutu duu wy .
trebles, plteous wall, dying away into
tho storm and darkness. Roses full
voice failed her, and she sang no
more. The sparse congregation were
visibly disquieted, they could scarcely
keep their seats, the pulpit candles
went out in a gust, the unheeded SER
mon broke off prematurelv, the clergy
man dismissed his flock, and went down
TO the shore.
Late that night Roses younger
brothers came home with tiGings that
the vessel had struck on the reef, the
iifehoat had twice gone out TO her, and
twice had to put back; nothing could
live near her.
Midnight came. but Moses, the grown
up son, had not returned. The mother
and daughter sat up for him, far into the
night, listening to the roaring storm
and talking titfully, now of bygone
wrecks, now OF the approaching wed.
ding, until Rose was sent to bed, and
Immediately fell asleep, with the golden
tissue Of her dreams perpetually broken
by that loud and hurried knocking on
the church doors.
ITO BE CONTINUED