The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-12-17


ut is dreadful to think off, she re-
sponded. returning Winnie's steadfast
gaze;;s.but, as Matlam said, there is no
one you love in dangerof the darkness aud
the stormy water"
Yes, Lady Mountreyor, Winnie Caer-
lyon corrected. with her usual quiet, rigid
truthfnlness, there is one who is very
dear to me out in this nights darkness on
the stormy ocean"
"Indeed!n said Lady Mountrcvor, gent
ly; ..then II grief and anxiety are the
same"
.Madam-Lady Mountrevor-l DO not
understand Winnie stamnered. strllg-
Cling with the crimson flush OF shy alarm
that suffused NIL her face and neck.
II mean,'' explained Lady Mountrevor,
looking at the girl with y half-sad, half
satirical smile, that you have equal cause
with me in mourning for your absent
friend. / grtcve for my dear cousins pos
sible danger amidst the tempest of wind
and waves brave sailor as he is; for you
know" she added, grarely, the piercing
light OF her keen brilliant eyes penctrat-
ing into the depths OF the girls true soul,
stephen Tredennick is at sea to-night.,'
CHAPTER XIII.
Towards morning the storm ragged more
wildly still. Not for years. even on that
rock-bound rugged coast, had there been,
experienced SO fierce and terrible u temp
est. in which were comningled pitchy
darkness, binding torrents OF rain, and u
sweeping, bowling gale that unrooted
honses by the score, blew down farm
buildings, uptore the old forest trees, and
lashed clear gnrgling strcamlets and
peaceful-fowing rivers into deep headlong
floods, their swift currents all stained
with the ruin that they had wrought, and.
changed the dark kissing waves around
the Black Reef Of Tregarthen into an aw-
full boiling cauldron, whitening miles OF
heaving mountainous waves with ghastly
winding-sheets Of froth, and tlinging wild
showers of spray with each shrek Of the
contending elements sheer uptbe shelving
and Jagged face of the dark precipice for
hundreds of feet.
The clock had struck the first hour Of
the new day, and sleeplessly Winnie
Cnerlyon tossed and turned. and finally
sat up partially dressed, tightening her
warm shawl around her, keeping u dreary
vigil between her bedside and the window.
It seemed to have an awful fascination for
her, that impcnetrable darkness, lit up on
the horizon with the weird phosphorescent
light of the crested pillows, and filled with
the shrieking and sobbing OF the dreadful
voices Of the tempest.
II wish l could have gone home" she
muttered. feverishly: .'some one would
have been sure to be awake and stirring
father, or Sarah, or the boys; and the men
would have been out on the cliffs perhaps.
l could have sat up with some one to talk
to at the flreside! l cannot rest here-I
AM afraid Of the storm. I never was
afraid of u storm before" she added, shiv-
ering closer to the black window-panes,
and straining her aching eyes, "but I am
afraid of this. It 10 30 awful! it sounds SO
full OF destruction and death! And oh,
the liyes-the lost lives! Oh, Heaven,
have mercy on those struggling Wit: &c
merciless sea to-night!n she cried, sobbing
in kneeling prayer. ''Would that I could
do something to succor and save! 1t is 80
dreadful to sit here safe and sheltered,
and to know that the yawning CULTS Of
the great waves are swallowing brave men
down, struggling and crying, and thinking
of their mothers and wives and little chill
drenl oh, poor men-poor womenl And
1 can do nothing!'
"They are all sleeping" she broke out
presently: the womanly heart adding with
passionate bitterness, Sleeping whilst he
is perhaps in peril. They do not distress
themselves to wake although he may be
in his death ~agony-they, his nearest aud
dearest on earth!n
But the one whom Wini7red's Jealous
love wrongedin thought most deeply in ew
as little unbrokcn rest rs she.
For another hour the storm shriel.ed
and thundered, until the old mansion,
with its massive century-and-a-half foun-
dations, trembled like a living thing in
four. Winifred, in fey cold and darkness
for the last cmber of the fire had faded
lay shivering, luddled in her shawl,
watching the black easement still, and
longing for tho dawn. Presently u light
hurried tap came to her door, and a voice
called
"Winniel-Winnie Caerlyonl'
"Yes, yesi Who is tti" she cried, start
ing up.
at is LADY Mountrevor," and the
door opened, and a tall dark form came
swiftly in. Are you afraid-are you
afraid of the STORM, WinnieW she 1atd,
trembling with agitation. 81 anil can.
not rest! / thought perhaps that you
were frightened too! Did l awake your
tits an awful night. Are you in bed,
WINNER
Yes, lying on the bed; lam half-dressed.
What is 1t, Lady Mountrevorf" Winnie
asked. frightened and bcwlldered. more by
her visitant's strange ann than any
thing else.
Are you not cold: Is your fire outi
How dreadful!" the latter exclaimed, in
the same hurried, trembling way. II
should go mad if l did not keep lights and
fires blazing on such a night IS thlsl !
suppose l have a bad conscience, Winnie.
Won't you come down to my rooms' They
are more comfortable. Oh, dol' she called.
impatiently. "And your window blinds
undrawn! Look at the darknessl Oh, do
come down and keep me company, childn'
She caught Winnic's arm aud almost
dragged her OF the bed.
Has anything frightened you-has any.
n,l,y,, s. HiD; i,Aall