The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-01-15


young girls stepped aboard, each smil-
ing her sweetest as she noticed the
young minister standing on the wharf.
He returned their salutations with
serious cOuntenance, and with dignity
slightly lifted his hat; but his eyes
were strained TO the little narrow street
beyond, watching and waiting for her,
hoping, yet not knowing, that she
would come. 1t wanted one minute of
the hour, and anxious ones aboard the
little excursion steamer were calling to
Mr.. Grimshaw to come aboard and not
get left If he heard he needed not, and
just as he was about to give up hope of
her coming, just as they were about to
pull in the gangplank, a slight figure
in a neat-fitting black dress with white
lace at the throat and small black hat
set upon a shapely little head crowned
with a wealth of chestnut-brown hair,
approached the wharf. Calling to the
sailors to wait moment, John Grim
shaw sprang forward and. taking the
girl by the arm. forgetful that she could
not hear a word he said, explained to
her that she was late and must hurry
to get aboard in time. ,She only smiled
and turned her wistful eyes full upon
him. and his heart swelled with feel
ing undefinable for he thought that he
perceived love in her looks.
1t would occupy an hour and a half
to reach their destination. and he took
her under his special charge. 1t was
Il merry crowd. 1t was jOlliest in the
stern of the boat, where people were
packed like sardines on the deck seats
and on camp stools. John Grimshaw
and the mute little creature he loved
were sitting together. Their arms
touched as they leaned on the railing
and looked out upon the water-the
yachts. the smacks, the sailing vessels,
the rOwboats that passed and repassed
them. Suddenly he felt what seemed
to be the spray against his face. An
other instant. and without warning, big
drops of rain began to fall and an
ominous black cloud covered the blue
of the sky. Sheets of water rained and
blew from the northeast. Big green
waves that afterward became yeasty
dashed themselves aGgrlly against the
sides of the little steamer that rolled
and pitched In its efforts to upright it.
self against their fury. Thunder rolled
and binding and zig-zag streaks of
lightning played across the sky. The
rain poured in torrents and swept over
the deck, wetting everything in It's
path. and driving the now thoroughly
frightened people TO the opposite side
of the boat, which. with its uneven
weight. leaned and tipped in that direc-
ton. Water rushed In upon the lower
deck. The captain shouted: Some of
you 20 to the other side of the boat.
Don't all rush to one side. or you will
have us overheard" The women be-
cane excited. and a general rush to the
cabin began. until the order was given
that no more should come down into
the cabin. Women grew frantic, chill
dren cried and those filled with bravado
laughed at the almost calamity. Young
men who tried to be funny put on life
preseryers and walked about exhibiting
themselves, announcing: "The boat
will sink in fifteen minutes; get your
life preservers." But a warning look
from the minister soon quieted them.
The fury of the tempest in the mean
time never abated. The steamer was
shrouded in a mist of wind and rain,
and the erstwhile jolly crowd was now
@ panic-stricken one. Lunch baskets
and boxes that were carefully placed