Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-01-07
CHAPTER XIV.

you to attempt, my dear Madam had
said, with IA rather cold smile, when Lady
Mountrevor and Winnie, wrapped in hoods
and thick shawls, had entered her break.
fast-room TO explain their absence. and
inform her Of their intentions for the rest
of the day. You are very y
suppose, and ii is really very good OF You.
Lady Mountrcvor, 10 take such an interest
in those poor unhappy creatures. Can |
do anything, can ! send anything up &c
Tregar then, Mildrcd2 will with pleas.
ure.'
"Thank you, Madam, no. her niece re-.
piled, coldly. '~Tregarthcn House is well
supplied"
And do you really think that n OF
them have escaped? Hardly, ] should i'm.
agine, poor creatures" and Madam'S little
dimpled hand t!uttered coquettishly
amongst the hanging white laces Of her
purple satin under-slcevcs, as with smile
che offered a dainty brcakrast-cup of her
favorite green tea TO her visitors.
I'VE breakfasted au hour since, thank
you, again said Lady Mildred, more
trigidly, and drawing Winnie away. eve
but came 10 explain our absence, and
apologize for it, Madam. am old enough
to consider an effort to save a poor, half
dead sailors life Of more importance than
a comfortable breakfast at the usual nine
o'clock hour-and | believe Miss Winnie
Caerlyon shares my popularity. We shall
not be home 10 dinner. Good morning,
MADAME
Good morning, Lady Mountrevor!'' re-
turned Madam, offended, and taking up
the newspaper.
Good morning, Madam said Winnie.
MCdam rustled the paper very loudly,
held the sheet before her face, and made
no reply.
DOL really think that any Of them have
escaped'' Lady Mountrevor repeated in
dignantly, rs she and Winnie made their
way along the wild, bleak cliff road. II
prefer to make sure of the fact with my
own eyes and ears, at all events, instead
OF sitting slipping tea and enjoying raised
pies and buttered toast and reading the
paper, whilst my fellow creatures are per-
ishlng in II watcry grave within n mile OF
my doors. You do not call that s~elhshness
horrible, cold-blooded selishness?" she
said, sharply, to Winnie.
Madam would not be selfish if those
she loved were in trouble or danger, I am
sure" answered Winnie. "Shc does not
feel her sympathy excited, rs yours is,
about poor strangers whom she never saw
or heard OF. If you or--or her nephew,
Captain T~redennick, were in trouble or
danger, she would act very differently. 1t
is n lack Of sympathy"
Il should say so, decidedly" Lady Mil
dred exclaimed, Indignantly. IL wonder
II anyone has been saved. | wonder il
they know anything about the vessel yet.
What are they all doing down there on
the shore, Winnie? VIII you ask some.
one you know-a Coastguard or one one
else-to tell usI" she said. impatiently.
Are they letting people die whilst they
save casks and barrels?"
But John Richards, of whom Winnie
made inquiries. informed Lady Mountrc-
vor, with II Responding shake of his head,
that there was no one saved.
'Leastways, my lady, theer be no one
but Tower drownded dead corpses-all
white and gashly to look mt, my lady-'e
daren't go ancar OF 'eml''
But the men that were seen coming
in?" Lady Mildred asked, eagerly.
BLESS e, my LADY, means" John
Richards replied, with a more Responding
shake of the head, they couldn't a-coma
n-nigh the foot o. the Head; they be dead
corpses long ago, my lady"
But John Richards seemed fated to make
incorrect statements this morning, and
burly Ned Boscawen to hear and repri-
mand him.
who tould Of e that they was deads"
he demanded of his subordinate. with
much acrimony. BEG 'er pardon, nv
lady, they was seen alive by young Will
Treglyn haafe an hour ago, one on 'em
waivin' a white cloth or fag--for helm. I
s'pose, poor fellows! The young Will
Treglyn he see 'em when he climbed out
as far rs he could on that spur of rock be-
low theer."
And are you doing nothing to help
themp" Lady Mildred asked, with flashing
eyes. 'Those people below there ire risk
ing their lives after the rubbish from the
wreck, while the crew perish within sight
of aidr"
1--WE are a savin' Of the cargo as comes
in" Ned Boscawen retorted, doggedly:
'but that doesn't say as how men can
SVEN haafe a mile through breakers. We
can't do nothcn tell the tide is full agen.
and then maybe the cutter can get on o
Bit
1.-The tide will not be out yet for an hour
nearly, and you must wait until it is full
again." Winnie said, laying her thin little
hand, like a flake Of snow, entreatingly,
on the boatswain's rough blue sleeve.
"Oh, Ned, a nothing be done before
that"
"'Tesn't no manner o. use in % bein'
asker OF that of me!' responded Ned, test
lily. Can e fly over the cliff like a gull?
Can e SVEN like q fish? Then, if e can't.
e can't do nothen, / tell e, Miss Winnie,
tell full tide"
docs no one know anything about the
~vessel-even her name, cargo--anything'"
Lady Mildred inquired again.
She's bleeved TO be q merchantman-
her cargo's tea and such like, as far as we
can tell-we've seen no NAME, 'cept her
cargo's London bound" Ned replied,
briefly, edging away from her ladyship's
inquiries.
Dfsconsolately ~irresolute, they stood
where the gruff boatswain had left them,
in the scant shelter Of a high bank-Win.
ME looking sadly at tho raging waves,