Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-01-21
slip through his careless fingers, and II

~ hAst%t WV W ~
sight Of the dear little womanly face he
had never once hoped to see again.
II might have known IT," he said, look.
ing earnestly at her. ibid know it; but
/ could not believe it."
And now, guided by Winnie to the safe
place for ascent, the rescued meu-each
one revived by n dranght of the powerful
stimulant from the case-bottle-directcd
encouraged, n prepared for the long
perilous upward journey, were brought ur
one by one-some quite safely. others
NEE Ing with accidents of a slight nature
on the way; aud the shouts OF rejoicing
that greeted each arrival could be heard
above the roar Of the waters baffled OF
their prey.
The last OF the eight sailors had gone ul
out OF their sight, and Stephen Treden-
nick and Winnie Caerlyon were left alone
-alone--shut out from all the world-be-
yond the reach, for the time, OF all earthly
presences or intluences-that slender rope,
which would come down with its weighted
~slip-knots presently, swaying in the wind,
their sole mode of communication with
the land where their fellow-creatures lived
alone on the Black Reef OF Tregarthen,
with hundreds of feet OF frowning crag,
above them, ana behind them the risins
tide Of the wild sea. and the black, bat
tered hulk Of the i'll. fated Chtttoor.
winnie, ! thought you were in Ameri
ca" he said, gazing at her, almost doubt
ing the possibility OF her identity. ''How
did You come here TO save our lives?''
II have been at home for a week, SIR
she answered, simply; land | came dowr
because poor WillTreglyn, who attempted
to descend first, was badly hurt. There
was no one else. l was not afraid--nol'
auckland my weight was light on TIL,
rome"
kindling eyes. mo one else with your
pure heart and brave spirit, ] nm sure;
but they might have found someone else
whose weight might have been heavier on
the rope, but whose bodily frame would
have been better able to endure exposure
and hardship than this poor little one,' he
said, with a melancholy smile. trying to
shelter the drenched shivering form. you
knew what ships crew it was that were
wreckedY'
eyes, the stern, with the name painted
on it, was washed in this morning."
Eyes, yes" he said, his brow d~arkening
sadly; my gallant old ChtttOor. I'll never
tread a plank Of her again--my poor old
beauty" the sailor groaned, his voice
shaking, and the tears binding his eyes
as he turned to gaze at the shapeless heap
OF tempest-riven planks, beating to atoms
on the sharp rocks. IL never thought to
part company from her like that! | feel
rs IL had done wrong. TO be standing
here safe and sound, and my brave ship
that has carried me through wind and
weather these ten years or more, gone TO
her doom! But no mortal power could
have saved her. never left her until she
was parting amidships at five O'Clock this
morning-the second mate and myself and
poor Symons. He was hurt-one Of his
ribs crushed, l think-and we had to hold
him on the couple OF planks and hencoops
we had dashed together"
And where are all the rest2" Winnie
asked, ~fearfully.
II cannot tell" Stephen Tredennick
said, gloomily. Zone boats crew pushed
of as soon rs she struck-at three o'clock
and were swamped in a few minutes;
they went down before my eyes-ten or
eleven men. The next boat was stove in
as they tried to launch her. Then another
boats crew started-ffteen, | think--and
we lost sight of them in the darkness in
an instant; they were lost too, | dare saw.
And then, when the ship was going TO
pieces, the rest jumped over with spars,
oars, or anything they could lay hold OF.
Six OF them got in here before the mate.
Symons, and myself--the rest all persisted.
Fifty of my men and my ship gone-the
Chtttoor and nearly all my poor fellows!
we were short Of hands, too, or there
would nave been twelve more gone; and l
i was spared!" he groaned, bitterly.
Captain Tredennick," Winnie said.
gravely; ARE you displeased with Heaven
for sparing your life?"
mo" he returned, moodily, leaning ON
the wet rock beside her; II am not I'm
grateful to Heaven or to you: but, II I
could have saved my men and my ship. I
would have been willing never 10 see the
sun shine as it is shining over us now"
Il think" objected Winnie, striving to
speak calmly with the greatest difficulty,
that you ought TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES YOU
speak so-Wha the loss of your life would
be to others--what it would be to see YOU
washed in like-likc-one of the poor fell
lows corpses this morning. What would
IL oe to your aunt--the poor old lady
Madam Niyian-to Lady Mountrevor, who
loves you as IL you were her own brother?"
True enough, Winnie" he returned.
but without raising his head; but, my
dear, you don't know how badly q sailor
feels such u thing as hat which has hap
pened TO me-"
II think can imagine it, Captain Tired
ennick," she said, gently, and spoke never
n word more in her mute sympathy, stand
ing patiently beside him, whilst the cold
March wind chilled her through every
vein and nerve, and the cold salt moisture
dripped iclly from her wet hair and dress
over her s%huddering limbs.
Here is the rope at last!' he exclaimed.
rousing himself from his painful thoughts
MY poor child, you must be frozen,,
lie took the great double moose to
slip it over her shoulders, but the poor
little Denumbed hands held his in resist
ance.
Captain Tredennick, you must 90 first
you mustr' she said, passionately.
"They are waiting, longing every moment
to see your face. Poor Lady Mildred is
waiting, praying, hoping, and ~dreading;
you must go nrst-oh, you must-oh,
please leave me behind until the next
time!' poor Winnie entreated, with con-
vulsive sobs, feeling her strength going,
her limbs failing, an icy chill helplessness
creeping over her very soul, it seemed 10
her, and d~reading lest Stephen Treden-
hicks determination should prevail, and
that after all he might be left to death
and danger.
"And leave you'll" he cried, his face
flushing. How many more lives are to
be lost, ald l saved? Your life, too-wet,
chilled. benumbed, fainting almost as you
areI Winnie, what do you think of my
manhood that you could propose sucl a
brutally selfish course to me?"
'Oh, | cannot-I cannot-I will not leave
you here!" she said, her broken voice ris-
ing to a faint scream of despairing en-
treaty, as he adjusted the ropes around
her. and lifted her in his arms IN the fat