Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-09-27

Ole BondnanA. A..
Continued
a. uA.I CAME Story.

Continued
Story.
By HALL CAME.

What power outside Of himself was
at work with him? Did anything tell
him that this was the great moment OF
his life-that his destiny hung on it
that the ordeal he had just gone thro'
was as nothing to the ordeal that was
yet before him? AS he sat in his boat
peering into the darkness at the black
shadow on the horizon, did any voice
whisper in his ear: stephen Orry, on
the ship that Is yonder there is one
who hates you and has sworn to slay
you? He is coming, he Is coming, and
he is flesh Of your flesh. He is your
own son, and Rachers"
Stephen Orry fetched his boat away
to leeward, and in two minutes more
he had run down the light on the Point
of Ayre. The light fell into the water
and then all was dark. Stephen Orry
steered on over the freshening sea, and
then slackened sail off to wait and TO
watch. All this time he had been sit
ting at the tiller, never having risen
from 1t since he stepped his mast by
the side Of the brig. Now he got on
his feet to shorten sail, for the wind
was rising and he meant to drift by
the mizzen. AS he rose something fell
with a clank to the boats bottom from
his lap or his pocket. 1t WAS the bag
of money, which Michael Sunlocks had
returned to him.
Stephen Orry stopped down to pick
it up; and having it in his hand he
dropped back like a man who has been
dealt blow. Then, indeed, a voice
rang IN his ears; he could hear 1t over
the wind that was rising, the plash OF
the white breakers on the beach, and
the low boom of the deep sea outside.
Remember your promise, father.
have bought every hour Of your life
that's left"
His heart seemed to stand stillfi He
looked around in the dull agony Of
fear that was new to him, turning his
tyes first to the headland that showed
family against the heavy sky, and then
to the pier where no light now shone.
and then to the black cloud of sail that
grew larger every instant. One minute
passed-two-three Meantime the black
cloud of sail was drawing closer. There
were living men aboard of that ship,
and they were running on to their
death. Yes, there were men, living men
men with wives who loved them, and
children who climbed to their knees.
But perhaps they had seen the light
when it went down. Merciful heaven,
let it be so-let it be so!
The soul Of Stephen Orry was awake
at length. Another minute he waited,
andother and another, and the black
shadow came yet nearer. AT her next
tack the ship would run on the land,
and already Stephen seemed to hear
the grating of her keel on the rocks
below the beach. He could bear the
suspense no longer, and hoisted sail
to bear down on the schooner and warn
her. But the wind was strong by this
time, driving hard off the sea, and the
tide ran faster than before.
Stephen Orry was now some thirty
space 10 lIle IlOI III Va lllC OlO-
ken pier, and at that point the current
from across Maughold Head meets the
current going across the Null of Gallo
way Laboring in the heavy sea he
could barely fetch about, but when at
last he got head out to sea he began
to drive down on the schooner at a
furious speed He tried to run close
along by her on the weather sde, but
before be came within a hundred faith
oms he saw that he was in the full race
of the north current, and strong sea-
man though he was, he could not get
near Then he shouted, but the schoon-
er had gave no sign. In the darkness
the dark vessel scudded past him.
He was now like a man possessed.
Fetching about he ran in before the
wind, thinking to pass the schooner on
her tack. He passed her indeed, he was
shot far beyond her, shouting as he
went, but again his voice was drowned
in the roar of the sea. He was almost
atop of the breakers now, yet he fetch
ed about once more, and shouted again
and again. But the ship came on and
on, and no one heard the wild voice,
that rang out between the dark sea and
sky like the cry of strong swimmer in
his last agony.