Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-14

She was not in LIE Providence-that
he knew. Indeed, as he recalled the
conversation he had overheard, he re-
membered that she had spoken of inn
mediate departure. His cautious in
Quiries elected no response. Sister
Winifred was grave, almost to sever
ity, when he strOve to question her.
She knew no one by the name, of Sybil
Wraye. About fifty passengers had
been saved from the wreck Of the
Ocean Queen, but no such person was
among them, so far as she had heard.
A cousin of her own, Madam Gillette,
had spent few days at the hospital
before starting for Switzerland, and
she had talked much of the shipwreck:
but Sister Vinifred was always too
busy to hear worldly talk.
SO, with many thanks to the good
sisters for their Kindness, Herbert was
constrained to take his leave of lie
Providence without learning more.
1t would not be so difficult, he fan
cied. to get clue outside the hospital
walls.
He went to the hotel-a quaint, sub
mer time invalids of modest income
fresh sea breeze.
the cheerful little office, and. Judging
by her bright eyes and charming toll
ct. would not prove so difficult per-
sonage as Sister Winifred.
Monsieur was "Americain.' All
Mademoiselle Belville's eyes brighten
ed with interest-saved from the
wreck of the Ocean Queen? Ah-eyes
softening into sympathy-she had
heard! They had many guests at LIE
PRISONER who had also been on that
unfortunate vessel.
Ladies'? Yes, yes! many ladies.
Two boats had come in safe. But, eh,
mon Dieu! what We're two boatfuls
when so many were lost? There We're
several madames. and the engaging
housekceper showed her register. All.
but they We're overcome! They would
never be quite themselves again, as
monsieur would, no doubt, UNDER
stand. The shock and terror were so
grand so terrible"
"Mees Wraye?' All, no! there was
no such name on the books; and made
moiselle scanned them again, obliging-
ly. No such name-Herbert's eyes fol-
lowing her eagerly-no such name.
All, she hoped that monsieur had lost
no friend on board the Ocean Queen.
She had understood from some Of the
that the young gentleman
who had been taken to the hospital
was Il stranger, save by sight, to them
all.
Herbert thanked the gracious young
lady, and with a heart that had lost
of its determined hopeful
ness. went down to the beach.
The long boats of the fishermen
were drawn up in the sunshine; the
tide was out, and on the damp stretch
OF sand the men were busy mendinS
their nets and lines.
They were stolid, heavy-looking
peasants, and scarcely the type Of
men that could be easily reused to
deeGs of daring: and yet they had
proved themselves heroes in many Il
tempestuous night.
Herbert approached one of them,
and. making himself known as one Of
the survivors Of the Ocean Queen,
found he was an object of interest at
oLce.
"Ah, yes, yes said the old fisher
iAdH, IL WIS llc WOISI WleSh lAc
coast has had for years and years,
since Pierre Bardin was a boy; and
Pierre Bardin is no infant now. He
is siXty-four, if he is day, though
monsieur would not think so, if he
could see him, with rope around his
waist, battling with the waves. He
saved a dozen lives. All, 'twould be
strange. indeed, if monsieur had not
heard of Pierre Bardin. 1t was he
who saved the pale lady with the
golden hair, whose father was nearly
mad with grief"
"a pale lady With golden hair, dashed
to a spar
Eyes, yes, monsieur! But the spar
would never have saved her but for
Pierre Bardin. It was he who caught
her, in the black darkness, from the
cruel waves, that would have case her
on the rocks above. Eth mon Dieu!
but those We're cruel rocks! 1t was
there monsieur was found, with his
head so cut and bleeding that, but for
the good Sisters Of lie Providence, he
would never have lived to tell OF the
terrors of that awful night
All, yes! Sister Winlfred had told
Herbert of the 1nerciful manner in
which a kind Providence had saved
his life. She had told him Of those
frightful black rocks, THAT reared
themselves, like cruel monsters, on the
upper shore, waiting until the pillows
cast them their prey. 1t was there he
had been found, caught in cleft be-
tween the rocks, his helpless hand
closing to his heart an imaginary
form.
But Herbert was not thinking of his
own wonderful delivery now.
''Thc pale lady with the golden hair.
dashed to SPAR the lady whom
Pierre Bardin had saved-where was
she?
The sturdy old fisherman came shuf-
fling up the beach, and Herbert re-
solved to question him.
"Oui. oui"-the weather-beaten he
70 of fifty tempests scratched his griz-
lied head in response to the young
monsieur's inquiries, and looked as
stupid as though an idea had never
before entered his brain-"oul, oui!
there was lady he saved from the
wreck; but he did not know whittier
she had gone. He had not stopped to
ask her name; there were so many
names, and he could not remember.