The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
CHATTER ".

Once within its walls. We were supplied
with dry. warm raiment. Then we were
brought into . great hall. with q noble
groined stone roof, supported on pillars
with strange carven capitals. At one side
was a great open fireplace. wherein a huge
peat fire burned and glowed, filling the
apartment with its strange odor. and q
table had been drawn up. wherein stood q
large tureen Of steamine. fragrant soup
and the young lady who had been on the
beach was lading the generous stun into
basins and passing It round to our COM
rades, who sat clothed and dry. but yet
had scarce ceased shivering. and whose
hollow cheeks and still trembling limbs told
Of the surerings they had endured.
But I could not eat by reason Of being
in so much pain. which I reckoned to be
the result Of q blow I had received through
being dashed violently against a rock in
coming ashore through those terrible waves
I saw the maiden cast anxious glances at
me az I sat back, white and sick, leaning
against the old oaken settle. Presently.
signing to a peasant woman, who fingered
about in the hall, gazing at Us. to take her
place at the soup tureen. h went away.
and. after q short absence, she returned.
and. coming to me. she said she feared I
was hurt and III. and that II would be best
for me to lie down In bed, so that she had
had q room prepared for me.
By this time I was fain to acknowledge
to myself that I could sit no longer. so
with Tom Dart's help. 1 managed to get
to the apartment assigned to me: a large
and lofty room. where was a great four
post bed. hung with faded silk embroidered
hansinEs. and high enough to make 1t DIFF
hcult for q man with two fractured ribs to
climb into.
Yes-that was the result Of Mick the
blacksmith's examination Of my hurt. There
was no doctor within thirty miles and more
across the wild and deso'ate country at
Ballina, but Mick. every one averfed.
knew more about the bones of man and
beast than any doctor in all Connausht.
which was probably pretty near the truth.
I must a slept some hours. for when
I walked. q level feeble ray OF watery sum
shine stole in sideways At one Of the high
narrow windows. that lit my apartment.
and the bowling Of the wind had fallen to
a low and melancholy wall, like q dirge for
the destruction and death that its fury had
wrought
Dear Meg" / heard the soft voice n OF
4 child saying eagerly. do let me Just see
him; oh. I viii be 50 quiet. but I ID, . want
to see the brave man who saved them
all!'
Hush. dariing-whisper-you must be
very quiet for he was sieesine just now and
the other sailor also. Sleep viii do him
good. Wen. just creep In and take n
peep!''
I closed my eyes. pretending to be asleep.
but I did not quite shut them. but let in a
Elimmer Of light so as to see my visitors.
They came In very gently. tip toeing over
the old oak fioor as quiet as two mice.
1t was the maiden who had been, OF the
beach, and who seemed to preside over the
old place. She was tall and slight and very
fair with sunny hair and gray blue eyes,
and by her side. clinging to her hand. wa
\ little maid Of Z or 8 summers, whose dark
eyes and curling dark hair made Q won.
derous contrast with her pale little face.
and whoasa1ed Ut ms with . sort Of awe