The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-04-23
The Bells of POrtknOCkie.
AN IDYLL OF THE NORTH SEA.
BY DAVID LYALL.

low water It's black cruel outline could
be defined by the troubled passage of
the waves above II. Upon this treach-
erous reef many barque had founder
ed, many a life destroyed. II had in
deed been the grave of many a fair
and goodly hope.
Annie Doom paused outside the door
of her aunts cottage. the home that
had sheltered her since she had been
cast orphaned on the sea of life.
Through the unshuttered window she
could see the dropping figure In its
hopeless attitude by the fire; she could
even catch the expression on her face.
II indicated prayer.
IL Wilma go in," she said to herself.
with a sob. "She Gamma hear the bell.
and 1t may be that they'll be saved
yet"
Then she sped up the brae with foot
so fleet that she overlook them long be-
fore they reached the summit. Even
from that point of vantage there was
little to be seen.
and the light of the Beacon only serv-
ed to show the whereabouts of the
treacherous rocks, but sent no beam
afar. Quite suddenly, however the
clouds were swept aside as by an un-
seen hand, and a fitful moon shone
out very clear and bright, revealing
the boat in distress and also the res
cuers on the harbor at Portknockie.
The lifeboat was launched with a
.st. .at, Oh 81
through the terrible sea tumult to the
| distressed men on the wreck. IL was
an hour of terrible suspense, but at
last the survivors. three men and a
| boy, were taken off, and the boat leap
| ed in the trough of the sea again as
they tried to steer 1t back.
All this time there was no certainty
among the watchers on the cliff re-
| garding the boat or its crew; but
somehow they accepted the fact that
1t was the Bonnie Ann, with John
ArdbuclSle, the skipper, on board. and
Frank Scott, whom Annie Doom loved.
Now Ardbuckle was Annie's cousin.
and loved her as his own soul. lie was
a big. slow, dour man, of few words
and forbiddlng aspect; but the young.
slim girl who had grown up as sister
at his side. had become a part of his
life and being. and he had sworn. time
and again, that none but he should
have her to wife. But Annie had
laughed at him. and said nobody ever
married a brother, which was what
he was to her. Then there had grown
up in his soul a fierce, slow, terrible
jealousy of Scott, who was part owner
with him of the Bonnie Ann, and had
been his constant companion all his
life. And when some one outside, at
Portknockie, had told him Annie and
Scott were to be married at the New
Year If the "drave" was good, he had,
saying nothing, vowed to himself that
1t should not be.
| Under cover of the darkness Annie
Doom slid down the face of the brae
to Portknockie nimbly as young deer,
and came upon the harbor mouth as
the lifeboat grated against the steps.
Then she stood. with the shawl drop
ing from her shoulders, and the wet
wind in her hair. until they came up,
one by one. Ardbuckle saw her first.
"Ye are there. Annie" he said, with a
kind of gruff gentleness. "Ye had bet
ter been at hame."
where's Frank, John? Where's
my lad? Have ye left him behind?'
she asked. in voice shrill with pain.
I'VE had to. lassie. A wave washed
him clean into the sea before our very
cen. An what could man do for him
then, puir chield? Come ava hame."
But she would not let him touch her
Let me a bel" she said, and turning
from him disappeared in the darkness
And none saw which way she turned.
They talked in low. regretful mur.
murs of their comrade whom the sea
had claimed. He was one beloved OF
all for his high courage, his sunny
heart, and generous disposition. ant
all were wac for sweet Annie Doom
widowed before she was a bride. Ard
buckle had little to say, at which, how.
ever. none wondered, knowing him tt
be still. silent man, who refraineG
from all verbal expression even wheI
he felt most.
AS there was nothing to be done
until the dawning. when II would bt
their melancholy task to seek theil
comrades body among the drift cas-
by the storm, they began to dispers,
slowly to their homes. 1t was clos,
on midnight, and that had been ar
anxious, weary day. Ardbuckle, still
keeping himself apart from his fellows
strobe home to his mothers cottage OF
the lee shore, under the shadow O
the cliff.
No light burned there. The solitar.
figure crouching In despair by the fir,
had forgotten the flight of time. Sh,
, sat so motionless, she might have beer
asleep or dead. The step on tn,
shingle outside aroused her; 1t was tn,
step she loved, and had scarcely hope,
to hear again on earth. She spranl
A, up with low, shrill cry and met he
son at the opening of the door.
: "Eh, my laddie. are ye safe afte
az" she cried. beginning to weep nov