The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-07-05

but you must put on your strong boots,
and tell nurse to tie my woolen scarf across
your chest.
Willie and Mabey began to protest,
Mr. North returned to his severe man
ner and silenced them
''Sibly says no, and that is enough"
he said mot another word.
Their mouths turned down.
Il think they might come down to the
beach, said Sibly, seeing their disap-
pointment. ''It is only Tethers point
that is too far. Mabey, be good and ask
father if you may come down with me for
"A quarter of an hour before going to bed
Mabey shrank back behind her elder
sisters skirt s.
But Sibyl meant to 90 to Tether' $
point herself,' said Elsie, ''you know you
did, Sibyl You told me so. You want
to see the waves. y
''I can see them just as well on the
shore here, said Sibyl.
''Why should you sacrifice yourself to
these children ?" said Mr.. North testify.
"Why can't their governess take them?''
"She is lying down with headac he.
sir, and nurse has cold, and l can send
one of the other servants out tonight. Be
sides, I like to 90 with the children. y
"Well, just as you like, said Mr..
North Grossly. He went to his study.
The wind was roaring around the house
and the waves thundered on the shore.
He settled himself to his work He
dipped his pen in the ink and looked at the
ruled paper before him. He wrote sen
tence, read it over, altered word and fl
nally cancelled the whole with line. Then
he began once more. The house shook in
the ferceness of the gale A draft came
from the chimney. Presently he heard
the boys and Elsie starting. He heard
their boots on the hall, and Elsie strong
pair creaked. Arthur ungallantly told
her that they made his head ache. Mr.
North smiled dryly as he heard Else's re-
tort that they had been Arthur before
they were herr and that they would be
his still only that they had ceased to fit
him.
"And I'm not surprised she added,
'though they are miles too big for me. "
The door slammed on the argument.
Then he heard the pattering of Mabey
and Willie and their excited voices calling
for Sibyl.
Coming, coming, coming = sounded
in her voice from up stairs. He heard
her bounding lightly down with a jump at
the last fonr steps Then it struck him
that he had spoken Grossly to her-even
though it had been on her own behalf
and as she passed the study door he called
to her.
'What is it, father?''
"Nothing. | want to kiss you; that S
all.
Dear old father
II am u bear sometimes
"Never, father Never bear to me. -
''Sibyl p
''Yes, dear.
DO the children love me p
'Ies, father. You are little bit
sharp with them sometimes.
She laid her face against his.
ssTry to be gentle with them. They
are children They don't understand
''How good you are, Sibyl =
After that he moved as if he would &C
on with his work. The children had
opened the hall door, and they had admitted
the four winds of heaven.
Now | must be off, he said.
|
He never knew what impulse moved
him. but he followed her to the door, anc
there he kissed her again. When he wen
back to his writing table, there were tear
in his eyes.
Half an hour passed 1t was filled III
the study by the sound of the scratching
of pen. The vicar wrote that night ;
sermon that he never preached. The tex
was from the thirty first chapter of Prov
erbs and the twenty ninth verse.
He heard the children come in and he
called to them.
"Where is your sister, dear? he asked
of Mabey.
sShe sent us in because it was time fol
us to 90 to bed, and she has stopped be
cause she wanted to see the sea, and 81
we re to 90 to nurse.
"And oh, the sea S so rough, sale
Willie, ''and there are big enormous waves
as bic as-oh, ever so big And Mabey'
hat nearly blew away, and our coats arr
quite wet
$50 and take them off, my boy. Goo'
night, little man. Good night, Mabey
Run along.
X x 4: X 4
Sibyl stood on the beach and watched
the sea- Her clothes were twisted roun(
her by the gale, and her hair had beer
blown loose and was slapping her in tn
face and tapping like ribbons. Ever.
wave seemed to dig into the shore as i
broke with the crashing of a thousand guns
and then rushed up the floating shingle
1t tore the stones back with grindin.
sound on its receding. Spray stood il
drops on Sibyrs face and on the nap of he
rough coat. Foam lay like yellow snoV
in a long line that was washed higher ant
higher.
How the wind roared, and how the Sc
thundered Sibyl breathed a prayer 70
all who were at the mercy of the waters
What free and superb curve was that Q
the breaking wave There must be for
moment hollow, she thought, under eac
as the hollow under the Falls of Niagara
where YOU can stand unwet in the heart G
the cataract.
In the wild evening the glamour of tn
; storm took possession of her. She wa
buffeted by the wind and wet by the spra
till it seemed to be that the tempest awok
kindred spirit within her. She woul
like to dash into those angry waves an
help in the havoc of the night. Ho,
rapturous to be a mermaid, to dive throug
those monstrous breakers, to ride upon tn
crests of them, to throw yourself back
ward, thence with outstretched arms
turn and tumble and dance till you churne