The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-04-23

and she'll be wild. Maybe she has
thrown herself into the sea efter him."
"She walked away frae the sea. But
I'll seek her now If ye like"
But ye are soaltln' to the skin,
laddie, an jist saved fiae the sea.
Come to the fire. Annie will be here
soon. She'll come to nae harm"
But Ardbuckle could not rest He
turned on his heel out into the night
again, and just at the head of the slop-
ing shlngle met the girl walking with
slow, disconsolate step. He took her
by the arm, and his touch was tender
ness itself.
Come, my dear, II will do nae good
to be wanderin' here in the nicht. Ye
are wet an cauld, Annie. Come hame."
She suffered him to lead her; but she
spoke never word Once or twice
her eyes turned to the angry sea, which
had wrought such woe in her heart and
life. They came together to the house,
and old Jean Ardbuclile, whom the sea
had robbed of three sons and their
father, took the girl to her mothorly
heart. If there had been any bitter
ness there because she had seen an
other preferred to her own II melted
away at sight of that woe-begon face.
There was no sleep for them that
night; 1t was spent by the glowing
driftwood fire, and at the grey dawn
ing some peace came to the troubled
sea. mayhap to their hearts. Annie
Doom crept to her bed in the attic room
and sobbed herself to sleep. Next day,
in spite of what they would say, she
was with the searchers on the drift
strewn beach; but not on that day nor
on any other was the body of Frank
Scott recovered. Nor would be until
the sea gave up its dead.
Life has to flow i'm its appointed
channels. even though hearts are at the
breaking. The daily duty then be-
comes the merciful healer. The gaps
closed up In Portknockie year by year;
few white hairs, line about the
mouth, quietness and stiffness of
speech-these perhaps were accentuat-
ed by the increasing sorrow But the
boats put to sea as usual and the same
hours of anxiety and heart sickness
were endured by women on the shore.
Out of 1t there grows a quiet courage,
a dumb patience. still, unmurmering
waiting on the will of God.
Annie Doom did not weep where she
could be seen, nor did she give up a
single item of her daily task. The
only mother she had ever known was
growing Trailer day by day. The whole
care of the house devolved on her; and
there was work to be done, too, for
the fishers and the nets.
But out of the girls heart the sing
ing bird had gone. In the Spring of
the next year, when the wonderful
tenderness of an April sky was mirror
ed on sea which always smiled, Jean
Ardbuckle laid her down to die. She
was neither sad nor glad to go. She
would die as she had lived, acquiescing
in the will Of God
Annie" she said one day, as the
girl. who had been twice a daughter
to her, bent over her bed, "he has lo'ed
ye lang. my John. When | am game.
unless ye talk him, what will ye do?
If | could see ye man an wife afore
] dee ] would shut my cen in peace.
Il can never be wife to ony man,
, auntie; my heart is died." the girl an
swered, simply.
But il wad come TO life again
Annie. Listen. When | was young |
thocht as you do; but married man
{ that had loved me true for years. and
when | was his wife and his BARN
lay upon my knee | knew he was the
. man God meant for Inc. John has
loed ye a his life
The girls face flushed little and
) her eyes were troubled. In the soft
calm of the spring night she went out
upon the brae to commune with hel
I own heart and to ponder on what had
Y passed between ner aunt and herself
4 She thought of all the years she hat
been sheltered in that humble home
;. of Johns tender If undemonstrativt
: care, and a strange humbleness ant
. yearning towards him came over her
And somehow II was no surprise tc
= her when she turned and met him OF
a the brae face, guessing he had followed
I her from the house.
Y Isabel Broom is beside aunte," She
1 said quietly. to explain her absence.
!, IL KEN" he answered. I've come
= frae the hoose."
= They held upwards side by side unit
0 they came to place where the brat
q was cleft into a sheltered hollow
a where the pink sea daisies blew. Ant
there they stood still. she leaning
Q against boulder, with her eyes t
e sea. She was very frail and slight
r and her face was one of uncommon
t sweetness, with that touch of sadness
g which set her apart. He was stalwar
Q and strong, and the salt sea had tanned
n his cheek. and his eye was as blu'
il as the wave where the sun had kisset
J, 1t. But his face was sad also, ant
n there was silence between them.
Il "Aunties failin'. John" said Annie
'She will not live long moo"
y II see that. An you an will b,
Q left. Annie. We hae that to thinl
@ on"