Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-03-27
CHAPTER y XIII.

The wild scene that meets her sight
strikes terror to her heart. The mad
roaring of the waves that, mountains
high, rush impetuously inland to dash
themselves to pieces against the granite
rocks; the cries of the women: the hoarse
calls of the men, the flaming, restless
torches that fling weird light upon the
picture: all serve to unncrve her.
And now Il shout from the beach! A
dark object being dragged forward.
valiant cheer perhaps meant to reach
those miserable souls lowering on deaths
brink and so give courage to their failing
hearts; it is the lifc-boat. and NOM
a tall figure has suddenly become
prominent; he seems to tower above all
those around him. He is evidently ad-
dressing them with passionate words, and
now he springs into the boat. and with
renewed cloqucnce seems to compel those
present to follow him. His voice, in its
vchemence, rises even above the storm.
Not that the stricken girl crouching with
in the shelter of her rock needs that tes-
timony to know that it is he whom her
soul loveth.
Vera staggcrs to her feet and stares
blndiy into the semi-darkness. A hearty
cry goes up from those crowded together
on the beach The mists have cleared
away from the moon, and she can see
as well as those eager watchers that the
five black spots that were upon the rig
ging are no longer there.
They have been successful, then. so
far. They have taken those five half
dead creatures into the blessed lifeboat.
Surely, if the res'uers could so through
such a sea in safety. they can return.
| a blessed relief comes to her, sharp
~. so unpreparcdly, that she almost gives
way beneath it. The good ship. indeed,
is gone. Where the black. indistinct mass
stood Il minute since. now all is bare
there is but sea and sky, and the memory
of it. But the lifeboat still lives.
Every onward dash of the tempestuous
waves drives the lifeboat the more sure
ly into shelter, until at last it touches
ground. A hundred eager hands are
stretched out to prevent the returning
wave from carrying it backward, some of
the men, more adventurous than the rest,
rush into the surging tide up to their
waists and seize the boat and drag it for
chilly into safety.
Dysart, springing to land. helps out the
rescued men, now exhausted by fear and
cxposure-one of them. indeed, has faint
cd--but there are kindly arms open to
receive them and kindly voices to bid
them welcome-and to praise the God of
sea and land for their delivery from
death this night.
With Il hurried wave of the hand he
turns abruptly away from the cheering
crowd and the dancing torchlightS, and
makes his way through the heavy dark
ness toward the small pathway that will
lead to the road above. Stumbling, UNI
certain, and feeling altogether exhausted,
he nevertheless finds it. and puts out his
hand to gropc for the rock that he knows
stands ut the right side of it, where the
beach commences.
Good heavens, what is this? lie
, starts violently. and then his fingers fast
zen with almost conclusive energy over
the small cold hand that has been thrust
into his. A sharp little cry breaks
! through the darkness. and then the cold
hand is hurredly withdrawn, and two
| arms are thrown round him, and cling to
him with passionate vehemence.
1T is you-you And you are safe!
Oh, Scaton. Oh, thank heaven, thank
heaven"
Whose voice is it? Not Vera's? Vera!
and yet the clinging arms are warm, liv-
ing. and genuine: the sobbing voice Is
real; small dishevclcd head is very close
| to him-very. What has happened? Has
he gone mad!
| He is CHASTITY pale, white as the death
| from which he has but just now so mar
rowly escaped. and across his right tenn
pie there is slight streak of blood. still
wet This adds to his pallor. Vera, see
ing it, shuddcrs violently, and nyolun-
tarily, almost unconsciouSly. lifts her
hand. and presses her handkerchief to
the wound.
Speak" says he. and now the word
is Il command. 1t rings sharply There
is very anguish of doubt in his tone,
and his eyes. burning into hers, are so
full of desperate question, that they ut
terly unncrve her.
The strain of the past terrible hours
has been too severe. and now she sinks
beneath it, She bursts into tears.
"Oh. yes, yes, ycs.' she cries, giving
him thus vaguely the answer he requires
In moment his arms are round her.
crushing her against his heart TO him
those incoherent words are full of sweet
est meaning. Yes. she loves him. Who
shall tell the JOY this knowledge brings
him-joy that is almos. pain?
Darling, darling" whispers he, softly
And then after little while. II am too
happy. l do not know what to say.
cannot speak" And then again. May
l kiss you?"
He does not wait for permission, but
presses his lips to hers-dear lips, that
kiss him back again. with honest, heart
felt gladness.
| (The end)