Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-04-01
CHAPTER XIII.

Cf1Af En- AAll1.
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 unnerve her.
And now a shout from the beach!
dark object being dragged forward, a
valiant cheer, perhaps meant to reach
those miserable souls lowering on deaths
brink, and so give courage to their failing
hearts; it is the life-boat, and now
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 beat, and with
renewed eloQuence seems to compel those
present to follow him. His voice, in its
vehemence, 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 loyeth.
Vera staggers to her feet and stares
blindly 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 rescuers could go through
such sea in safety, they can return.
| A blessed relief comes to her, so sharp
ly, so unpreparedly, that she almost gives
way beneath it. The good ship, indeed,
is gone! Where the black, indistinct mass
stood a 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
cibly into safety.
Dysart, springing to land, helps out the
rescued men, now exhausted by fear and
eXposure-one of them, indeed, has faint
ed-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 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, un-
certain, and feeling altogether exhausted
he nevertheless finds it, and puts out his
hand to grope for the rock that he knows
stands at the right side of it, where the
beach commences.
"Good heavens, what is this? He
starts violently, and then his fingers fast
en- with almost convulsive energy oveI
the small cold hand that has been thrust
into his. A sharp little cry breaks
through the darkness, and then the cold
hand is hurriedly withdrawn, and two
arms are thrown round him, and cling to
him with passionate vehemence.
1T is you-you! And you are safe
Oh, Seaton! oh, thank heaven, thank
| heaven!' p
Whose voice is it? Not Vera's? Vera
and yet the clinging arms are warm, iv
ing, and genuine; the sobbing voice i:
real; a small disheveled head is very close
to him-very! What has happened? Ha.
he gone mad?
He is ghastly 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, shudders violently, and involun
tarily, almost unconsciousiy, lifts he
hand, and presses her handkerchief tt
the wound.
Speak" says he, and now the wore
is a command. 1t rings sharply. Their,
is very anguish of doubt in his tone
and his eyes, burning into hers, are 81
full of desperate question, that they ut
terly unnerve her.
The strain of the past terrible hour
has been too severe, and now she sink
beneath it. She bursts into tears.
"Oh. yes, yes, yes!' she cries, givin;
him thus vaguely the answer he requires
In moment his arms are round her
crushing her against his heart To hin
those incoherent words are full of sweet
est meaning. Yes, she loves him. VIII
shall tell the joy this knowledge bring
him-joy that is almost pain?
Darling, darling" whispers he, softly
, And then after a little while, Il am to-
happy. do not know what to say.
cannot speak" And then again, Ma
, l kiss you?"
He does not wait for permission. bu
. presses his lips to hers-dear lips, tha
kiss him back again, with honest, heart
. felt gladness.
CThe end)