The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-24
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

An old man with white hair and falt. ering limbs, who had followed the captain
 to the shore as fast as he could, pushed
 through the crowd and dropped on his
 knees.
 ''WilI. lad. don't go; don't TO-" he cried
 wrtnSing his hands. "Mammy's so sick and we're all we've got. Don't throw
 waves. have been on the coast for sixty year. an l never saw2such a sea-" The captain gently raised the old man
 Why. dad. you'd disewn me if I, didn't would. It don't run in our blood. It's all right. We are a pretty husky lot. l guess we kin get through"
 He seized the old mans hand and for the proper moment. and when the boat shot into the waves it was not thrown back.
 1t was q thrilling sight to the watchers on the shore as the boat pitched from of the oarsmen and the skillfui guidance of the captain. At every jump 1t seemed It must be swamped or broken to. pieces by the power of those walls of water. Sometimes 1t leaped from crest to crest down into the sea, and Winnifred closed her eyes and shut her hands until the nails pierced the palms. believing 1t was all over. But when she opened them each
 
 ting, ieaping and plungie3E sss,l sss.-e,ld man was on his knees praying.
 At last the steamer was reached and those on board were taken into the boat the outward until half the distance was accomplished. The hearts of the watch CTS beat high with hope. Winnifred had never experienced such emotion in all her life.
 Suddenly a great wave arose directly in the path of the boat, which dashed into 1t as into a stone wall. In an in- stant 1t capsized. and those within were thrown into the roaring sea- Part of the crew and a few of the rescued succeeded In grasping the overturned boat, and one by one crawled upon its slippery bottom. The tall figure of the captain was seen helping others out of the water. It was soon evident that there were more than refuge. Two or three slipped of in de- spair.. Then the watchers saw the cap tain rise and wave his hand to the shore and then plunge into the sea. It was after the two lone survivors were eventu- that Captain Will said to the others:
 Good bye"
 When he Ieaped into the water a great groan went up from the crowd.
 He's powerful swimmer, but nobody can live in that sea- remarked the w weatherbeaten fisherman, grimly
 But they all waited and watched breath fessly.
 Suddenly the white-haired father ut- tered a cry and darted down the coast A dark. soft object had been thrown up by the waves and landed with a thud on the beach. Winnifred was scarcely be- hind the father in reaching it. It was the captain. limp and white and motion less. The old man was down beside him, chahng his hands and calling to him. Winnifred dropped onto the cold. wet beach and drew the mans head In her lap. while she tried to infuse warmth into the icy temples. The old fisherman poured the contents of a flask down his throat. and all measures to revive him were soon in progress. It was soon they were rewarded by perceptible of the chest.
 Wnnffred insisted on his being carried ntoi her cottage, which was by far the nearest and he was snugly ensconced in her softest bed. Through the days fol- owing she nursed him assiduousiy. It had been a fearful strain and his recov- sry was slow. As the days passed she realized that she had found the hero of her dreams in this scantily educated. lear of death and so high a devotion to duty.
 Nor had the charms of this beautiful and cultured girl been lost on the man. w iteh ao Coiho " OCpdIt nC LhdIhto DcT awkwardIy for her care. and bluntly told her he wished his convalescence had been of longer duration.
 She dropped her eyes and told him it had been a pleasure and a privilege to minister unto him. As she raised her eyes their glances met, and he saw some- thing that caused him to gasp for breath and then to say eagerly:
 ''If you were of my class. and I dared to hope you could live after the modest manner of my people. l would ask you to let me spend my life in repaying you."
 They were standing close together, and he held out his arms appealingly She | dropped into them as she whispered:
 Any manner of life will be heaven l with you.'' After he had gone she smiled mis- 
 "At least he isn't marrying mo for my money" she thought He don't suspect | t."