The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-07-25

an SOlhS " LhClhs 0LS JOo ASoAyS
elder?"
"No, no, Willv cried the elder.
"There's nae use whatever. You could
not get near by, and, saying you could,
how in Gods name could you help
them, and it black as Tophet? Wait
till morning, and I will go WI you
then"
"Elder, it is in my very soul to go
now. know not why, but be to CO."
He said the words with a clear, posi-
tive voice, and Helen looked at him
with a new admiration. His liOnlike
face, firm as a rock; his steady, gleam-
ing eyes; his great form, clad in its
storm clothing; his voice, at once so
gentle and so firm-all about the man
had the semblance and the reality Of
everything that appeals to woman's
best nature-power, beauty, strength,
nobility of character, heroism facing
death, not recklessly, but with grand
eur of purpose and confidence of result.
Brodick rose as Will spoke, put on
his oils and boots, and the two men
went out together. And the two wo-
men watched and prayed all through
the dark, cold, stormy night, talking a
little, adding fuel to the fire and trem-
bling at the blasts of wind that came
laundering down the wide chimney.
And this is what the men must do
Who work in wind and foam,
And this is what the women bear
Who watch for them at home.
When the cold dawning broke, they
went to the door and stood looking over
the moaning, tossing waters. Sea and
sky were ghostly and terrible; the sky
full of snaky tints of yellow and livid
gray the sea saturnine, passionate, dark
with fate, and the gale still whistling
loud and shrill, with that peculiar iron
ring that means mischief. But they
could see the lifeboat coming to the
shore, with short plunges; she was Of
ten hid behind the great wall of waves
or else out of sight in the trough of the
sea, but yet advancing and advancing
until the measured beat of her oars was
audible. 1t was soon evident that some
one was dead or injured, and as the
men approached with their burden Hell
en- said with gasp of pain:
SIT is Will! 1t is WHIP
They brought him into Brodick's
house, and while one man ran for a
doctor the elder himself applied such
rude surgery as his long experience of
sea life mad taught him. Will was in
sensible and bleeding from the nose
and mouth, but in few hor' he had
regained his consciousness and was
sleeping off the fatigue of his gigantic
efforts. Then Mrs. Brodick rested lit
tie from her labors over him and asked
the elder how he had been so badly
hurt.
"We should all of US have been but
dead men if the Great Fisher of the lake
Of Galilee had not been with u.s." said
Brodick reverently. "Will did wonders
with his help. We found the little craft
on the reef, but we did not dare to go
close to her in the black night. She
had .foundered, but her topmast was
above the water line, though often
washed by the big waves. and on this
mast there were two men and wee
laddie twelve years old. They had
tied the poor BARN to the cage and
were gripping hard themselves, and
we stood by them all night long. And
so whenever there was bit lull in the
wind then Will called out-and you ken
what a voice he has-loud and clear as
a trumpet: Hold on! Hold on till morn
ing! And at the first peep Of light we
went to them, but we could not get
close, and it was WIN that swan off
and brought them all to the boat, and
the third time he was at the last pinch
of strength, for the waves throttled
him and beat him constant. and we had
to lift him and his burden out of the
water. bath of them senseless and
poor Will bleeding sair and the very
image of death. But he'll be a. right
in a day or two, and as long as he
lives he may take the joy of them three
lives for his guerdon. He Is brave
man."
"And good man. Robert"
"Aye, or he would not be brave"
So Will remained four days at Bro
dicks and during that time was ten
derly cared for by the women of the
house. 1t was q good time for him-a
new, delicious torpor, full of the pres
ence of Helen, filed him with rest and
happiness. And to have this noble, un-
selfish giant as dependent on her mercy
and kindness as a baby brought the
love in Helen's heart to a rich and sud-
den ripeness. On the afternoon of the
fourth day Mrs. Brodick opened the door
of Willis room. He was sitting In big
chair by the fire, but he never saw her.
for Helen's arms We're around his neck
and her face was against his face, and
the whole world was in their embrace.
Then the good woman softly closed the
door and went on tiptoes into the house
place. There was a radiant smile on
her face, and she reused the elder from
his afternoon nap, saying:
wake up, Robertl l hae good news
for you. 1t is a. right, it is a. right in
yonder.'
II kent it would be-"
"And they shall have a big wedding.
You shall gle them the cottage on the