The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-05-01

Il Nousl.
JEAN KATE LUDLUM.
YEIeaT, RopEsr BoXNER,s SoNs. lsas. |

Cnce more she turned to The window,
looking across the black sand-hil!S 10
the invisible rearing surf.
Il had not thought of that" she said,
an anxious noe in her voice.
You need not worry about it, dear.
he said. gently. catching 5l.is troubled
tone. The coast guard are able fell
lows"
A distant report OF firearms inter-
rupted him, and brought Alecia to her
feet. He also started up and began
hastily dressing.
''Some boat In Distress" he said hur-
riedly. "a pleasure or fishing-boat,
probably, for that was rife-shot. A
steamship would fire heavy guns and
send up rockets"
"What are you going to do, Harold?"
Come" he said," we will so down
stairs, Alicia, and learn if there is dan
ger 1t may be nothing. I have fright
ened you, dearest"
He held the door open for her to pass
through, and reached out his hand to
her as she crossed the room from the
window.
ut may only be some signal from
the Government House. ne said, smil-
ing to reassure her.
She placed her hand trustingly in his
and they passed out together, but the
hand was a hand of Ice and her heart
was beating in terror. Her sensitive
spirit was stirred by the probability of
danger to others. 1t was such fear
full night.
They came upon excited groups IN
the hall and parlor, the ladies gather
ing at once around Alicia, as though
there were some subtle strength and
magetism in her presence. Harold
passed out upon tie piazza with q few
of the men to learn what was possible
of the threatened danger.
"a ticklish thing" shouted George
Priestly, turning aside from the burst
of shrieking wind that struck across
the pier, holding his hat on with enc
hand and grasping the lapels Of lis
coat with the other, that it should not
be torn from him. "a ticklisa thing,
now, tell you, fellows, il it's small
boat out there! Those shots didn't
come from the coast side; they're OF to
leeward, and the coast-suard will have
a hard time trying to save them. Pret-
ty rocky, you know, out farther
Mighty little hope, I say. What is 1t,
Banks"
"a yacht" replied one Of the hotel
hands, hurrying past them across the
piazza for lanterns. Every one was
alert, for a wreck was terrible thing
in such a storm. She's down by the
point. Been letting off rockets. Too
far gone for that, though, now. Hard.
ly bit of her left whole. They'll do
what they can to save 'em, but there
amt much hope"
Lets 90 down. shouted Harold.
Perhaps we may beof service. They'll
need all of that they can get, God help
themw
But we cannot go down there"
protested Charlie Brown, decidedly.
Wen blow across to Europe if we
try"
"Well, don't object to a free pass
age across" rctorted Harold, shortly.
He was of ere he finished speaking,
struggling, with his companions, with
the sheets Of rain and hail beating
upon them. The sea had lifted itself
in the might of the storm and was
flashing close up under the plank walks
along the sand, washing over their feet
now and then as they fought their
way.
Alicia, with her friends in the parlor
of the Surf Hotel, would indeed have
been proud Of her husband could she
have known of his errand. But she
did not know, and Ninette was cling
ing to her for courage, and a group
surrounded her discussing the danger
of vessel upon the sea. and trembling
under the terrible shocks OF thunder
roaring around them.
Poor Bess Catherwood was as White
as a ghost, and had long ago forgiven
Leland. and would not allow him to
stir from her side for moment even
to learn what was passing outside, but
clung to him with her small hands, her
terrified eyes now lifted to his, now
close shut under their lids to keep out
the lightning flashes.
"Oh, it's just dreadful-dreadful-
dreadfulr she would say, as a thun-
der-burst reyerberated around and
around the building, snatchinS her
hands from his arm to cover her ears