Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-09-18

nldIt hillSI, Il Tuhy liASS, NiHS Al
thur
Il used to make believe / was a 10
comotive sometimes. and go choo, chOo
choo." l replied with IN effort.
OH
she seemed disappointed. 1 put my
pipe back between my teeth and pulled
my cap further over my eyes. yet no
so far rs to shut her out of vision
She was very lovely. She Wore white
things. Her sleeves were rolled up Il
her elbows-I could see the dimples oc
casionally-and her hat. Il broad, flap
ping thing of white cloth with a scarf
floating away from it. was getting
very, very wet from the water thai
had splashed in the bottom of the boat
| wanted TO warn her OF this. but tn;
sun was so jolly. the air SO balmy. an(
| was so altogether comfortable thai
conversation was repellant.
Helen drew in her line dreamily
scowled ferociously at finding the bait
intact. and dropped it back again into
the smooth green water. Then she
folded her wet, brown hands on the
gunwale, and stared thoughtfully
across the harbor. She was very love
ly. The sun made Glints of copper in
her brown hair. Behind her. half q
mile away. was the beach. golden il
the morning sunlight: above it the
g~reen-clad bluff, topped by the hideous
veranda-mad hotel. Over all was q
cloudless blue sky. About us was the
sea. green around fhe boat. blue fur
Their away, shot with dazzling fieckS
and blurs of sunlight.
From the beach came the soft hus
ssh of the tiny waves. Affair." off a loco
motive shrieked shrilly. Seven silvery
chimes floated across from the CLEAN.
ing white yacht in front of the club,
house. and We're echoed over and Over
by smaller craft. Under my head the
lazy swell Tapped sleepily at the bow.
II think you have a bite" said
Helen. doubtfully.
l glanced at where ny line was tied
around a thole-pin.
Yes, | believe / have" | said.
aren't you going to see?" asked
Helen.
1 closed my eyes negatively.
you're the LATEST man I ever saw
she said.
Not lazy: philanthropic. I am Civ
ing a little fishie a nice breakfast"
Helen watched my line. Presently
she sighed. Its all over"
1 shuddered and closed my eyes
again. After a minute or two the end
of the painter began to dig into my
back, and | stirred uncomfortably and
looked at Helen. She was observing
me intently from two very wide open
blue eyes. She laughed softly.
Il thought l could do it. she
triumphed.
1T was the painter" / denied, indig-
nantly..
Very we'll" she replied. soothingly.
Lets make believe"
"All right; go ahead"
She scowled until she had two
creases over her nose and looked at
me as though 1 wasn't there; then she
said. "We're shipwrecked.'
The deuce" said l..
eyes; three days out from-from-''
"Morris Cove"
Liverpool" she continued, frown-
fng. 1--WE ran into a terrible storm,
which dismantled u.s."
"Oh. well, we can do without man
tells I comforted.
Both masts went by the board and
the captain and second officer and the
entire crew Were swept overheard in a
heavy sea-"
l shuddered. "He owed nae three
dollars" I mourned.
"He was a goddess man. said Helen,
severely.
II beg your pardon?'
He was a goddess man. He was
ah-intoxicated at the time of the dis
aster. 1t was a Judgment"
1T was" | affirmed. 1 shook my
head sadly. Then I asked. Where
were we at that time?"
I'm latitude thirty-seven and a half
west" said Helen. glibly.
"Alnst have been a bargain l muir.
INJURED.
Shortly after" she continued. "the
storm abated. Alone and unassisted
you rugged a jury mast"
Il did" | assented, eagerly. I
strove to look heroic, even going to the
length Of removing my pipe: then a
natural generosity reprovcd me. 'But
You forget YOURSELF" I charged; ..you
forget the-er-the splendid assistance
you rendered me. You forget how,
dashed to-er-lashed to a hen coop
you labored bravely with me through
the long watches OF the night. and
when morning dawned gray and cheer
less over a tossing. leaden sea. YOU
Nothing of tire sort" she interrupt
ed You forget that | am a passenger.
l passed the awful hours in my srate-
room, praying for morning. expecting
every moment TO he the last
"Oh.' said |. chad the wrong book
it's Clark. Russell, isn't it,"
She paid no heed. With eyes fixed
upon the distant horizon she spoke on
like a seer. "A spell OF calm weather
followed
1T did" I said. humbly. II saw it
following"
Hourly we scanned the ocean for
sight OF a sail. Once She paused:
her voice broke with emotion. Once,
far in the distance. low down on the
horiz0n@v
Il thought /. was horizon -
I'VE sighted a speck. Il faint blnr
against the immensely of the empty
world. All day~we watched It, eating
nothing, silently praying that 1t might
change its course and come to our
rescue. Yet when night came down
we were once more alone in the vast
darkness"
~or oak ysstness,v ! offered, help
fully.