The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-21

| ii sometimes: but II is like struggling
against a force mightier than my
| strength. | distrust him--I fear him!
| Who is her"
The captain laughed cheerily.
"Now, to prove to You how needless
ly nervous you have been, and that he
of whom you speak is more worthy
your confidence than doubt, will tell
you who he is. He is your grand
fathers stepson-Cuthbert Bracken."
Her" in startled dismay.
She remembered how her grandfath-
er had written of him-his scorn, his
hatred. She rose up, shivering strange
ly
Il am afraid my forebodings were
right, after all. He Is part of my new
life-of my yelled and shrouded new
lifei All. the old was sweet--so
sweet"
A faint wind had risen, and was stir
ring her heavy draperies. She stood
with clasped hands and dreamy eyes,
and looked far away to where the
black sea kissed the blacker sky.
''It was filed with papa!" she went
on, softly. 1t was such a glad life
such good life! He was all the world
to me. and--I lost HIM"
There was strange pathos in the
very simplicity of her grief.
your grandfather will take his
place" the captain began kindly.
But she lifted one slender hand in
swift resentment.
ooh, no. Not his placel No one
could ever take that to mel"
She drew her soft wraps round her
and prepared to go below
He is very wealthy" the captain
volunteered, after pause. HE will
make you his heiress."
yes; believe he wrote something
of the sort to my father"
The man in the shadow behind
them brought his teeth together with
a sharp snap.
"She inherit! Not while l live, by
heaven!"
A swift, fiery fash tore across the
sky. He shrank back little as the
captain and his charge brushed by
him.
Once in her cabin Laurie Lisle flung
of her shawl and bonnet and went up
to little woman who sat reading by
the light of swinging lamp.
"Did you think I was never coming
down? Capt Merrick was so kind to
me, and think the air, the little there
was of 1t. did me good"
The small, keen-eyed, rosy-cheeked,
gray-haired lady before her shook her
head in sad disbelief.
you are absolutely coiorless, my
dear; you must try and have a good
sleep. Hark!"
crash of thunder rolled across the
waters, hoarse and ominous. Laurie
changed her dress for a wrapper-a
soft, white, flowing wrapper of finest
cashmere-and sat down to read the
tedious hours away. All her beautiful
hair was unbound and rippled over her
shoulders, FURNISHED and billowy.
Tent How fierce the storm was
growing! The lightning glared about
the room like the eyes of hungry
wolves; the thunder muttered and
reared; hoarse and more hoarse grew
the howl Of the waters; higher and
higher the great white waves leaped.
Eleven! Oh, God, what a night, for
the sea and the sky were leagued--
leagued against man! And whenever
here came a lula merciful, breath
less pause--out leaped the whips of the
wind and dashed the storm anew.
In the narrow, sitting cabin, Laurie
Isle stood erect, and listened to the
turmoil overhead, to the cries and
sounds that told her Of the brave souls
burning, the brave hands toiling, the
brave hearts struggling-for life!
Her eyes were dilated and black
with fear, but the soft, girlish lips
were compressed into one soft and
rigid line.
Could they hold out much longer,
those earnest workers above? oh,
where was He of Galilee, to whisper
Peace, be still"
Every timber in the ship was creak-
ing.
The wind was shrieking like thing
In pain. Up. down; up, down--from
billow to billow the vessel was dashed,
like the toys of child
Midnight! Hark! that wall of de-
spair! 1t sobbed through the dense
and starless night; 1t rang out to tie
ragged and stormy sky; 1t shivered
over the world of waters, boundless.
fetterless, shoreless.
"Fire!"
Fire! Fire at midnight-flre at sea!
Above the crash of the ceaseless thun-
der. above the roar OF the hungry
ocean. above the wall of the mad
dened wind, that cry arose ana out
shrilled-
Fire, fire, frei"
CHAPTER vi.