Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-17
Fabian of old that Portia gazes at him ID

bleNJ WOHuCls
"There is a ship in sore trouble down
there" he says, pointing as though he can
see the sea down below, where now the
angry surf is rolling in, mountains high,
hoarsely roaring as it comes. Brown
from the sea-coast station has just run
I'D to tell us of it. They are about to man
the lifeboat; who will come down to the
beach with meT
They have all come forward by this
time, and now the men, going eagerly to
seize on any coats and hats nearest to
them, make themselves ready to go down
and render any assistance that may be re-
ouired Of them. The station is but little
one, the coast-guards few, and of late
sort of intermittent fever has laid many
Of the fishermen low, so that their help
may, for all they yet can know, be sorely
needed.
Fabian, who has been delayed In many
ways, is almost the last to leave the
house. Hurrying now to the doorway, he
Is stopped by slight figure, that, coming
up to him in the glodA Of the night that
PUSHES in upon him from the opened hall
door. seems like some spirit of the storm.
II is Portia. Her face is very white, her
hps are trembling, but her eyes are full
Of a strange, feverish fire.
MAY / 20, too? Do not prevent me"
| she says, In an agitated tone, laying hei
hand upon mis- arm. IL must go, can
uot stay here alone, thinking, thinking"
your interrupts he; "and on such
night as thisl Certainly not. Go back to
, the drawing room at once" Involuntary
he puts out his hand across the doorway,
as though to bar her egress. Then sud
denly recollection forces itself upon him.
he drops his extended arm, and coldly
averts his eyes from hers.
81 beg your pardon" he says; "why
should | dictate to you? You will do as
you please, of course; by what right do
advise or forbid your
Oppressed by the harshness of his man
J ner and his determined GOODNESS that
amounts almost to dislike, Portia makes
no reply. When first he spoke his words
though unloving, had still been full of
! rough regard for her well-being, but his
/ sudden change to the Indifferent tone Of
nm utter stranger had struck cold upon
her heart. Cast down and disheartcned,
: she now shrinks little to one side, and by
o faint gesture of the hand motions him
to the open door.
AS though unconscious, or cruelty care
less Of the wound he has inflicted, Fabian
turns away from her and goes out into
the sullen, stormy night, and, reaching
The side path that leads directly through
The wood to the shore, is soon lost to
sight.
Upon the beach dark forms are hurry
Ing to and fro. Now and then can be
heard. the distant signal-gun; small knots
of fishermen are congregated together
and can be seen talking anxiously wher
the lurid lightning, flashing overhead
breaks in upon the darkness.
There is terrible confusion everywhere,
Hurried ordinations and shrill cries OF
fear and pity rise above the angry moan.
ing of the wind, as now and then faint
lull comes in the storm; then, too, can be
heard the bitter sobs and lamentations OF
two women, who are clinging to theil
men, as though by their weak arms they
would hold them from battling with the
ives tonight.