Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-07

CTS cue.
 f~1HE gale was apparently at it's k height-that is to say, it was blowing harder than it had
 blown all through the night but those whose business is on the great waters know that gale usually fin 5shes it's wrath in few wild squalls f 'Tis getting puffy" the sailors say; 'tis nearly over."
 A man hurrying through the narrow main street of Yport was thrown against the shutters of the little bak- er's shop on the left hand side and stood there gasping for breath.
 Mon DieuE' he muttered. "It's dogs night" And he wiped the rain from his face. The wind, which blew from a wild northwest, roared against the towering cliffs and from east and west concen- trated itself funnel-wise on the gap where Yport lives. Out seaward there was a queer ghostly light lying on the face of the Waters-the storm light and landsmen rarely see it, for the sea was beaten into unbroken foam. The man, who was clad in oilskins, was n the neck of the funnel. Overhead le heard the wind roaring through the pines far up on the slope of the nar- row valley. Close at hand a continuous whistle told of its passage across the house tops. The man steadied himself with his left hand. He had but one, hnd he cursed the empty sleeve which Tapped across his face.
 I 7oI T wake that cure"
 He crept on while the gale paused to lake breath and moment later cow bred in the porch of a little yellow house. He kicked the door with his heel and then waited, with his ear to the great keyhole. Surely the cure must have been a good man to sleep in such a night The street had naturally been deserted, for it was nearly 3 b clock in the morning, and dawn could bot be far off.
 "A one armed man and a priesty said the man to himself, with an ex- pressive jerk of the head. And indeed all the men of Yport had sailed for the northern fisheries, leaving the village o the women and children and the naimed.
 Within the house there were sounds bf some one astir.
 "One comesp' cried a cheery voice belonging assuredly to some one who was brave for none expects to be call bd from his bed to hear good news. A single bolt was drawn and the door thrown open. The cure, a little man, stood back, shading the candle with his hand
 "Ah, Jean Belfort! It is you"
 "Yes, and my one arm,'' replied the man, coming in and closing the door. The rain dripped from his oilslins to he clean floor.
 "Ah. but this is no night to com plain! Better be on shore with one arm than at sea with two tonight"
 The little cure looked at his visitor with bright eyes and a shake of the bead. A quick spoken man this, with
 little square mouth, a soft heart, a keen sense of humor.
 Why have you got me from my bed, malcontent?'' he asked.
 Because there are some out there hat want your prayers" replied Bel fort, jerking his head toward the sea. Be was an unbeliever, this maimed Sailor. He spoke mockingly.
 'One can pray in the morning. Come with me while I get on some clothes f it is wreck" said the priest sim bly.
 The man followed him to a little bare room of which the walls were decorated by two cheap sacred prints and a crucifix such as may be bought for 10 sous at any fair on the coast.
 Never mind yodr hat" said the priest, seeing the mans fingers at the strings of his sou'wester. "Give me my great boots from the cupboard. A wreck, is it? The summer storms are always the worst Is it boat?''
 "Who knows?'' replied the man. "It Is my wife who looked from the win flow an hour ago and saw a light out Rt sea two points to the east of north Ia red light and then a green and then the masthead light"
 "A steamer."
 "So it would appear. And now there are no lights. That is all"
 The priest was dressed and now pulled on a great oilskin coat. There are men who seem compact in mind and body, impressing their fellows with sense of that restfulness which comes of assured strength. This Dttle priest was one of these, and the mental i'm press that he left upon all who came sn contact with him was to the effect that there is nothing in human life that need. appall, no sorrow beyond the reach of consolation, no temptation too strong to be resisted. The children ran after him in the streets, their faces expectant of joke. The women in the doorways gave little sigh as he pass ed. A woman will often sigh at the thought of that which another woman has lost, and this touches a whole gamut of thoughts which are above the reach of mans mind.
 The priest tied the strings of q soul xuoStor I1ndnr his mink chin He was