Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-11-11

er darkness. The fire fickered more
eloomily and the shadows fitted about
more ghostily.
The cupboard seemed scantier, the
furniture rougher, the bed clothing
lighter, the floor was more bare and
even the good natured house cat seemed
gloomier as the rain and wind ragged
outside and beat upon the cabin as if it
were cursed and doomed forever.
Sankala was usually of light heart
and spirit, but her nature was all
crushed tonight. She sat beside the
bed which was drawn near the fire.
She gazed into the flames with tear.
stained eyes. She would look into the
future, but there was nothing to see.
Then the terrible episodes of the day
flashed through her mind like success
sion of nightmares or hideous dreams.
Blu. she did not forget her duty. As
regular as the clock would she turn and
change the damp cloths upon Ring
wold's head and examine the hot
smoothing-iron at his feet. The cloths
were kept cold and the irons were kept
hot.
Ringwold barely breathed. The ex-
element of the day had about cut the
last thread that held his feeble old life.
When the life savers rescued them the
boat had its nose against Destruction
Rocks, which point no boat had ever
reached before and been saved. Ring
void knew nothing of the rescue. His
last conscious moments were to see
himself and Sankala going to destruc-
tion. When he saw the inevitable and
the struggling frail child battling with
the mountains of sea the feeble old man
collapsed in heap In the bottom Of
the boat.
The long hours of exposure had told
on him and it was already whispered
about the village that tonight was Ring
wold's last night on earth. But the
fishermen had become accumstomed to
his sinking spells and Sankala was left
alone with him.
Sankala had not been afraid. She
was not afraid now. 1t was not be-
cause she was less refined than other
gillt or naturally drawer than other
girls. 1t was because che had peen
schooled against fear. Her life had
been her schooling and it had been one
in which all Of the hardships had been
taught in praC tical lessons. Not per-
formed and rehearsed for the occasion,
but lessons that came with the routine
Of every day life.
When mere babe she had been cast
ashore like 30 much driftwood. And
all Of her young life che had been
buffeted about on the bay and river in
a small fishing boat like cookie. shell.
She had become so interlinked with
danger that it seemed her constant COM
panion and she only thought of it az
such.
1t was not Sankala's bad seamanship
OF lack Of skill that led her across the
danger line. but it was her lack OF
strength. The trap they tended lay to
the west nearer the bar tLan others
and while rounding the rocks to reach
the trap the undertow, unusually strong
from the all night storm, caught her
and carried her boat away by sheer
force.
She was meditating over the days
exciting episodes and The condition of
her companion. Young as she was,
she knew that Ringwold could not last
much longer. They were reduced to
the direst straits. Fishing was poor
and wages were poorer. Ringwold was
no longer useful. He was more of a
hindrance as co-worker. His COM
pan; onship was all that was left her.
They now only earned scant living
and should Ringwold become bed-rid-
den she did not know what she would
do. He had not confided fully to her
the secret of her life and the mysteries
OF the documents concealed under the
hearth. Would these help herr She
made up her mind that should Ring
would recover again she would breach
the subject to him.
1t was not so much for bel own self
that she was prompted, but she wished
to ease the old mans life in his last
days. lie had made great struggle
Tor her and she wished to repay him in
some way.
While meditating over her troubles,
there came loud, heavy knock at the
door. 1t sounded like the rap of
doom. She could not tell why, but
she trembled. Sankala was not in the
habit OF experiencing such sensations.
She went to the door and opened it..
Come in!' she said in hollow
tone.
1t was old Seadog! What could
bring him at such an hour of the
night. Then old Seadog always sent
for his employees instead OF calling
upon them.
"Will YOU be seated2n asLed tho