The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-11-09

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in the gloom. II fell short. and az
the second trial the wind beat il back
like a feather; but Captain Trail set
his teeth and waited for a momentary
lull. Then there were a few seconds
of aching suspense, followed by a
iusty cheer from the shore as the
tightening OF the line showed that
eager hands We're fastening ir TO the
mast. a little more OF the good work
aad the first sailor would be making
that wonderful journey toward land.
Jeans heart was pounding with
excitement. hut as she moved nearer
she heard the words, "Per.shinG cold,
DOOR souls jerkei ont grimly by
her father as he worked. and sud-
den idea came which nearly took her
breath away. Less than IN eighth
of mile away the light in their
kitchen window shone like friendly
beacon. The sailors would h
dragged 10 shore drenched, numbed,
exhausted The limited hospitality
of the life-saving station was two
miles away on one side, and the viii
| lhSF a liAlt Nhh a llAAAA WI AAAN blltAs
J Her own home was the nearest, and
she-she was hostess while her
mother was away.
Holding her lips tight for fear the
good determination would somehow
escape Jean turned and ran for
home, not daring 10 look back again
at the buoy, now bobbing out braveiy
ha In II utf
fairly dark. and bushes and shadows
took on terrifying shapes, hut there
was no time TO be frightened Into
the kitchen she darted like an i'm
petuous young cyclone. threw her
wet coat or a chair and commenced
TO work energetically at the fire.
II seemed hours before the fire
would burn properly, and whole ages
before the kettle finally began to sing,
but all the time she was rushing bus
lily round. starting up the fire in the
chilled sitting room. opening the
spare room. bringing out extra
blankets. and doing everything which
could minister TO the comfort of half
frozen guests. Once she paused. be-
tween a sob and laugh, and wiped
her eyes.
Il know | am too greedy and
selfish TO live, but | did so want to see
them bring the crew ashore. I'll
never get another chance. never"
When she hurried out again. the
gray Of a wintry dawn showed the
dismantled hulk OF a vessel offshOre,
1. Al
seemed about to engulf her. The
little group on the shore was now
much larger. re-enforced by people
who had hurried down from the viii
lage, and they all were gathered
about a drenched, exhausted
group Of seamen. One OF them lay
Hat on the sand, with several people
working over him.
! A fem moments later her father
and Captain Trail, standing side by
side, looked down in amazement at
n slender, breathless girl. swaying
under the weight of a kettle which
gave out the most enticing odor of
hot coffee. over her left arm she
carried several cups, strung by their
handles over bit Of string.
You can bring them all up--to
our house" she painted. It's warm
and beds ready-and here's some
hot coffee for them-for all OF you.
o Captain Trail, have they all come
in?"
She laughed next day as she re-
called the desperate emphasis she laid
on the word all" but Captain Trail
/ had had girls of his own, and he un-
| derstood in minute. Her father
patted her shoulder ComfOrtingly,
and smiled over her head at the cap
tain as he took the kettle away from
/ her.
why, no, sissy, not quite" said
Captain Trail, cheerfully. You're in
time to see the last and best man OF
all. We've just sent out for the cap
tain. Stand right here. Your pail
look after the coffee"
A few moments later II was IL
over, and she had seen it, The waves
were bounding high over the schooner
Beresford, but her captain, dragged
out of the very teeth OF the surf.
stood in the midst Of his crew, and
offered grateful hand to Captain
| Trail
You are brave men, sir. You have
saved every soul Of us, and did not
think there was a man alive could do
lit"
Before them all Captain Trail
reached out his big. rough hand and
drew Jean toward him.
We only did our part, sir, only our
part. Cap'n, let me introduce my
| first mate. She's here 10 keep You
alive, now that you've landed Try
some Of her coffee. It's hrst-rate."
Half year later, when Jean.
rather young but very ambitious
teacher. had taken her first school in
a nearby town, she received pack
age with a foreign postmark. On
little slip inside was written, Com
pliments of the Beresford." and un-