The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-07-05

q wonderful man deserved. As
soon as the noon whistles blew. the
bridge tender. in his little house
perched high above the middle span,
would begin to look eagerly across the
causeway for the 1Httcr of Stella's
blue skirt and the sieam Of the red
ribbon on Ter hat.
She enyieG her small brother tie hon
or cf bringing the ui1rer pail from
home. But it was i treat o. which she
never tired 10 climb to tie airy engine
house, kiss the big man III Overaiis,
and futter round him while lie ate and
chatted and pretended to drive her out
with iourishes of mighty fist.
After school, in pleasant weather.
and when her home duties were not
pressing, Stella would hurry across
the breeze swept causeway to perch IN
the window of the engine house and
look down the open harbor toward
the sparkling stretches CT Long Island
Sound. There was alwdys much to
see, especially in the iste afternoon,
when the oyster sharpies were sailing
home from the days work. At first
glimpse their sails were tiny specAs
against the blue water. If the wind
was fresh and fair, they grew as if
by magic, and in half all hour or so
the laden sharpies came sweeping tow
ard the bridge like great white birds
eager for home.
Then her father pulled at shinine
lever, the engine painted and groaned,
and the great bridge opened its huge
arms to welcome the hurrying fleet.
And the oystermen, sk.mminS through
the draw, would joo,, ur from under
their battered southwesters, and wave
their hands at O'Connell, the bridge
tender, with such heart: greetings as
these:
Hello. Bill! Here's two dozen fat
ones on the half shell if you'll send
that bright eyed kid Of yours round for
'em after supper"
GA little breezy up there. Stella?
Well, you ought to have down OF
Black Point to-day. 1t turned the oys-
ferS pump INSIDE out.
One afternoon late in The autumn
her mother looked up from her knit
ting, and said to Stella with worried
air:
'Deary, don't feel quite right about
your father. It threatens TO be the
worst gale we've had in years. And
he had one of his dizzy spells this
morning, and I made him promise to
get young Jackson to tend the draw
this afternoon, while he went for some
medicine and came home to lie down
for a spell. It's nearly four O'CLOCK
and he's not here yet"
Mrs. O'Conneli was almost shouting
for the wind was crying wildly over
the roof, and the cottage trembled
with it's fury. Stella stocked her moth
er's hair with a soothing gesture, and
tried to reassure her.
"It's a big blow, mother, when we
feel it here under the lee OF the hill,
almost a mile from the bridge. But
daddy's found it too wet to so out, and
he's waiting on the bridge, snug and
warm, till six o'clock. Then he'll
coming running like big bear
The mother shook her head, and
went to the window with quick and
uneasy step. She tried to pick up her
work. but her mind was elsewhere.
She turned to Stella again:
"No, I don't like to seem overanX-
ious, but I'm not satisfied. I wish
Bub here was bigger. I'd send him
down to the bridge right away. I don't
often worry, but your fathers over
due. The storm didn't break till an
hour ago. He had plenty of time to
get young Jackson and be here long
ago. And Jackson's home and idle, for
I saw him this morning"
Stella listened to the war chant OF
the northeaster, and hesitated. Then
her young mouth tightene6 in q firm
line of decision as she said:
"Tm going to put on my long boots
and REFER and 60 down there. The
wet won't hurt ne. I can't bear to
see you fretting, mother. 1t isn't dark
yet.
Her mother protested, but Stella
darted into the hall, and presently re-
appeared, bundled up like young mid
shipman on a winters night. She
kissed her mother and was off before
more objection could be raised.
The girl Gid not kEow the might OF
the sudden storm until she staggered
upon the open causeway across the
marsh. Here the wind had swept up
the unusually high tide, and was fling
ing it across the harbor wall in shat
tered billows. The biting cir was full
of flying scud, which filed her eyes
so that she halted, afraid that wave
she could not see would dash her
clean over the barrier.
Then she crept over to the lee CT
the seaward wall, and fell there, pray
ing that strength might come back to
her. Presently she pulled herself
along, inch by inch, oscar Ing the heav-
lest fury of the waves by crouching
close against the w::N.
Onco on tho lnn,r slono loo i]inr I'm "a