The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-11-09
MAT THE WRECK.M
WA @ +: @% e.: :;:::: '.:'':: N
WN~a\
NN
BY AGNES LOUISE PROVOST.

captain?"
"Humph! ! guess there is, but Id
be much Obliged if it would wait un-
Ill next week"
Captain Japhet Trail stood in the
doorway OF the little life-saving sta
tion and surveyed the weather indi-
cations with disappearing eye. A
rising wind was blowing in from the
sea, whistling a low note among the
dead grasses and patches OF scrub
pines. Out at sea it whipped the
sullen green eXpanse into ominous
little whitecaps; on shore the boom
of each wave striking the sand was
heavier than it had been two hours
before, and the undertow which
sucked back the swirling waters was
perceptibly swifter. On the captain s
right was huge beam, once part of
vessel, half-buried in the sand, and
on it young girl perched comfort
ably, watching the head Of the life
saving crew With interested eyes.
She had just come down here, a
good two miles from home along the
wind-swept beach, but Jean Redfield
was a good walker, and only her red
cheeks and tossed hair showed what
fine struggle that strong east wind
had given her.
why next week."
Don't want any wrecks now" he
said, briefly I'm short-handed.
Won't you come in and get warm?"
Jean hoped briskly down from
the beam and followed Captain Trail
into the hospitable warmth of the
life-saving station. 1t was always a
fascinating place TO her. Her host
was silent for a few moments, and
then started his remarks where he
had left off. The station was isolated
and lonely, and he enjoyed the girls
daily visits.
Peters is away" he volunteered.
"Billy's got the lumbago, and there's
nobody but me and the Prices and
your folks that can get together in
any kind of hurry"
But we don't often have wrecks"
IN M, no, they don't often come
close enough to shore along here, un-
less they lose their bearings. 'Taint
safe. But there was the bark Polly
Saunders, that was beat TO pieces
right before folks eyes four years
ago, and every soul on her drowned
1t was the next summer that the
gOv'ment built this station, and long
in November comes another tearing
big storm, and a wreck with it. We
saved every life on that one, down to
a cat that came ashore clawing tight
to a keg, end was fished in by Eb
Peters. You were away to school
then. I rec'lect. That was the last,
sissy, but we amt anxious for any
more. These February gales is mean
things to deal with"
Jeans eyes were big with attentive
interest. She had heard the same
thing many times, but it was ever
fresh 70 her. She had never seen a
wreck in her life. Her father had
moved here from an inland village a
few years before, but each succeeding
winter she had been away at school.
and only the letters from home told
her what terrible things the sea did
in the winter months. She walked
round slowly, examining for the
fftieth time the simple appliances of
the life-savers.
1T must be wonderful to rescue
people like that" she said. impetu-
ously. Being a girl is dreadfully
humdrum, Captain Trail. / think
should be happy all the rest of my
life if l could do some of the things
you do"
You'd get most awful wet lots of
times" remarked the captain, prac-
tically. and pounded black and blue
with the waves. and froze stifs a
board. Don't you fret about being a
girl. sissy. We can't get too many
OF the right kind. Must you go?"
oh, yes mother is still away. you
know. and must get home in time
TO have suppe. ready for father and
the boys. You have no idea how
hungry they are when they come
home these cold days. Come up TO
supper some night, and III show you
how boarding-school girls can cook"
She was gone with q bright nod OF
farewell. bending her head before the
blast OF wind which struck her as she
opened the door. II seemed 10 have
increased in violence in the last ten
minutes. a fine spray was flying in
with Il. the clouds were gray and
hung low. and the bare fields stretch
Ing inland looked bleak and chilly.
She walked more rapidly going
back. for. as she had said. there was
a generous hot supper 10 be prepared
for her father and brothers. This was
her first winter at home after all the
fun s5d business OF bosrding-school
days. and had IL not been for the
manifold duties OF the house she
would have been sadly lonely at
times, for the dear little mother had