Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-09-28

never complained, and he did not try
to force her love.
Then her child-her beautiful lit
tie Annie-was born, she softened
toward her husband in some slight
degree. The new and wonderful hap
piness which motherhood brought
her made her kinder to the father
of her child. And poor Vane was
raised 20 felicity altogether un-
known to Tim when she put the little
girl in his arms and suffered him to
kiss the white cheek he had dared
draw to rest against his shoulder.
AS Annie lived and developed char
acter, she was the strangest of all
children. Old far beyond her years,
lovely in face and gentle in temper,
full of quaint sayings, and caring for
no playmate but her mother.
AS Geraldine sat there on the sea-
shore, thinking over these things
have told you, something crept UP be-
meath her shawl, in the timid, coax
ing way one sees sometimes in pet
animal.
Mrs. Vane folded her arms around
the little creature, and kissed the up
turned white forehead.
What is it, my darling?" looking
down at the serious, questioning face
lifted to hers.
Mamma, tell me truly. is there
anything in d-eams?"
MY love. do not bother your little
head with such idle things Why do
you ask?"
Because, when you left me asleep,
mamma, dreamed of sinking ships,
and shs.-p rocks that tore the great
tlmbers apart, and then they went
down, down, down; and, oh! mamma,
heard n cries of the drowning
faces, and papa's among them! And
l screamed, and nurse woke me and
told me 1 had only been dreaming!"
In spite of herself, Geraldine shud-
dered. She was not in any degree
su2erstitious, but there was always
something about this child's weird
fancies which impressed one. She
held the slight form closer to her
side, and even as she did so, far off
over the waters came the dull boom
of a gun
ut is the ship! And they will be
drowned cried Annie, starting up.
See, see! 1t is on fire, and it is
floating in on the rocks below Egg
stone light"
The child spoke truly. A great
ship-an ocean steamer-wrapped in
flame and smoke. was drifting shore
ward. A projecting point of land
just then hid the steamer partially
from view.
Annie sprang forward down the
rocks Ike a cat, from one rock to
another, until she vas yards from the
shore, and the incoming tide, now
growing fierce and angry. was beat
ing around her. Geraldine followed
with terror in her heart.
Drenched with spray, the child
was clinging to pointed rock, lean
ing over wit wild, fascinated eyes
fixed on the burning ship.
1T is nly dream over again." she
said, solemly.
Geraldine gathered the child in her
arms, and all unmindful that the
tide was cutting them hopelessly off
from the shore, sac watched the fated
ship.
One mass of lurid fame, her
scorching sides hung with fated hui
man beings; even there she could
hear their vain cries for assistance.
Suddenly the blazing hulk reeled
and shuddered; for an instant the
flames seemed to die away. and the
smoke lowered its blood-red banner;
then all waters for fathoms around
seemed 20 scintillate with liquid fire!
One fearful plunge forward the ship
gave, one cry of mortal despair went
up to the black heavens, and the tide
rushed in like squadrons of white
horses, each eager to win the racei
1t was all over and the waters were
full of despairing, dying men fight
ing vainiy FOR that which was lost to
them forever-l;fe.
Toward the rock where Geraldine
and her child still chung, drifted one
of the ill-starred vessels passengers.
One arm disabled by a blow from
some of the burning rigging, he was
fast losine s'ran- eth to battle with the
waves. aad deat,l WAS very near him.
The woman tore of her silken scarf