The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-29


=I later, standing on the step
lESZExYJ by the back door and but
toning his peajacket, II s'pose it had
to come out some time, but did hope
'twould come more soothin' like, as the
Teller said to the dentist. The thing
that worried me most of all-always
exceptin' your givin' me the mitten, as
I'd begun to think you had-was how
we was goin' to break it to the old
maids. And now it's kind Of broke It
1lf, as you might say"
Clara, standing in the doorway, With
shawl about her shoulders, smiled,
but shook her head. YES" she said, Il
should say it had. l guess the best
thing can do is to move back home
right away. They'll never forgive me
for letting you fall in love with me.
Ezra, never in the world"
ooh, don't know" replied the cap
tain hopefully. That's where Brad II
help out. He can do more than any
body else to square you and me with
Prissy and Tempy. Land of love! Is
Iudl CLOCK
Eyes, it is. You must be going right
away. I'd no idea twas so late
The fog had entirely disappeared,
and it was clear, cold November
night. The heavens were spattereI
thick with stars, and the horizon was
dotted here and there with the sparks
of lighthouses and lightships. Sleep
ing Orham lay still, and the surf
hummed a restful lullaby.
what was thatY asked Clara,
pointing.
'What was whatY'
81 thought saw a queer light out
on the water there. Yes; see, there it
Is again. =
The captain put up his hand to
shade his eyes from the rays of the
lamp in the kitchen and looked in the
direction she was pointing. Out be-
yond the strip of water at the foot Of
the long hill behind the house, beyond
the point that divided it from the har-
Dor, a speck of light glowed for an in
slant, fickered and went out.
THAT'S queer" he muttered. That's
off in the harbor, right by our moor
ms
The speck of light reappeared, grew
larger, pulled for an instant into a
ruddy flame that lit up the masts and
hull of schooner lying at anchor.
Lord A'mightyw yelled Captain
Titcomb. Its the Diving Belle on
fret
And from the darkness in the direc-
ton of the distant wharf came faint
shout, then another.
The captain plunged headlong for
the back fence. "Call Bradv' he shout
ed. Quick
Clara ran screaming into the house,
and her companion vaulted the fence
and dashed down the hill. The dead
grass beneath his feet was wet and
slippery. Blackberry vines caught him
about the ankles. and tangled clumps
of bayberry bushes tore his clothes as
he scrambled through them. Once he
fell head first into sand pit, but the
sand was soft and he was not hurt.
The Diving Belle was on fire! The
Diving Belle was burning up! His
brain repeated it over and over again
Then came the thought of what her
loss would mean to Bradley and him
self, and he groaned aloud.
He reached the foot of the hill and
plowed through the soft sand of the
beach. The tide was low, and he ran
across the flats, splashing to his knees
in the channels. AS he climbed the
bank by the bridge he heard some one
running before him over the loose
planks.
He crossed the bridge and painted up
the second hill. As he reached it's top
the wind from the sea struck cold on
his sweating forehead and brought to
his ears the sound of shouting. There
We're lights in the upper windows of
the houses he passed. Jonadab Wixon
thrust tousled head from the win
dow Of his bedroom and hailed, asking
what was the matter.
Captain Titcomb could see the clus-
ter of buildings at the landing plainly
now and the masts of the catboats
alongside the wharf. The water of
the harbor was black except in one
spot. There the Diving Belle lay in
q Pickering halo Of red light. Little
jets of flame were shooting up from
her hull amidships. The smell of
burning wood come on the wind.
Lem Mullett, the livery stable keep
er, was just ahead, putting and STUN
bling in the middle of the narrow road.
He seized the captain by the arm as
the latter overlook him.
sHow'd-how'd-she git-afire?" he
gasped.
Captain Titcomb did not answer. His