Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-02-06
THERE'S A WRECK OFF COLLINS BEACH
DAnlp

cR . A WfSECh OEE COLElNS BEACd,
DAD!"
"She Won't be comm over to the
church any more nuther."
81 hope you will reconsider" began
Mr.. Doane.
"Well, 1 shan't. 1t don't take me
long to make up my mind, and when
I do it's fur good. Jestice is jestice."
Delilah had slipped away down the
path and leaned listlessly over the
gate. She could not bear to hear her
fathers words. After what seemed a
lifetime she saw Mr.. Doane courte-
ously withdrawing in a which
politely suggested he was tearing him
captains invective and terrible accu-
racy of statement. AT the gate he gave
his hand kindly to Delilah.
"We shall be sorry to lose you from
Sunday school for a time" he said, but
he added, with a hopeful smile: "No
doubt your father will think better of
this by and by. If you are in need of
help, come to me-"
The next few weeks were trying
ones for the girl. Whenever she came
upon a group of people talking earnest
ly the conversation, which was inva-
rtably upon church matters, was imme-
diately hushed. She felt keenly the
looks which the young people cast up
on her. When a kind neighbor asked,
Flows your father feeling today?"
she felt conscious and uncomfortable.
In each yard through the village she
found an unWelcome reminder, for the
people had utilized the old pews for
garden seats. The postmaster had
placed his against the wall in the Of
flee, where it was speedily occupied by
unemployed male Squanton. The chill
dren appropriated the silver numbers
and wore them jauntily in their hat
bands o. On their coat lapels for
badges.
The summer was nearly passed be-
fore the church was opened for wor-
ship. 1T was a sad day for Delilah.
When the bell rang, she took her little
Bible and walked across the fields to
the pine woods. C~ompanionship with
nature seemed to strengthen and exalt
her. Then she felt submissive and
forgiving for the first time.
On a stormy day in November a hur-
ricane ragged along the north shore, and
the little sea girt town Of %Squanton
store the idlers-refugees from the hur-
ricane-crowded about the stove and
agreed that the storm was q "peeler."
tits the kind that soaks in!' e3-
claimed Captain Drew, rising to look
at the blurred pane. Wouldn't keer
to be off Thatcher's Jest now"
Settling back, he stretched his long
limbs toward the stove again with an
added sense of comfort.
The sound Of laughter and greeting
was hushed suddenly, and there was Il
perceptible backward movement near
the door to admit a dripping figure. 1t
was Delilah, with a white, scared face
and long hair blown In a tangle about
her head.
"There's a wreck off Collins beach,
dad! she gasped. "They say it's the
Magnolia"
Captain Drew came. to his feet in
stantly, with every man present.
"How'd you know bout it, Delily?"
he asked as he buttoned his greatcoat.
II was on the point looking at the
waves"
you've no business to go prowlin'
round in sech a Storm" he said, not
unkindly.
She drew him one side. "The minis
ter is on board, dad. He was coming
down from Boston," she said.
"Well we won't see him drown right
under our noses. l guess, without try
In to save i'm. You leave 1t to your
father"
In the teeth of the gale they forced
their way to the shore. Above the
terrible roar of wind and sea they
shouted to Captain Drew that the life
boat had been manned and repeated
unsuccessful attempts made to cross
the channel. They told him that the
efforts to shoot the line across the yes.
eel and thus bring 1t into communion
ton with the shore had been fruitless.