The Democratic advocate., 1908-01-03
Seleft Storg.
AT THE WRECK.
BY AGNES LOUISE PROVOST.

'tIsn't there going to be a storm, cap.
| tain p
''Humph guess there is, but I'd
be much obliged if it would wait until
next week.
Captain Japhet Trail stood in the door
way Of the little e-saving station and
surveyed the weather indications with dis
| approving eye. A rising wind was blow
ing in from the sea, whistling 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
right was huge beam, once part of q
vessel, half buried in the sand, and on il
young girl perched comfortably, watch
ing the head of the life-saving crew with
interested eyes.
She had just come down here, good
two miles from home along the ewind swept
beach, but Jean Redield was 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. "Tm short t-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 sta
tion. 1t was always fascinating place to
her. Her host was silent for a few mo-
ments, and then started his remarks where
he had left off. The station was isolated
and lonely, and he enjoyed the girl daily
visits.
"Peters is away he volunteered.
"Billys got the lumbago, and there's no.
body but me and the Prices and your folks
that can get together in any kind of a
hurry"
"But we don't often have wrecks?'
"M'm, no, they don't often come close
enough to shore along here, unless they
lose their bearings. 'Tain't 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 wreck with it. We saved
every life on that one, down to cat that
came ashore clawing tight to keg, and
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 in
terest. She had heard the same thing
many times, but it was ever fresh to her.
She had never seen Q wreck in her
life Her father had moved here from an
inland village few years before, but each
succeeding winter she has 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.
cit must be wonderful to rescue people
like that she said, impetuously.
"Being a girl is dreadfully humdrum,
Captain Trail. I think I should be
happy all the rest of my life if could do
some of the things you do"
"You'd get most awful wet lots of
times,' remarked the captain, practically,
"and pounded black and blue with the
waves, and froze stiffs board. Don't
you fret about being girl, sissy. We can't
get too many of the right kind. Must
you go?'
"Qh, yes, mother is still away, you
know, and must get home in time to have
supper 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 I'll
show you how boarding school girls can
cook"
She was gone with bright nod Of fare
well, bending her head before the blast Of
wind which struck her as she opened the
door. 1t seemed to have increased in
violence in the last ten minutes. A fine
spray was flying in with it, the clouds were
gray and hung low, and the bare fields
stretching inland looked bleak and chilly.
She walked more rapidly going back,
for, as she had said, there was generous
hot supper to be prepared for her father
and brothers. This was her first winter
at home after all the fun and business of
boarding school days, and had it not been
for the manifold duties of the house she
would have been sadly lonely at times, for
the dear little mother had broken in health,
and was away for long rest.
In spite of her warm wraps, Jean began
to feel chilled before the first mile was
covered. As she reached home, few
scurrying snow fakes began to fall, and
she looked anxiously out at the heavy sea,
remembering what Captain Trail had said.
Jean found it ALMOST impossible to sleep
that night. The noise of the sea deepened
into heavy roar, and the wind buffeted
the house until every timber seemed to be
squeakipg protest. Half q dozen times
she awoke, and the last time about O. clock
in the morning, it was with new sound
in her ears, mufled boom, which was
neither sea nor wind. As she few out Of
bed she heard it again, and moment later
her brother Dick pounded on her door.
"Hey, Jean Did you hear the signal
guns? There wreck We're going !"
s'Oh, wait for me Pllbe there in two
| minutes Do wait T.
"Well, you must hurry We have work
! to do.
Dick bounded down the hall to complete
his own hasty toilet, and Jeans fingers
| flew. Ever hook and button seemed to
escape her excited grasp, but nevertheless
she was down stairs in an incredibly short
/ .:,,no brnJlod ;r har uvaru,oet wrone She