Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-04

1t was close to in the afternoon
| that athe gale broke fiereest over the
south shore. By then Sylvesters store
| was deserted save by Billy Buttons,
the big yellow cat, and Anthony, the
boy who had been left to watch the
store While Jonathan Sylvester went
home. Off toward the horizon there
was no sign of shipping. There had
been ample warning of the gale and
those on the outer sea that sy7elied ana
darkened mysetrioushly had learned to
work quickly. On the wharves things
went more slowly.
Nothing more nomentouS claimed
their attention than some motor boats
and dories, nothing that limited OF past
glory, no fleet of fishing schooners that
| had once invaded the Banks, Or mer-
chantmen that had rounded the Horn.
Once at the wharf below Sylvester
the Magellan Cloud had weighed her
anchor and moved off amid the cheers
of the watching crowd and anchored
there again eleven months later. The
men on her decks came back with
strange look in their eyes. something
no one ever saw in landsmen's eyes.
They would have told you that they
visited Shanghai and Calcutta and
other distant ports, and that is all you
would have known of the voyage from
them. You would have looked at them
with awe in your heart and gulped
knowing how it got there and vowed
to be. if you were lad, a sailor, too,
some day, and if you were lass, the
wife of a sailor
Jonathan had scarcely gone that aft
ernoon when Billy Buttons rose to his
full height and sent his back into a
peculiar sharp shiver while Anthony
removed his hand rapidly from the
cookie barrel. as someone rushed in on
the wind and rain shaking the small
building to its foundation as the door
banged against the tobacco counter
slight figure clad in a rough skirt
and an oilskin coat many sizes too big,
somehow righted itself and stood gasp
ing, searching the corners Tor some
one.
where's Jonathan, Tony? ' she ask
ed breathlessIy. The boy explained.
Where's father-have you seen him ?'
she hurried on. Tony looked startled
and the girl seeing the look, rose to
her feet again with an exclamation of
fear
Don't worry about him, Miss Ra-
chel." Tony begged; there's nothing
he don't know about the wind and
water, and when he left to go fishing
this morning he said he should go over
and see the gunners a Whites shanty
Mr. Whites yacht came in late last
night and they had great sport this
morning early"
then Tony" Rachel declared, for I
must find father before dark. I'm so
glad Mr. White is there she added a s
faint color flooded her clear pale
skin. betokening a more than passing
interest in the man mentioned.
Hes bigger'n orowner'n ever"
Tony beamed, and he said he'd had a
glorious trip. He gave me ten cents
and asked me if you'd used the little
rowboat he left for you, and told him
you hadn't but twice, because your
mother was sick and died all of a sud-
den and now YOU had to work at home
But [ told him you always asked me
about it, and then he gave me ten
cents more and asked me if you ever
said anything about him
ooh. Tony. what did you tell him ?"
she exclaimed, as she waited at the
door to hear this precious conversa-
ton.
Wei. Miss Rachel. you always said
to tell the truth. and I told him we
talked about him most of the time, ex-
.cept when you had to keep the bread
from burning or shoe the chickens or
hurry up dinner for dad. or something.
hope YOU don't mind"
mo. Tony, 1 don't believe I mind
anything, now" Rachel answered,
sadly, and again she went out to bat
tie with the elements. Tony watched
her with his heart in his mouth. his
crossing himself repeatedly until he
saw her land across the Cove. 1t ha d
taken grit and muscle and some skill
to go across that little stretch OF
water. and Tony gave fervent thanks
to the saints.
I've nobody but him, now
Rachel sobbed as she ploughed through
the sharp eel grass that tangled in her
sodden skirts and the wet sand that
chung to her boots. "He never seems