The Donaldsonville chief., 1914-08-29
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A SEASIDE IAeIDEH1
BY EDWARD MlNTuau
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"nen' WIN an accession Of form.
Left him by q wealthy uncla e sas
chased a beautiful cottage ana ~, ~
homestead on the lower part 81 ets.s ~
Island, where he could look out q y
ocean at all times. and take 4 sa,, y g.
. pretty little yacht that be kant J,
a creek just below the house. ~ q
quite seaworthy, yet SO small fhst ssss.
could manage 1t alone when ha cho,.
though he generally had his NAV :,
all work, Toby Ditson, with him ubss
he went out
But In very pleasant weather Ha,,r
generally went out with hisma
pretty Flora Veskit. who wore ! u0s
ding ring on the proper finger. wh,,h
he had placed there three yeara 4
fore, and which looked brighter 81
brighter to him every DAY os III
welded life.
One day last fall, when the eosst
was lined with ducks, Harry ulada n
his mind to have a short dueainp
cruise, and broached the subject Il
Flora at the breakfast table.
"Oh, yes!" said Flo. And Ill a 4
be boatkeeper. You can take Tobv
along to row the skiR when you Want
to go into the creeks and marshes
he isn't good for much else.
Don't run Toby down." said HsrrFP.
with a laugh. Remember that II
came from the Hub. But get ready.
dear one-Im tn a hurry to be oil,
The wind is light this morning buI
will freshen this afternoon. The IN
Is 'mackereP and full Of mares tails.
There you are with your h0rrIa
sea signs again. Harry. I'll be read
as soon as you are y
.'All right" cried Harry, and IL
started to rouse Toby Disson frora Ill
usual lethargy to put guns and pro
sions aboard the little sloop.
An hour later and the yacht, Wa
Harry at the helm, Flora tending man
sheet, and Toby forward to look agg
for the jib, was standing down ta
bay.
The breeze freshened from the noEk
west as they stood on. making the fass
sloop skim over the smooth water Il
lively rate, for running up close uns
der the land there was no sea oa
worth noticing
Inshore the ducks were Verg pIaua
ful. and Harry soon began to looa III
landing place.
Running up near a small creek aal
made far inland on Its winding
Harry told Toby to let go the aaessa
and haul down the lib.
There was no need TO lower The
mainsail, he said, for. he would aoQa
be back
AS Flora had a book to read. she sas ]
down on the nicely cushioned NaE
seat, and made herself comfortable q
soon as Harry and Toby showed Of q
the skifT.
Once or twice she looked gl1orsWaff
when she heard the report OF Harris
gun, Knowing that he Was dong
havoc among the ducks.
At last she got drowsy, and lyllss
back on the soft cushions, with aaa
breeze tanning her white forehead, aaa
fell asleep.
How long she slept. poor Flora sse
not know. but her waking was Yeis
| rude, for 1t came by immersion.
A huge surge of salt Water, dashIns
over the quarter Of the boat, drencasa
her from head to foot, and as aas
sprang to her feet, she found taat W 4
boat, already out Of sight OF land w
driving stern first to sea. heading plsu3|
| the mainsail set. 20 a furious aofsH
west gale.
Oh. where was Harry now 70 ses y
other sail and head for q harboE1
This was FIora's thought. and Eae3#
came the prayer from her lips:
Heaven help me, or am lost
The day was far advanced, ana soeA
night would be upon her-nigns ~ IS.
gale, drifting out upon the rouga s I
| lantic.
Flora dared not lower the sas.=s
Well, indeed. was it for hef fhas =.
did not do it. This kept head % .e'.s==#
and sea. the boat rode easy, -
though taking In little WaIeE 1sssg s.
and then eft, whence 1t ran on py s
scuppers, was yet very safe
"Oh. what will Harry do Was1 sssg !
finds I am adrift!" gobbed FloTa
know he viii follow me TO sea Y 51s'=1
tiny skifT. and he will be lost!
Flora was right. Harry did folIs. y.
her to sea in that tiny skifR. ToDy - ~
son was too eowardly to risk ths D., u 4
age, and he was left ashore Vnsa .s.# lsa
ry started to follow tho sloop ss#
he saw her adrtft- 4
It was a terrible task for Haf1s s., S
row out over the rough Wase.ast .a..s,stt
the fast-drifting yacht. With plas's,s ~
hands he struggled on, and 1uss - ).
/ dark he got within hall, so nss1 ii
| hausted that Flora barely hsa' .o,,I53
cry to lower the mainsail OF hs#sse
not reach her. q 4. J
Fortunately she had seen hlla : q IS
and she sprang to the halyards =
heard his cry. aoaa
The sail soon came tuInp'lss a .s..,sarj
by the run. and In minute ~. arrs
Harry was aboard, with Flora e
around him. tfe
Quickly he had two res1s ..s aul
matnsail, the bonnet off the ap,o aorth
the vessel heading In west ps 8 al
as close to the wind as ne eousa
her. sat
All night at the helm HafIs ~ "a b
Aaox,+fyy 1us,{1o E1ora made HOs -