The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-20

l she meet the full Stren gth Of the gale 1 Here it wrapped her garments about
 her limbs until she could scarcely
 move The rain came Horizontally and
 blinded her. The wind fairly snatched
 her breath away and oppressed her l lungs like a heavy weight. She shield
 ed herself as best she could. and by
 clinging to stationary objects and l watching her chance she managed to
 work her way onward At last she
 caught sight of ONeil standing high above the surf. facing the wind def
 antly, as if daring it to unfoot him. | He saw her and came in answer to | her signal. But to breast that wind | was like stemming a rushing torrent.
 and when he reached her side he was
 panting.
 l ..Child, what are you doing here?'
 he demanded.
 "I couldn't wait any longer!' she isEouted back. You've been out since daylight You must be wet through He nodded. "I lay awake all night listening. So did Trevor. He's begin ming to worry already"
 l t'A1ready? If the breakwater stands
 this''-
 .aThc storm hasn't half started l Come! We'll watch it together" He took her hand, and they Iunged into 1 tho gale, battling their way back to his point Of vantage. He paused at i length and. with his arm about her, pointed to the milk white chaos which marked Trevor's handiwork. The rain ipelted against their faces and stream ed from their. slickers.
 Aftcr q long time he spoke. 'sSee! i It's coming up!'' he said.
 J1A foi4 471 Ianf she noted that particles of sand and tiny pebbles from the beach were fly ing with the salt raindrops. Her mus cles began to .remble from the con stant effort at resistance, and she was relieved when Murray looked about for l a place of refuge. She pointed to pile of bridge timbers, but he shook his head.
 They'll go flying if this keeps up.' He dragged her into the shelter of little knoll. Here the blasts struck them with diminished force, the roar ing in their ears grew less, and the la- bor of breathing was easier.
 High up beyond reach of. the surf dory had been dragged and left bottom up, Under this the wind found fin ser. hold and sent it flying.
 Even where the man and the woman crouched the wind harried them like ] branches of gnarled juniper bush they held their position and let the spray whine over their heads.
 stFarther west? I've seen houses chain Ted to the earth with ships cables. he shouted in her ear. ITO think of building harbor in place like this!''
 1T prayed for you last night I pray ed for the wind to comc.' said the girl after a time.
 O'NeiI looked at her. curiously star tied; then he looked out at the sea once more. All in moment he real. ized that Eliza was beautiful and that she had a heart It, seemed wonder ful that she should be interested in his fortunes. He was a lonely man. Beneath his open 1riendliness lay a deep reserve. A curiously warm feel ing of gratitude famed through him now, and he silently blessed her for bearing him company in the deciding hour of his life.
 Noon came, and still the two crouch ed in theiA half shelter, drenched, chill ed, stiff with exposure, watching Kyak bay lash itself into a boiling smoth- CT. The light grew dim; night was settling. The air seemed full of screaming furies... Then O'NeiI noticed bits of driftwood racing in upon the pillows, and he rose with loud cry.
 "It's breaking upr' he shouted. ''It's breaking upr'
 Eliza lifted herself and cIung to him, but she could see nothing except a misty confusion. Tn a few moments the f1otsan came thicker. Sp.intered pi1ing, huge square hewn timbers with fragments of twisted iron or broken bolts came floating into sight. A con fusion of wreckage began to clutter l the shore, and into it the sea churhed
 The spindrift tore asunder at length, and the watchers caught brief glimpse of the tumbling ocean The breakwater was gone. Over the place where it had stood the pillows raced unhindered.
 t'Poor TrevorT' said ONeil. "Poor Trevor! He did his best, but he didn't knew.' He looked down to find Eliza crying. Whats this? I've kept you. here too long!''
 .sNo, nc! I'm just glad-so gladl Don't you understand?' ?'
 '1u take you back. I must get ready to leave
 Leave? Wherc"-
 teFor New York! I've made nay Geht, and I've woE." His eyes ISindied fever ishly. I've won in spite of them all. hold the key to Kingdom. It's mine mine! I hold the gateway to an em- pire, and those who pass through must pay" The girl had never seen such fierce triumph in a face. T saw 1t in a dream, only it was more than a dream" The wind snatched O'Neil's words from his lips, but he ran on: T saw a deserted fishing village become . thriving city. I saw the glaciers part to let pass great traffic in men and merchandise. I saw the unpeopled north grow into a land of homes, of farms, of mining camps, where people lived and bred children. heard the mountain passes echo to steam whistles