Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-12-17

and TO walk brIskly along the deck until sh
reached the forecaste. She could not have e1
planned to herself what impulse took her there; ;
IT was something outside herself. some strange
power working detached, yet compelling her to
obey Its behests
She crouched up in the bows, watching the
sparkle of winter spring gurgling from the fore
FOOT. watching the frothng bubbles stream away
on either side the black blur bow.
Vainly she shook herself and assured her own
heart OF Its foolshness. Vainy she tried to drag
herself away from her self-appointed post. Tho
air was chill with the beginnings OF the dawn
wind; she shivered repeatedly and remained
Mrs. Hapshott lifted her eyes and searched the
seas far rim. Her gaze returned. only to be
lifted again; suddenly she stiffened where she
stood, and her ears strained.
She sprang upon the rail and stood there erect.
her eyes peering intently. Was 1t fancy or could
she actually something7
There In the middle distances vertable
speck in the waste of waters-was It shadow.
was 1t the fn of lurking shark. or was twas
1T Two seconds she looked. then she aft.
the men watching her In wonder.
"Hram-out there-what is 1t. what is it7
Hiram heard a cryi"
She was clutching at him hystericaly and
pointing with trembling finger. To humor her he
fetched his binoculars and focused them. Mad
deningly SLOW she thought him. He searched
idly for a moment, then his figure became rigid.
Back the mainyardi" he roared in mighty
voice. From the forepeak whittier he had de-
seended the mate came aft at a run; the men
following fast.
'There's a raft out there-some on It."
said Hapshott slowly. his voice almost drowned
by the catter Of the swinging yards
1t was Captain Hapshott himself who sprang
into the boat that hastily lowered 1t was he
who urged the rowers onward. Mrs. Hapshott,
now that the thing was done, was possessed by
a curious calmness that yet held expectancy-
something strange was happening out there be-
yond the range Of her vision but all work.
ing together for good. She tried to focus the
binoculars on the boat and on the fragment that
foated ahead, but she was all unused to the task,
and could make out nothing but blur.
The boat turned-hung motioness those
aboard were busy at some tnsk. Then the oars
shot out like the limbs of gigantic spider; Mrs.
Hapshott's heart beat faster and faster-so fast
that only with difficulty could she draw her
breath.
"shall we haul you up, sira" hailed the mate.
reaching far outboard. and from Captain Hap
shott's lips came hoarse. unreal cry that Jones
took affirmative.
The boat shot alongside still the captains wife
did not move from her position by the mizzen-
mast. The tackles were hooked on. men swarmed
up them and added their weight to the falls; the
boat leaped upward. was swung inb0ard.
"Bear hand here" she heard her husband
say and then the mists vanished from her eyes
and she saw clearly. Captain Hapshott was COM
ing aft, talking earnestly to the mate. And in
his arms he carried little childi
Mrs. Hapshott acted exactly II she had been
expecting this gift from the She held out
her and took the wailing mite. hushing 1t
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers
coaxlng It, smiling down into Its crumpled face.
1t mattered nothing to her how the babe had
come-it there; its tiny fingers around her
finger; its little head nestled against her heart
"a dead woman and living child-no signs of
Identification" The words came to her ftfully,
forcing themselves through the strange. hallowed
joy that filed her being. "No telling what's hap
pened-must be wife of skipper-soIe sur
vivors-who knows7 The woman's dead poor
thing-but the child seems strong enougt-will
be later"
"If we'd been sailing yesterday we'd have
passed 1t In the dark likely" said the mate ;
"we'd have seen 1t. God look at Mrs.
Hapshott she's grown younger"
The skipper walked across to his wife
"We1l have to advertise" he said, shakily,
toying with the little grasping hands, ~But like
ly no one will claim tits much ours as any
ones-Pn tell the steward to make some milk
ready"
~'Unto us a child is given.'" said Mrs Hap
shott solemnly "Hiram. this is Gods Christina 5
present to you and me-"