Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-12-17

and to walk brishly along the deck until shs
reached the forecastle. She could not have eek
planned to herself what impulse took her there;
It was something outside herself. some strange
power working detached. yet compelling her 70
obey fts behests
sparkle Of water spring gurgling from the fore
foot watching the frOthing bubbles stream away
on either side the black BLUM bow
Vainly she shook herself and assured her own
heart Of its foolishnesa vafnly she tried to drag
herself away from her self-appointed post The
ar was chill with the beginnings OF the dawn
wind; she shivered repeatedly and remained.
AIRS. Hapshott lifted her eyes and searched the
seas far rim. Her gaze returned, only to be
lifted again; suddenly she stifrened where she
stood, and her ears strained.
She sprang upon the rail and stood there erect,
her eyes peering intently. Was It fancy or could
she actually see something7
There in the middle distance veritable
speck In the waste Of waters-was 1t q shadow,
was Il the in Of a lurking shark, or was twas
IT.? Two seconds she looked, then she ran aft,
the men watching her 10 wonder.
ssHiram-out there-what is It. what is 1T
HiraTn, heard cryT
She was ciutching at him Historically and
pointing with trembling finger. TO humor her he
+ fQfCN@u MS binoculars anu 4gcMbAS0 hnSlIs MAUI
denlngIy slow, she thought him. He searched
idly for moment, then his figure became rigid.
"Back the matnyardr he reared IN mighty
voice From the forspeak. whittier he had de-
scended, the mate came aft at a run; the men
following fast.
There's a raft out theFe-some one on IT,"
sale Hapshott slowly. his voice almost drowned
by the clatter OF the swinging yards.
It was Captain Hapshott himself who sprang
into the boat that was hastily lowered u was he
who urged the roYers onward. Mrs. Hapshott,
now That the thing was done, was possessed by
a curious calmness that vet held expectancy
something strange was happening ont there be-
yond the range Of her vision; but all was worls-
ing together for good. She tried to focus the
binoculars on the boat and on the fragment that
aoated ahead. but she was all unused to the task,
and could make out nothing but blur.
The boat tnrned-hung motonless; those
aboard were busy at some task. Then the oars
shot out like the limbs OF gigantic spider; Mrs.
Hapshotts heart beat faster and faster-so fast
that only with difficulty could she draw her
breath.
sShaIl we haul you up, sir?, hailed the mate.
reaching far cupboard, and from Captain Hap
shott's lips came hoarse, unreal cry that Jones
took as an 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 ieaped upward. was swung inboard
-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
bis arms he carried a little child
Mrs. Hapshott acted exactly as If she had hean
expecting this gift from the sea. she held ont
her arms and took the wailin. mite, hushlnp n
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers
coaxing 1t, smiling down into It's crumpled face
Il mattered nothing to her how the baha had
come-lt was there: its tiny fingers around her
nnger; It's little head nestled against her heart
"a dead woman and living chIld-no sIgns ~
Identification. The words came to her ntfullv
forcing themselves through the strange, hallopsd
JOY that nlled her being. "No telling what's han
pened-nust be wife Of some skipner-soie snr-
vivorH-who knows7 The woman's dead No.
thing-but the child seems strong enou0l, E,Il
be later.s va
II we'd been sailing yesterday we'd haze
passed Il In the dark lkelys sala fha ,na.s.
wed never have seen IL God looE ~ NJ.
Hspshott she's grown younger
The skipper walked across to his wife
Wen have @ advertise" he said sbok,.
toying with the little graspinR banda .a,,t ia,
" no one win claim tits as much ours =. -
ones-Tn ten the steward to make some s.,s
ready ns niik
Unto rs child Is given,." said Mr.. NJ.
anctt solsmnly Hiram this Is Gods Chr,st,sl-
present 70 you and me- "a 'e1lasls