The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-12-24

and to walk brisky along the deck until she
reached the forecastle. She could not have ex-
planned to herself what impulse took her there
1t 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 water spring gurgling from the fore
foot, watching the frothing bubbles stream away
on either side the black bluff bow.
vanly she shook herself and assured her own
heart of its foolishness Vainly she tried to drag
herself away from her self-appointed post The
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 something?
There In the middle distance-a veritable
speck in the waste of waters-was it shadow
was it the fin of lurking shark, or was it-was
it? Two seconds she looked. then she ran aft
the men watching her in wonder.
"Hiram-out there-what is it. what is it7
Hiram, heard a cry !"
She was clutchng at him Historically and
pointing with trembling finger To humor her he
fetched his binoculars anu IOcuSSeQ tnem. dhu-
deningly SLOW she thought him. He searched
idly for a moment then his figure became rigid.
Back the mainyardw he roared In mighty
voice. From the forepeak, whittier he had de-
scended, the mate came aft at a run; the men
following fast.
'"There's a raft out there-some one on IT,"
said Hapshott slowly, his voice almost drowned
by the clatter of the swinging yards.
1t was Captain Hapshott himself who sprang
into the boat that was hastily lowered; 1t 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
fioated ahead, but she all unused to the task,
and could make out nothing but a blur.
The boat turned-hung motiOnless; 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.
"Shall we haul you up, sir?" hailed the mate
reaching far cupboard, and from Captain Hap
shott's lips came a hoarse, unreal cry that Jones
took affirmative
The boat shot alongside; still the captains wife
did not from her position by the mizzen-
mast. The tackles were hooked on, men swarmed
boat leaped upward was swung inboard.
"Bear a 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 a little child!
Mrs. Hapshott acted exactly as if she had been
expecting this gift from the sea. She held out
her arms and took the wailing mite hushing it
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers
coaxing 1t, smiling down into its crumpled face
1t mattered nothing to her how the babe had
comet was 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 fltfulIy
forcing themselves through the strange hallowed
joy that filed her being. mo telling what's han
pened-must be wife of some skipper-sole sur
vtvors-who knows? The woman's dead, Door
thing-but the child seems strong enough-will
be later"
"If we'd been sailing yesterday we'd have
passed 1t in the dark likely" said the mate
wed never have it. God! look at Mrs.
Hapshott; she's grown younger"
The skipper walked across to his wife,
Wen have to ADVERTISE he said, shakily,
toying with the little grasping hands, 'But like
ly no one will claim tits as much ours as any
one's-Pll tell the steward to make some milk
ready"
"'Unto US child is gfven,'" said Mrs. Han
shott soemnly. Hiram, this is Gods Christmas
present to you and me-"