New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-17

and to walk brIskly 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 blum bow.
Vainly 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. .
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 it fancy or could
she actually see something?
There, In the middle dlstance-a veritable
speck In the waste of waters-was 1t a shadow.
was it the fin of a lurking shark, or was Twas
it-2 Two seconds she looked, then she ran aft.
the men watching her In wonder.
"Hiram-out there-what is 1t. what is it2
Hiram, | heard a cry!'
She was clutchlng at him Historically 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 mainyard - 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.
II was Captain Hapshott himself who sprang
into tho haat that hastily laurarad IL uao hA
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 was work.
ing together for good. She tried to focus the
binoculars on the boat and on the fragment that
floated ahead, but she was 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 a 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, slr2' hailed the mate,
reaching far cupboard, and from Captain Hap
shott's lips came a 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 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 IL she had been
expecting this gift from the sea. She held ont
her arms and took the wailing mite, hushing IL
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers.
coaxing 1t, smiling down into its c~rumpled face.
1t mattered nothing to her how the babe had
eome-it was there; its tiny fingers around her
finger; its little head nestled against her heart.
"A dead woman and a living child-no signs of
identification" The words came to her ftfulIy.
forcing themselves through the strange. hallowed
joy that filed her being. "No telling what's hap
be wife of some skIpper-sole sur
vivors-who knows? The woman's dead, poor
thing-but the child seems strong enough-wiu
be later"
IF we'd been sailing yesterday we'd have
passed 1t in the dark likely" said the mate:
wed never have seen IL. Cod look Mt Mrs
she's grown younger"
The skipper walked across to his wife.
well have to advertise" he said. shakiIv.
toying with the little grasping hands. But like
ly no one will claim lifts as much ours as any
one's-T1l tell the steward to make some milk
ready"
UNTO us a child is given" said Mrs. Han.
solemnly. Hiram, this Is Gods Christmas
present to you and me-"