The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-12-23

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;
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 water spring gurgling from the fore
foot. watching the frothing bubbles stream away
on either side the black bluff bow.
Vainy she shook herself and assured her
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 stinened where she
stood, and her ears strained.
She sprang upon the rail and stood there erect,
her eyes peering intentIy. Was it fancy or could
she actually see something?
There in the middle distance veritable
sDeck in the waste Of waters-was it shadow,
was it the fin of lurking shark or was twas
it? Two seconds she looked. then she ran aft
the men watching her In wonder.
'rIIiram-Out there-wha. is it, what is It?
Hiram, heard cry
She was clutching 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 mainyardI % he roared in mighty
voice From the forepeak, whittier he had de-
scended the mate came aft at run; the men
following fast.
There's a raft out there-some one It,"
said Hapshott slowly his voice almost drowned
by the catter of the swinging yards.
It was Captain HapshOtt himself who sprang
into the boat that hastily lowered it was he
who urged the rowers onward Mrs. HapshOtt,
now that the thing done, was possessed by
a curious calmness, that yet held expectancy
something strange was happening out there be
vond 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
hoated ahead but she all unused to the task,
and could make out nothing but 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.
Hapshott's heart beat faster and faster-so fast
that only with difficulty could she draw her
breath.
"ShaIi we haul you up, sr?' hailed the mate,
reaching far cupboard and from Captain Hap
shott's lips came hoarse unreal cry that Jones
took as 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
ND them and added their weight to the falls; the
boat Ieaped upward. 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 COM
ing aft talking earnestly to the mate. And In
his arms he carried little child
Mrs Hapshott acted exactly as II she had been
expecting this gift from the sea. She held out
her arms and took the wailing mite. hushing II
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 to her ftfuIIy,
forcing themselves through the strange, haIlowed
Joy that filed her being. "No telling what's hap
pened-must be wife Of skfpper-sole sur
vfvOrs-who knows? The wOman's dead. poor
thing-but the child strong enOugh-win
be later
'1f we'd been sailing yesterday we'd have
passed 1t In the dark likely" said the mate
we'd never have seen it. God look at Mrs
Hapshott; she's grown younger
The skipper walked across to his wife
"We'n have to advertise" he said, shakiIy
toying with the little grasping hands. @But like
~ no one viii claim it-it's as much ours as any
one's-Tn tell the steward to make some milk
ready"
~'Unto as q child is gwen" said Mrs. Hap
stott solemnly. Hiram, this is Gods Christmas
present to you and me-"