Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-04
into its emerald depths. and then
washed the little loosely drifting
bodies that had been men and women

into its emerald depths. and then
washed the little loosely drifting
bodies that had been men and women
far out to sea again?
What could one do? No trains
came into Quaker Bridge today: it
was understood that there were wash,
outs all along the line. Rachael sat
in the dark, stuffy little sittinE-room
with the placid Barwick baby drows-
ing in her lap. and It last her face
reflected b nervous uneasiness Of
the other women. Every time an es-
pecially heavy rush of rain or wind
struck the unsubsta ntial little house.
Mrs. Barwick said, "Oh. my!" in
patient. hopeless terror. and the two
with a quick Kissing breath Of fear.
The night was long with horror.
There were other refugees in Mrs.
Dimmick'e house now; there were in
all fifteen people sitting around her
little stove listening to the wind and
the ocean. The old lady herself was
the OF cheerful Of the group. al
though Rachael and one or two Of
at least of calm.
Declare said the hostess, more
than once. "dunt see what we's all
thinkin' of not to git owe to Sharks
Hills fore the bar was underwater.
They've got axty-toot elevation
there"
I'D just as soon try to get there
now" said Miss Stokes of New York
eagerly.
There's waves eight feet high
wick said, and something in the sim
pie words made little Miss Stokes
look sick for a moment.
What's our elevation" Rachael
asked.
Bout Mr.. Barwtck paused.
But Q can't tell nothing by that"
he contented himself with remarking
after a moments thought.
Blu I never heard never heard
OF the sea coming right over a whole
village" Rachael hated herself for
the fear that dragged the words out,
and the white lips that spoke them.
Neither did +" said half a dozen
voices. There was silence while the
old clock on the mantel wheezed out
a luglbrious eight strokes Lord,
how 1t rains!" muttered Emily Bar
wick.
Nine o'clock-ten o'clock. The
young women, the old woman the
old woman the maid and maj who
would be married some dar if they
lived. the husband and wife who had
been lovers like them only a few
years ago. and who now had these
three little lives to guard. all sat
wrapped in their own thoughts. Ra-
chael sat staring at the stoves req
eye, thinking. thinking. thinking. She
thought of Warren Gregory: his
steamer must be in now. he must be
with his mother in the old house. and
planning to see her any day. Tomor-
row-if there wa a tomorrow
might. bring his telegram. What
would his life be If he might never
see her again? She could not ever
leave him a note. or a word: on this
eve of their meeting. were they t o be
tell him how dearly-how dearly-she
loved him? Tears ans to her eyes
sorrow.
She thought Of Bfly-poor littls
Billy-who had had . mother
who needed . mother % sadly. and
OF her own mother. dead now. ana Of
the. old bl0e coa& Of thirteen year.
ago. and the rough blue hat shl
the little whitewashsd c4Iiforn MA, cot.
tage under the shadow If Tho blue
mountains, with the lilacs and mari:
Colds In the yard. And colored By
her nav great love, and by thu
solemn fears OF this endless night
Rachael found a tenderness In hel
heart for all those shadowy hgurei
that had played a part in her. life.
At midnight there came . thunder.
ing crash on the ocean side Of thu
house.
"Oh. God. It's the seal" screamed
Emily Barwick. They all rushed Il
the door and flung II open, and in q
second were on in the wild black.
ness Of the night. Still the roaring
and bowling and shr1eking Of me ele.
nnents. still the infuriated booming o,
the surf. but-thank God-no new
sound. There was no break in the
hytng darkness above them: the street
was a running sheet OF water In the
dark.
Yet strangely they al went bael
Into the house vaguely quoted. IA.
chass presently atd that no AaEAoa
what was going to happen, shs wa
too cold and tired to Ray up any