Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-01-14
THE
COBB
GIRLS
BY CHARLES B. HOWARD
ID by short st0ry PUB. COB


afternoon of the second day, the Col
by girls sat talking sadly in their
tiny living room, but it served only
to emphasize a gloom whose cause
was far more serious than wind or
weather. Indeed today these two
girls so called, even at fifty. by
the charitable New England idiom.
were confronted by trouble that
threatened to change the entire
course of their peaceful life current
Since the death of their father, ten
years ago. the sisters had lived alone
in their little dolls house of a cot
tage, remote from the seaboard town,
supported comfortably by their gar
den and by modest income.
But now the unexpected had hap
pened:
An old family debt had come TO
light; the creditor, living In far-off
city, had brought the law to bear, and
this afternoon they had decided that
the old house would have to CO. SUI
san had even gone to the length of
imagining that they would pull 1t
down 1T may be mean spirited"
she confessed. "but I'd hate to see
other folks that amt Colbyss nor
nothin' to do with them. Twin here;
it don't seem right; no, 1t don'tl"
The two troubled spinsters heaved
a mutual sigh, and went on with
their sewing in thoughtful silence.
Liza, the elder by year or two,
was stouter than her sister, and of a
more easy going temperament salts
fed to allow Susan to run things"
"For," as she said. "ef Susan wants
ter do the orderin round, an thinks
UP idees. why, don't, so guess
we're all right" They came of
long line of sturdy Puritan stock, and
were as healthy and STRONG as girls
of twenty doing long days work
outdoors and in without thought Of
WEAKNESS. But though living on the
shore all their lives, their nautical
experience was limited to an occa-
sional row around to the village in
their weather beaten old dory, relic
OF their fathers fishing days, and
neither of them had ever set foot on
board another craft of any des.rip-
ton
1t was for the little cove In front
of the cottage. where the dory was
moored, that Susan started out when,
a little later in the afternoon, sud
den burst of sunlight reminded her
that she "hadn't had breath of
air for two days"
Meantime, Liza, intent on finish
ing her work, sat placidly In the
afternoon was fast wearing away,
while her finely shaped head, just
touched with gray, nodded and jerked
over her sewing.
About five o'clock, however, she
was awakeeed from her torpor by
the opening of the door and rush
of fresh air and damp skirts that her
aided her sisters appearance
"My goodness. 'Liza!" Susan ex-
claimed, there's ship outside
a-floatin' along all wrecked to pieces.
Liza, you and got ter take the dory
an row out an help them folks.
The two hurried to the beach and
pushed off the dory, clambering In
and each taking her usual seat.
where's the shipY inquired Eliza
over her shoulder.
"Way out from the Point" Susan
answered; you keep a-pullin' an I'll
steer"
Long, clean strokes soon brought
them alongside the ship
On inspection the craft in question
proved to be a fair-sized schooner.
evidently yacht. What impressed
them far more than the vessels Grip
pied condition was the fact that not
soul was on her decks.
They had allowed their dory to drift
nearer the wrecked mainmast, little
dreaming, poor ladies, of the unseen
dangers beneath the surface, and a
heavier roll than usual of the yacht
had brought the cross-trees on the
mast up against the dorys bottom,
which they pierced like an eggshell,
letting in a rush of water.
Good gracious me. Liza we're go
IN ter sink !" cried Susan "GH
right out o. this boat quick's you
kin =
! Liza wasted no time In words, but
launched herself bodily onto the mast.
followed by her sister, just as the
dory filled 1t was not difficult, then,
for two active women, with muscles
trained by tree climbing years before.
to scramble up the sloping mast by
means Of the sail hoops and rigging
and eventually they found themselves
gazing at each other on the yachts
deck in dismayed silence. holding onto
the broken mast
Dear me. SUR said Susan at last,
what be we ter do now?" adding
with grim humor. "Ain't seed you git
round so spry for twenty years.
Liza"
Guess l want much spryern you
wuz." replied Liza, despairingly shak-
ing her skirts; my land. amt