Year: 1877

It was a fearful storm. All night they
had heard, above the whistle OF the gale
as it rushed through the heavens, above
the tossing of the trees and the peihng
of the rain, the great below, of the
waves upon the beach-a long unbroken
roar that it made some hearts stand still
to hear. g- - ., -.


It made the hearts of Mrs. Brenton
and her husband stand very still; for,
wears before, Mrs. Brenton was bringing
her children from Europe, and it was IN
such O. storm as this, while the steam
ship lay broadside to the assaulting surge
among the breakers, and the lifeline was
being sent ashore, that one great blllow
chasing after another rose in a gigantic
shadow and fell like q, cataract, rushing
across the whole breadth OF the deck,
and sweeping from it every living soul
that was not lashed fast; and though
Mrs. Brenton herself was thrown high
and dryeupon the shore, with the hfe SO
nearly beaten out of her that it took
hours to restore it, the children never
came to shore at all. Now every storm
had for these parents horrible fasclna-
ton. They had fitted ont life saving
station from their own means; they sell
dom slept when the wind blew bitterly;
they usually sought the shore as soon as
the storm grew so dreadful that every
body else sought shelter. 1t seemed as
if they were drawn to scenes OF wreck
anu disaster by some fatality, not pre-
cisely hoping that after this lapse OF time
the sea would give up its dead, but with
an obscure prescience of.the necessity OF
their going, or of some blessing to come
by means OF 1t.


What blessing they knew not. They
were in need of no blessings, as the world
goes, for they were beloved by each
other and by troops of friends, were In
perfect health, were overAowing with
wealth; they lacked nothing but the bliss
of children in the house, yet, lacking
that, it seemed to them they lacked
everything. 1t was hard TO content
themselves with children in heaven.
They would have given all their wealth
for one little laughing body toddling
about the halls and walking into every
ones favor, for the pure love of one little
heart-while it lasts, the only utterly
disinterested and perfect affection in the
world. "It is my punishment for the
insane folly of that European trip, Mrs.
Brenton used to sigh to herself, when
dreary weather or hapless memories
made her arms feel emptier than ever.
"It is my punishment fer remaining at
home and letting her go abroad without
me-" Mr.. Brenton used to sigh. Had
I gone, they would have been lashed to
me that night, and the wave never ran
that could tear them away"


1t was early afternoon when the storm
began to blow about the house, and II
had not become extraordinarily fierce
till toward midnight, though an easterly
wind had been piling up the water along
the coast for many days. But before
midnight Mrs. Brenton was pacing he1
room and peering from the window; and
though sleeping an hour or two at
time, they were both awake the greater
part of the night, and by the dim dawn
ing were eager to make their way down
to the beach, some three miles distant,
Mrs Brenton casting long glance at the
little empty bed beside her own as she
went down; for she always felt when go
ing to the beach In a storm as though
she were doing some expiatery duty to
the little ones whose grave had been
made in the great cradle of the deep.


The rain had ceased, but the wind
still blew hurricane; and Mr.. Brenton,
bidding his wife put on her other wrap,
threw back the top of the phaeton to
prevent its being blown over. And
when they reached the waterside it was
all they could do to make their way along
at walk, for the sea had overf1owed the
highway, and was over the hubs of the
wheels large portion of the way, suck
ing back, with every impulse of the tide,
SO strC ngly that it seemed as if they must
go witt it. As they rounded the bend
and came out upon the beach road, the
whole force of the gale threw itself upon
them.


"We shall have to go back, May, =
said Mr.. Brenton; you can never stand
this"


ooh, I have stood worse ones" she
answered. "Do let me go on.


CT don't know. It isn't question
of letting you. I doubt if it is pos
sible."


"Oh, must try-indeed I must ]
couldn't go back. +" she cried. cit seems
all the time as though heard some one
calling me-" And on they went.


1t was a tremendous scene. Far as
the eye reached, the gray expanse
churned an angry yeast. Rank after
rank, the great black bodies of water,
rearing above the grayness, came rolling
n, breaking in a long cloud Of foam,