| Show m Short Short- so r of th D Day HIS BROKEN PROMISE Near the close cose of ot a September day as the sun in its is dying splendor was tinting with rosy hues the dingy ding sails of a solitary fishing schooner there floated from the weather-beaten weather rocks the words of a song The singer had apparently forgotten that he was there thereat at this picturesque trysting place to de dearest derest in the meet the rest girl world and as though inspired by the panorama panorama panorama pano pano- rama of gorgeOus colorings of sky and ocean had began sinking I Three Tree fishers went sailing saing out Into the West vest Out Into X h the West when the sun went down down- The song abruptly ended as over the rocks climbed a girlish figure who a moment later was clasped in the arms of the singer Duncan Gray but In Instead Instead instead in- in stead of ot the usual roguish smile smie a pale frightened face looked up at at- him ill he exclaimed In Dora are you f alarm No came the answer from the trembling lips it was my dream All Allday Allday Al day I could not forget it i. i Such a dreadful dream Why dear I did not think you would allow yours yourself l to to- to tobe be so disturbed disturbed disturbed dis dis- dis- dis by a dream But tell ten me about It i. i Oh I thought I sat here on this very ledge but alone and the waves were pounding and beating against the rocks Such dark angry waves and then then then- she shivered with wih the memory then I saw you appear among those tossing foam-crested foam waves and your face was as white as death I cried out out to you rou but yo you OU did not hear me I reached down thinking to save you when a wave should sweep up nearer when a mighty wave rolled up whose spray left me roe drenched and blinded for fora a moment and after it had receded I looked for you In vain and then found myself awake and shuddering with wih fear the fear tear that it might be present present- ment Oh can it mean that some danger danger danger dan dan- ger awaits you You foolish little girl he hc Interrupted interrupted Inter Inter- attempting to allay alay her Iter ller almost hysterical sobbing dont let your mind dwell upon such euch thoughts But Dut promise me you will be most careful and avoid all danger for al my sake You may rest assured he smil smilingly glY replied that suicide e is at t present the farthest from my intentions Do not Jest but tell tel me inc you will WiH wi in every way possible preserve yourself from danger it was so real that you v J were vere lost to me You Tou will promise wont won't you please she pleaded What it is I am to promise queried Duncan That you will wH avoid any action acton that tha could result in disaster to you Why then I promise promise t to todo todo do whatever lies within my power t to divert any calamity that would for on one moment grieve my little Dora Oh thank you she cried clinging t thim to him as though she were not quite sure sur that his promise had saved him from some inevitable peril On a cold gray morning four months months month later the wind began at an early houto hou to moan dismally along the rock rocky shore shard by noon it i had Increased to a gale gale accompanied by snow and long before twilight a storm in all al its is fur fury was besieging the little fishing hamlet Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower And Ad they trimmed the lamps laps as the su sun went down They looked at the squall squal and ad they looked looke at the shower And the night rack came rolling u up rugged and brown But men must work an and and women mus must must- weep storms storm be sudden and waters water deep deco And the harbor bar be moaning moaning- Sang Dora as she finished her last lat domestic domestic do- do do do- duties of the day clay How glad I am that my Duncan I Inot is not one of the poor sailor boys tonight she added to herself as before seating herself with her mother she ran anc and peered from the little window against which the snow was steadily beating Yes there was Duncan almost at th the door door but but who was him Dora hastened to admit them to the light but only Duncan entered calling to hi his companion who was fast disappearing In the darkness Will Wi be with you di di- di recty Then to the astonished Dora he hastily hasty explained A vessel on th the point is signaling for help and Joe I Is picking up men to go to her relief Sorry orry I 1 cant can't stay with wih you A terrible thought crosses h her r mind mind- her dream of ot not long ago and ago and quickly quick quick- ly cl clamping her hands upon his arm she said with face pale In its Is Intensity You must not go Not go was his astonished reply I should have supposed you OU would urge me to go to the relief of those who are in distress Duncan she responded In tones tone whose calmness was belled belied by the terror terror terror ter ter- depicted In her face you must not no nogo go for I know now it i was of this that that tha t I dreamed Dora can you think of those sufferIng suffering suffer suffer- suter- suter ing souls out there and permit su such h superstitions to bar me mc from front rendering rendering render render- ing lug them assistance How Hov can Cn I let you go came from the quivering lips when I know you are going to your our death Firmly he unclasped the clinging fingers from his arm and with a hear hear- t ty Good bye Dora his hand was latch With a cry she attempted to spring between the door and him whose life she was striving to reclaim before i iwas it i was too late His strong arm caught her held her for one moment and then gently genty brushed bar har away Suddenly a glad light light light-a a a light of hope shone hore-shone shone In her eyes Your promise she exclaimed your promise to me that you would not Imperi Imperil Imperil Im Im- Im- Im peril peri your life you life you you surely remember and that promise you will keep My promise he answered I do remember remember remember re re- re- re member but that promise I 1 mus must break break Like a statue carved In marble stood Dora and in a voice of befitting coldness coldness coldness cold cold- ness came the words Then Duncan Gray I love you no 1 more I hate you frou I Dora he gasped as his face grew pale surely you are not conscious o ot of what you say In the same cold even tomes came the response I retract not one word The door opened letting In a grea great I cloud of snow which the shrieking I wind was driving along in Its ts fury Immediately immediately im- im Im- Im mediately closed dosed and Duncan passe passed I Ion on through the storm half dazed hal dazed and I hardly realizing what had occurred The men who had been summoned were surprised at his delay but there ther was no time to explain Had there ther been a suspicion however in any mind mint of hi hij unwillingness to attend them on their perilous mission such thought though was instantly dispelled when it was noticed noticed noticed no no- With what energy and daring he threw himself himsel Into the work of ot launchIng launchIng launching launch launch- Ing the saving life saving boat and the almost almos superhuman strength with wih which he handled the oars One boatload was brought to shore in safety and it was necessary to return for those who still remained aboard the now fast fast sinking ing ship They had almost succeeded in launching her fo for forthe forthe the second trip when a tremendous wave swept in hurling boat and brave savers life back on the beach to try tryal tryall tryall all al over again In spite of the thun- thun thun thun- lers of the storm old Joe swore to himself himself himself him him- self that he heard a groan gran from one o ohis or of his companions with wih whom he was wa working so desperately Well Wel I dont don't much blame yer fo for cavin in said he its it's is i's a terrible rough night Bother Rother the night replied Duncan I sprained my wrist when that last las big wave smashed us up so so Ho men men shouted Joe Might a awell as aswell well wel let up up-Duncan's up Duncan's Duncans broke his arm Have to let those other fellows ou out there go to Davy Joness Jones's locker Hold on cried Duncan I have on one arm left Now then shove her off And though maddened with pain he was again with wih them fighting the their way to those half frozen hal despairing victims of the wreck They had se secured secured secured se- se cured the last man man- and were again agai making their way to shore when on one par suddenly stopped Its Is brave work and Duncan unconscious from pain f fell feli ll and from hoarse throats came th the cry Man overboard o For a second only did desp despair lr possess possess pos pos- sess seas those heroic hearts then rescued turned rescuers Those who were no not too benumbed by their long exposure on the doomed vessel gave a hand an and anI after a severe battle batte with the waves Duncans Duncan's inanimate form was wa recovered recovered recovered ered and the shore hore was gained where the exhausted ones were soon cared for Through the blinding storm a little muffled mufed figure crept up to Joe and inquired in In- In a voice which was half a moan Duncan where Duncan where is he I Spec they carried him home I came the thoughtless response as In wonderment he flashed his lantern into int the face of the Inquirer For an In Instant Instant instant In- In stant he saw the white face with wih eyes eye dilated In the agony of comprehension of the dreadful truth then without a acry acry cry wl without hout a sound she fell fel at hi his feet in the drifted drifted snow All Al that night lights burned In on one cottage home where loving hands worked unceasingly to restore to consciousness con con- him who had so nearly lost los his own life in saving the lives of ot othera others others oth oth- ers era and when that long dark night had vanished and with It the storm leaving portions of a wreck scattered out on the shining sands In the mornIng mornIng morning morn- morn Ing gleam as the tide went down the tired eyes slowly opened and a look ip If pf recognition came caine into them dispelling the terrible anxiety of those who ha had through the creeping hours watched for signs of returning life and filling with hope the heart of the weary weary-e weary eyed ed forlorn little Dora who dropped by the bedside with a cry of Joy A troubled expression passed over ove his features and with an effort efort h he murmured My promise I I broke m my promise promise can can you forgive me Oh Duncan she sobbed it i is I that am to be forgiven |
