Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1901 — FOR JEAN’S SAKE [ARTICLE]

FOR JEAN’S SAKE

BY GEORGE STAIR.

IT was a wild night on the Banffshire const. A furious gale from the northeast was sending the spray dashing over the cliffs which gird the shore. Hound the harbor of the small fishing town of Portsoy the entire population stood buddied together. Anxious faces, tearstreaked faces, and a few grim, sternset faces might be seen amid the throng. Sometimes the crowd was hushed and still; sometimes the silence gave place to an excited babble of voices, or was broken by the hysterical wail of an overstrung woman. Above all sounded the wild shrieking of the wind and the thundering roar of the billows 13 they dashed upon the outer harbor wall or upon the rocks around. The fishing fleet was returning home. On such a night it was impossible for the smacks to live at sea; there were but two alternatives—to be wrecked upon the rocks, or to “run the harbor,” that is to say, to let the boat run freely before the storm and Steer straight in through the harbor mouth. A cool head and a steady hand, with perhaps a little luck, meant safety, a trifling error of judgment, the miscalculation o. a few feet, meant almost certain death. It was little wonder that on such a night mothers, wives, sisters and brothers strained their anxious eyes to pierce the twilight which was closing in upon the tossing sea. On the top of the outer wall, close by the harbor mouth, a girl was crouching. It was r. wild spot for any one to choose." Often the spray dashed over her; the hands with which ahe slung to the outer edge of the wall were blue and numb with cold. The wind had shaken free her hair, and it streamed wildly behind her. Yet the look in her eyes showed that she felt neither the cold, nor the wet, nor the wind; her whole soul went forth eagerlj, anxiously, into the darkness. Two boats had already arrived in ■afety, and now a third sail hove in light. For a few moments the girl's heart beat madly, but soon she recognized that It was not the one she looked for. Still she watched it with a curious interest as, borne on the crest of a gigantic wave, it came rushing swiftly on. Ere long she could distinguish the aged fisherman, Robert Bramond/ standing calm ami collected at the wheel. His knee eye wag fixed on the harbor mouth, and his hands held the spokes with a grip of iron. On rushed the boat with breathless speed. The crowds on the ahore quivered with excitement as they saw it dart toward the harbor mouth. Then a cheer rang through the air as the wheel was whirled round and the boat swung safely into the haven. Ropes were quickly flung out and made fast, and ere one could realize it the danger was over. A strange little scene followed. Old Bramond, as he left the wheel, paused for a moment, doffed his great sou’wester, and raising his eyes to heaven, muttered a few words of thanks to God. The watching crowd was awed Into an impressive silence, which, however, soon gave place to shouts of welcome and congratulation. There were two persons by whom this incident passed unnoticed. The one was the girl on the outer wall who was already staring out again over the water; the other was a young fisherman from the boat which had Just arrived. As soon as the boat was safely moored he had lept ashore and. having avoided his relatives and friends, was already making his way round the outer harbor. In a few minutes he had clambered up beside the girl.

“Jean,” he shouted in her ear. “Jean What are you doing here?' 9 !f b ® girl started and looked around «&£* A “ r "” ,M “Yes,” he replied, “it’s me. But what on earth are you doing out here •IS* * night? Why, you might he •wept off at any minute." „t,?* 1 ’. I m all she answered. „ been hele for an hour already, and I mean to stay until the Daredevil comes home.” t‘lt’s madness,” he shouted back; I d ° n ’ ao good t 0 any one and aoln a lot of harm to yourself. Whv you must be drenched to the skin! Look here Jean,” he cried, almost angrily. as his words appeared to have o effect, “I’ve come out here to take you back, and you must come.” 1 must come, must ir and even OVer ‘ h j r °*ring of the storm her voice Jmv In«r° rD l Ul aDd iutlignant : “and pray. Andrew iairweather, what right have you to talk to me like that?” *“ ■ilent * Ihlle1 hlle Andrew wa « 23L H ? 8 u volce was hoarse, and trembling when he spoke again, with Ills mouth close to her ear “Jean,” he said, “it’s a strange, wild 2*r° ta,k of love * but you know I J°“ dg, 'T 1 b * Ve la the w orld to g>n the right of taking care of yon.” The earnest passion in his tone made the girl s face soften a little, but her r *piy was firm.

“I know that you love, Andrew, and I wish—l do wish that it wasn’t so. I have often told you often —far too often—that it can never be.” Andrew was silent for a long time, and a look of gloomy despair settled on his face. At last, however, he roused himself. “Apy way, Jean,” he persisted, “I don’t see what good you're doin’ out here. The Daredevil will come in all right. You know your father's the best steersman in the town.” “My father?” said .Jean. "My’father is not out to-niglit.” “Xot out? Then who ” He stopped short suddenly, starting as though some one had struck him a blow. Gradually he realized what it meant. “Jean,” he shouted hoarsely, “is it Jim you’re watching for?” There was a strange wistfulness, aleost an appeal, in the girl's voice as she replied so quietly that Andrew scarcely heard the words. “Yes, Andrew, it is Jim that I’m watching for.” There was a long pause; both hearts were too full to speak, though with far different emotions. Andrew’s frank, weather-beaten countenance was hard set as he stared vacantly before him. “Jean,” he said at last, “I know Jim's a good sort, and 1 promise you if he comes home safe to-night I’ll never bother you again as long as I live.” The tears in the girl's eyes were not all due to the wind and salt water as she replied in a trembling voice. “Thank you, Andrew. “You’re a good sort, too, and—and—l’m sorry.” At least, you'll let me watch with you to-night till he comes?” he asked trying to speak cheerfully, though his heart was aching. “If you wish, Andrew,” she replied, and the two sat silent, straining their eyes to pierce the daraness which was Gvpry moment becoming deeper. lor half an hour they sat waiting and often the hardy fisherman wondered how Jean could endure the wind and the icy spray which ever and anon dashed up. He dared not, however, raise his voice again' to protest As he glanced at the girl so close to his side he realized with pain how far she was removed from him. hough he had often been rebuffed he had never until to-night given up loping that a love so strong as his would one day be rewarded. As he ooked back on the last few years of h s life and remembered how he had always been toiling, toiling, with the single aim of earning enough to give Jean a comfortable home, he' felt that there was now a great blank which could never be filled up. att Vigil was regarded. Dut of the darkness there suddenly loomed the figure of a ship. On it came with the white foam washing her deck, and at times hiding it alr,?,7T, thelr VleW ’ 11 was minutes before Andrew recognized the outlines, and shouted to Jean; “It’s the Daredevil this time.” Jean did not answer. Her heart was beating wildly now, and her temples throbbed with anxious excitement. As the boat drew near the two tecklesb of the danger, rose to their feet, and, despite the buffeting of the wind, stood watching its approach. Jims at the wheel,” shouted Andrew a little latter.

Jean nodded without speaking. P aredevil awe Pt on it seemed e\ ident that the steersman had her under woudertul control. Jim’s quick eye darted from the harbor mouth to the waves at his side; often a quick turn at the wheel to right or left e\ aded the onslaught of an angry breaker, and kept the boat directed towards the gotu. Suddenly, when the boat was only about thirty yards from the haSmouth, the two figures on the outer wall caught Jim’s eye. He looked at them keenly; then started violently as e recognized who they were. For a moment the wheel slipped from his and, and that moment s distraction spelt ruin. Ere he could recover the Daredevil had pitched crashing into the harbor wall. IV ith a horrified scream Jean rushed down the shore steps which led to the quay below, Andrew following close Thrift 1 heClS ' * VS lUey ran saw Jim thrown forward by the shock As he tried to regain his feet the boom swung round, and, striking him on water. BWCPt Wm oVer iat ° ‘he He2 h ’ne AndreW ' SaVe him! sav « him! He s drowning, cried the girl her eyessteHing in terror and Lr’ £ For a moment Jim s head was visible sankV f troubled waters, then he sank beneath the foam. !., Save him! For God’s sake, save Jean a sain in agony clutching at Andrew s arm. * Andrew looked down a the seething cauldron beneath him and hesitatSf hands Saddealy Jean by bJth hands, he shouted in her ear

had flung aside his sou-wester and leapt off the quay. As the girl watched, she saw Andrew’s head rise again above the surface. He was swimming on his back, and held the unconscious Jim by the shoulders. It was soon evident that the fight was to be a hard one. Utterly worn out by twenty-four hours’ constant work at sea, and weighed down by his sodden clothes. Andrew could hardly keep Jim’s head and his own above water. Jim, stunned by the blow from the boom, lay a helpless weight in his arms. Yet he struggled on desperately, and inch by inch won his way toward the quayside. Jean, seeing how matters stood hastily climbed down the perpendicular Iron ladder to the waters' edge. “Here, Andrew, here!” she called in a high, clear voice. Andrew heard and redoubled his efforts. In a few minutes he had almost reached the ladder, but his strength was now exhausted. With a last violent struggle he thrust Jin’s body towards the girl. Leaning out as far as she could she caught Jin by the collar of his jersey. Then Andrew’s hold gave way, and with a choking gasp he sank beneath the water. “Help! Help! Help!” shrieked Jean, but the help came too late. She herself was powerless. With one hand she clung to the iron rung of the ladder; with the other she held fast to Jim's collar. When help arrived Jim was soon lifted up. Warm drinks and a warn bed brought him back to .life again; but it was not until the morning that Andrew’s body was recovered. • •••••• Every Sunday afternoon a young fisherman and his wife stroll arm-in-arm through the quiet streets of Portsoy. The villagers nudge one another and smile in a kindly fashion as they see them turn up the road to the cemetery which lies at the back of the town. The couple, on entering the cemetery, invariably pause before a certain grave. The girl (for she is still little more) stoops to place a wreath of fresh flowers on the mound. The fisherman’s eye is moist as he turns away, and, clasping the hand which lies on his arm, he mutters, half to himself, half to the girl by his side: “Poor old Andrew, lie was a good sort, and it was for your sake, Jean, that he died.”—Waverley Magazine. The Commercial Drummer Scored. Disagreeable Passenger (to Commercial Traveler, sitting by open.window)— Excuse me, sir, but that open window is very annoying. Commercial Traveler (pleasantly)—, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’ll have' to grin and bear it. Disagreeable Passenger—l wish you would close it, sir. Commercial Traveler—Would like to accommodate you, but I can’t. Disagreeable Passenger—Do you refuse to close that window, sir? Commercial Traveler—l certainly do. Disagreeable Passenger—ls you don’t close it, I will. Commercial Traveler— I’ll bet you won’t. Disagreeable Passenger—ls Ig 0 over there I will. Commercial Traveler—l’ll give you odds you won’t. Disagreeable Passenger—l’ll ask you once more, sir, will you close that window ? Commercial Traveler—Xo, sir, I will not.

Disagreeable Passenger (getting on his feet)—Then I will, sir. Commercial Traveler—l would like to see you do it. Disagreeable Passenger (placing his hands on the objectionable window)— I’ll show you whether I will or not sir. Commercial Traveler (as Disagreeable Passenger tugs at window)— Why don’t you close it? Disagreeable Passenger (getting red in the face)—lt-appears— to be stuck. Commercial Traveler— Of course It is. I tried to close it before you came in. And then the Disagreeable Passengei felt foolish, and the other passengers chuckled audibly.—Tit-Bits.