The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-25

"hy l nave Dot seen hcr sibcc yes
terday.'
Did you come directly from your
housc2"
directly"
"And she--shc hai no, been there?"
"Nu-to be sure she had not"
Simeon True looked at the empty
boat drawn up on the sands. and tcll on
the floor as ii u strong hand had s;nit-
ten him down.
My Alice! my little one!' was all
the cry he made, and Hannah, scarcely
less terrified, was hardly able TO tell |
Pierson how Alice had rowed away in
the little boat, scarce three hours since
in the little boat that he had found |
rocking on the troubled tide, tenantless
aud adriit.
Harry Pierson liltened, with face
like the gray stones in the village
church yard. Strong man us lie was,
the vigor went out Of his limbs aud the
deadly chill struck to his heart, as the
bare possibility Of what might have
happened rose up before his mind
"She--she must have landed some
where" he stammered. Get your
oars, Mr.. True, and we'll go and look
for her at once. Do not look so wobe
gone, Mrs. True; please God we'll
bring little Alice back to you before
long"
Brave heart! true heart! to sp.ak
comfort when his own heart sankslow,
and to hope on against hope! Aud the
two men went out together with silent
faces, and eyes that seemed to question
every wave that broke upon the shining
saud where the two boats lay.
And how had it Jared with the girl?
She saw the storm rising dark athwart
the sky-she felt the damp wiud blow
ing sullenly from the overclouded east.
and she looked up, with her limpid eyes
shaded by one hand. And even while
she looked the big rain-drops began to
plash down into the sea.
Alice glanced down at the blue dress
she wore--her prettiest, and the one
that Harry liked best.
IL must not get wet, thought Alice.
II will row up into Denuer's Cave until
the rain is over; it will not last long"
She turned the head of the little boat
skiliully about, and rowed with long
swift strokes towards the rocky shore.
\ just where the most precipitous mass
Of rocks leaned forward into the sea,
there was eavernous hollow, all shells
and sea weed at low tide, aud complete.
ly submerged when the water was at its
high level, that the coast people called
"Donuer's Cave"
"The tide is coming in fast, thought
Alice, measuring with practised eye the
wet lines on the ridgy rock, but it will
shelter me until the rain is over"
The ragged projections of the rock
overhead caught the ribbons of her hat
and it fell into the water. Alice stoop.
ed her fair head and sprang from the
boat upon the yielding sand, crouching
under the rock with dimples on her
cheek and sparkling eyes.
"Now ] am weather proof" she so.
liloquized, starting at the sound of her
own soft little voice in the hollow reso-
nance of the dismal place. "Geutly,
little boat. don't rock up and down so
STORMY, unless you want to pull my
wrist out of joint"
With her disengaged hand-one wa,
holding the boat rope---she picked up
huted shells and long, damp, trails Of
clingiDg sea weed aud watched the
fringed waves creep with murmurous
sound up the wrinkled sand, as the tide
came steady iu.
AS she reached over to get a pink
Tipped shell that lay little further of
than the rest, the knot she had fastened
became iosed--the rope slipped from
her wrist and the boat driited away.
She sprang TO reach it, but 10 vain
already the distance was widening fear.
fully between her and the lsat--and
the thunder of the rising tide warned
her back Then, for the first time, she
comprehended the full peril Of her sit.
uation.
Child of the sea though she was, she
never had learned to swim, and even
80, ~ ..es' - 'n's aooon,P'isn
unehs' % .ne waves were TOO rough, the
rocks 700 sharp ior u TO ayail her Shut
in by the overhanging roof OF the cave,
with ITS mouth already nearly choked
by the tossing billows, she could neither
s;gna' ncI eau ior he'p, The tide was
rIsiog w'th terrific rapid,'y---and little
Ahce knew that she was lace TO face
WIN ,: Death--a death more terrible and
soiltary than she bad over dreamed of