The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-05
EBB-TlDE.

III his hand.
"Come 10, she said, II would like to hav
you step"
NO" replied Jethro 81 don't believ
you would"
Arthur Rolleston. thinking the last re
mark aimed in his direction, closed his boos
and said he thought he would take
stroll. Then he removed his hand fror
Floras which had lain quietly in his own a
this time, and sauntersd off toward tn
beach.
handsome chap, that" said Jethrt
"S'pose he's nice company, siu't he Pr
Flora bit her lips and made no reply. Th
man was silent, and then continued. "He
quiteout me out lately, amt he? don
s,pose you care anything about that, though
Hes better looking than | be, and | da,
say he knows good deal more. | wish 20
joy, Miss Grant
"Jethro," said Flora, ''you are forgetting
yourself. what right have you to talk il
this way to me p
Forgetting myself? Good Lord lsn't II
enough to make man forget himself ~aeh
you drive me mad JUST think OF ~
while. 1t will do good. Wheh ne nFS'
cana here | cared about It ooh no"
after what I've seen this afternoon. Good
bye -
'"4ood bye, Jethro "
Singular, was it not? that when he was
gone Flora bent her head upon her hand and
cried. Singular, too. that jethro Batter
instead of at once returning to his work IL
the field, ssroled lazily along the cliff after
Rolleston, and finally came upon him, un
expectedly, of course, sitting upon gres
stone on the beach below.
'Haliol' he said srimly taking a sea-
near him.
Halo :" replied Arthur, "Jeshro Butler
isn't it? I've heard of you.'
That's nv name" said Jethro. Then
as though his heart and head were both no
with some feeling that was ranking there
he added, "1od seem to like your owl
company better than you do Flora's.''
What OF IT, asked Arthur, sharply.
"0h, nothin' I'm gettin' that way my
self. lately. | didn't used to be. though.
Rolleston regarded him for an instant it
silence Then be said, - ! on don't seem to
like me very much p
M" replied Jethro, dsyly.
"Why?
You had better ask Flora why. She can
tell you as much rs can shout 1t. She
knows why don't like you, and knows why
l hate you"
.'Jethro,' said Rolles,on, suddenly, as il
new light had broken in upon him, I'll
had ever kGown thought that | blot
ting any hope OF yours. even though l knew
i. to be but deusIon, | should have left
this place long ago, l have no reason to
be other than your friend, and have never
had"
well said - replied Je,hro. II like you
for that but it is too la,e-too late"
''How do you know? Tell me that you
love Flora Grsnt-assure me OF her love for
you-and | am gone to morrow"
lis too late, tell you," said Jethro,
tiercely Haven. ! seen it? Didn't
watch her viii ago, drinkin' in your
words with all ser soul? She might have
thought OF me once, out that's all over
now
"You may deceive yourself" said Arthur
=" on are not certain that she does not like
you still
81 am, he replied, 1t has been sort
Of late. | don't know about such things.
but | am beginning to believe In destiny.
tie raised his arm and pointed over the
pulsiug sea.
Look shere!" he continued. "it's ebb-
tide. All my life has been one great ebb
tlde-egerythi going out, nothing coming
IL '" hs etD-biuo " ucu L WAS IL
was eob"tide when you were thrown on shore
10 take away what was desrer to me than
life. I've watched every hope and am bition
l ever had to drift ont TO sea beyond my
reach. Nothing has ever been brought 10
me, and nothing will be except death. A
food tide may come in and bring that
some day
He said this in tone of such utter desc
iatIOn like man uyhnsa liz. fats had
deTed one long, sad future, that Rnllestou'
heart was touched in pity.
Il would help you if | could, Jethro' Cal
say anything to her that would turn thu
scale for you ~
mo! | shouR hate you wo rsethau dc
now If you did. I've begun TO feel bette
toward you since I've sat here. DON. max
it worse"
This" thought Roleston, sis one of tn
problems that try mems souls. Floras-
desrer than oil the world to me; yet here Is
a man that has loved her all his life. His
claim to her had grown old before mine was
born
A wild crash from the cliff above startled
him, aud both men leaped aside for their
lives. great rock, loosened by the wash
ing OF the rains round it, came tearing down
upon them like mass of solid iron Quick
As they had been, they had mlscalculsted
its direction. Striking against q smaller
stone upon the beach below, it suddenly
altered its course, and hurting its victims
into the sand beneath it, stopped and lay
with all its crushing weight upon them.
''Jethro," said Arshar, as soon as he
oouli collect his stunned senses, 'are you
killed ?"
He could not see him, but he heard his
voice rising family from the other side.
mo, not killed-but oh, my legs They re
gone, ! think"
"Gone y
eyes; mashed l can't feel EN-. Are
you hurt y
"No; | don't feel so but I'm fast
"What will become of US? Have we got
to die here ?"
"God knowsi"
But there was help at hand. Old Silas
at work at his nets far down the beach, had
heard the crash, and seen the two figures
disappear. He came running toward them
now, aud in few moments was on the spot
Are you both alive p he shouted
Answer somebody
es, yes, alive, both of u.s." came from
the captves, cheerilv.
Thank God I'll have you out of there
III hiihh' Neep up your courage, men
lie started away for help as fast as his
old legs would carry him, and in half an
hour came back with FIVE others, who had
left their nets to As ist him.
"Get him out first" said Jethro. Don't
begin with me-
"No. no." said Arthur, commence OIL
the other side there's time for me after
wards"
81 tell you / won't be dug out first"
torted Jethro. I'm of no use, for my legs
are gone. 1t couldn't make much difference
even if they were not"
by the Lord Harry said old Silas
you'll have to begin somewhere mighty
quick, for the tide has turned, and it's com
ing upon US fast"
Let 1t be him them replied Jethro.
We got my reasons for it, aud he knows
What they are. There amt more than time
enough TO get one OF us ont and if he dies,
1t will break somebody's hsa,t Nobodv