Marshall County Republican., 1872-07-18

experienced 6. keen sensation CT trl-
umph at finding Nellie Martin astually
in his boat, one splendid July morning,
when he felt sure he was bearing her
away from responding devices on
land? Alasl for Jacks triumph! If
he could only have known that the feel
ing uppermost in the heart Of his COM
panion was one of merry anticipation of
the disgust of Murray Nesbitt, when he
should drive up to Bayside with his new
turn out, and find that she and Jack had
gone to sea
Nevertheless, for she was fond of boat
ing, she fully appreciated the skill and
craft darted forward over the CLASSY wa
ter. Nellie herself could pull very well,
but Jack Loutrel was an athlete of no
mean order.
otis splendid morning for a row."
she said !; 6 but we must not stay out
too long. The sun will be very hot by
and-by."
Not too long, indeed said Jack
but I've a notion there's a storm
brewing"
Perhaps there was; but Jack had
made up his mind that some things
should be attended to that morning,
storm or shine.
"There's that desolate- looking little
island, at the mouth of the cove" said
Nellie. Did you ever go ashore
there?"
Island ?" replied he. eyes, deso-
late enough. its dry now, at low wa
ter. but the waves go clean over it
when the tides up. Shall we land, and
take possession, and make believe
there's a chance of finding some.
thing 2"
don't care" said Nellie, and in a
few minutes more they were seated
cozily on the low ledge in the center.
and Jack was silent for little space, as
he looked dreamily out to sea, with his
great brown eyes.
When ne turned them again at Nell
lie, they had look in them that almost
frightened her, and she could have
wished herself in the boat again.
"What is the matter, Jack ?" she
asked, with an attempt at banter. care
you"
=" Hush, Nelly; don't laugh at me
just now," interrupted Jack, in voice
that was deep, even for him; but very
low and sweet; : I've something want
to say to you."
And so he had, and he said it all be-
fore Nellie could muster courage to stop
him. 1t was hardly a fair adv vantage
for Jack to take, away out there on the
half-sunken rock, so far from Bayside,
and a good quarter of mile from either
shore. Perhaps Nellie herself had some
such idea, or it may be she was startled
and bewildered.
At all events, when her eloquent
companion pleaded for an immediate
answer, she sprang to her feet with 6
laugh that expressed world of willful
meaning.
"Do you mean to mock me, Nellie
Martin? Do you not know-can you
not feel that l am in earnest? 1t is &
matter of life and death with mel An
aver mel-oh. Nellie 7!
"Mr. Jack Loutrel will you have the
goodness to pull ashore, or shall L take
the boat, and go alone?'
want to be your oarsman for life
Nellie, but not just now."
Nellie was already standing by the
boat, as it rocked gently at the edge o.
the little islet.
Shall l wait for your" she said, ant
there was half tremor in her voice.
Jack Loutrel could not have spoker
at that moment to have saved his life
and he sank back upon his seat, from
which he had partly risen, but with hi
back toward the boat. He Justly fel
that he had said something which wa
worthy of more serious dealing, comm,
FRI m a man in ecrnest.
Perhaps if he had spoken, or hac
turned his great brown eyes upon he
for moment, the result might hav'
been different; but he sat, withou
voice or motion, more like a human
barnacle than anything else.
A moment more Nellie waited. Sh
would have given something for an ar
swer, for any sign of yielding but non
came, and her proud will carried he
into the boat, and seated her at tn
oars.
She pulled very slowly, and it ws
half mile to the beach in front of tn
; Bayside Hotel, but curve in the Ian
at last hid the rock from her sigh
without her constant gaze discornin
the slightest change of posture in th
figure she had left sitting on the ledg,
.. 1t was tremendous experience fc
Nellie, altogether unlike any she ha
.. ever had before and it may have bee
the. tumult and excitement of her fee
ings, even more than carelessness, tn:
led her to accept so eagerly the offer
: drive with Murray Nesbitt, whic
waited for her acceptance as she ste
!, ped on shore. Little change was r
quired in her simple seaside costum
and in few minutes she was whirle
- away behind the new team.
e Meanwhile, ] lack Loutrel had r
f manned, in almost sullen Exedness
musing, for a much longer time ths
I those who knew him would ha,
dreamed of, for he had risked much {
:. one cast, and he had failed to win.
!. He was not physically uncomfortabl
8 for the fastrisine clouds had nc
> eclipsed the summer sun, and with
d good provision of fishing tackle, pc
,r haps the rock would not have been
bad place.
b Not so very bad, with due allowanc,
re for now the sore-hearted watcher "
Dr. suddenly aroused by the plash of lit
lg waves that were breaking at his ve
st feet, and he felt the fresh wind of t