Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-23
LILY AND DIAMOND.
TooNoLUDKD.

L
strike" she cried, with cleaning eyes.
Mrs. Rarne's arms dropped by her sides
''Eyen If you do reach him, you will both b,
lost" she called, as the boat shot out to sea.
''What do care, If am with him." sale
the voice, coming back over the water AnC
this was the bltterest drop of all, for Eleanor
Rarne would gladly have said the same bu
even this desperate chance was withheld
from her reach.
The wind had died away, and there was
an ominous stiffness In the sky F.; the lake wal
like dark mirror, and out in the west mas
of black clouds, and white line on the watel
showed the incoming squall Dakota bent t.
her oars. She rowed well, with long stroke
and practlsed dip, and the muscles on hel
rounded arms, and her vigorous physique, did
good service. She was skilled oarswoman,
and often had she dlstanced the white-handed
gentlemen who visited Shorelands; but now
the race was for life, and bold as she was,
she did not like to look toward that fearful
white line in the west which she knew was
coming rapidly toward her.
Long strokes, and the little skiff flew over
the still lake. Would that dim sail never
seem nearer The twilight darkened and
the clouds deepened the darkness "John is
near-sighted, she thought; ''he can see moth
ing in this gloom. Oh, help me, kind Hea-
ven, or l shall never reach him." Long
strokes, and breath coming in throbs. "He
knows nothing about sailing, Eleanor said. /
wonder how she knew. Oh, that dreadful
white line John, John, how could you 20
out at such time !" Another look at the
sail-bOat II is cretainly nearer, and seems 10
be motionless. But the squall Is nearer too,
No time for further thought. Heart, mind,
and body, went into those oars the darkness
deepened, and the inky lake began TO heave
in long swells before the coming tempest.
One more effort, and the goal Is reached
"John, John" said an exhausted voice, 81
have come TO help you !" and the skif aoated
up alongside. w
Good Heavens, Kota-Miss Weston-is II
you ?" exclaimed John Vinton, in blank as
tonishment Out here at this hourl Didn't
you see the squall coming p
"Yes; but you didn't" gasped the breath
less OarswOman, almost speechless with fa-
tigue.
~ didn't? What do you mean ? But
never mind now. Step up on the seat, and
let me lift you in here There now you are
safe. The squall is almost upon us, but do not
be alarmed We shall weather 1t out easily"
81 came out to help you know all about
sailing, began a atrembling voice. ''Oh, there
comes the squall On, what shall we dol"
and the bold mariner sank down in the bot
tom of the sail-boat, and buried her face in
her hands.
Squalls on the Western lakes are often dan
gerOusly violent, and 80 well Is this fact
known that pleasure-yachts are rare, and,
even in fair-weather regattas, provision is
made for the customary capsize, and the drip
ping navigators, after more or less time in
the water, come dismally home on a tug.
But the Scud, the Shorelands sail-boat, proved
equal to her name, and under the skilful
management of John VintOn, she flew over
the water, tilted over on one gunnel, and. be
yond shipping sea or two, escaped without
harm, and, getting under the lee of the ISL
and, was run ashore safely. Then John
jumped into the water, hauled the bows up
on the beach, and lifted out his would-be
preserver, who lay half fainting in his arms.
II was quite dark, the wind blew furiously,
but no rain fell
''lt will be only furry after all, said
John, as he put Kota down behind tho shelter
of some thick bushes. "But we shall be
Obliged to stay here until II Is over. ] an
sorry 1t will be very unpleasant" added the
hypocrite, sitting down and int@pOsing biz
broad shoulders as an addition to the shelter
of the bushes.
"oh, l do not mind it, as long as you-as
long as we are safe, murmnred voice
strangely unlike the defiant Miss Weston.
ture out in your skiff at such a time, Kota, =
pursued John, adding the name TO the shoul.
der, with an audacity which no doubt sur.
prised himself-at least 1t ought to have done
30.
"Oh, the danger-fag was up in town
even the steam-yacht could not go out--and
when | came back, l heard-that is, was
told mean, l saw you starting in the Scud
and | knew-that is, they told me that yoJ
knew nothing about sailing-and so-and sc
and so, of course, l could not let you
drown before my eyes" said Dakota, trying
TO bring out dramatic climax.
John VintOn burst out into a laugh.
"You dear little preserver," he said
"And so she came out alone iu her cookie
shell skif with those soft little fists, to rescue
great, strong man like me, In steady ole
sail-boat like the Scud, did she ?"
Dakota withdrew from the shelter of thu
shoulder.
"You may laugh, Mr.. Vinton, she said,
in voice that trembled in spite of all hei
efforts at self-cOmmand, but really thought
was saving your life"
And so you have saved 1t, though in
different way, Kota," said the young man
catching her in his arms. ''My life has beei
sad enough for death itself lately, and havl
never dared TO think that could win you
love you, darling-love yove you with all m,
being-have loved you ever since we first met
But am poor man, and thought you
well, never mind what thought | will
never let you go now, no matter what hap
pens"
81 do not want to go, john" murmuret
the voice, and an arm stole up around tn
young mans neck as he bent over the hiddel
lace there was no halfway in Dakot
Westons nature whatever she did, she di
with her whole heart.
Il have only one fault to find with you
John, she said, half an hour afterward, a
they paced up and down the beach.
What is that, Kota p
How dared you weigh love againt
money How could you 80 mistake me
Didn't you know that if loved you, l woul
rather have your love than all the rest of tn
world ?"
THAT is right darling. You may fin
1ault as much as you please now. But life
hard taskmaster and It is not so easy I
guess at the feelings of young perso
who openly Gays she hates poverty, and opeI
ly parades her love for diamonds"
And cannot you give me one diamond
John Just one wee little diamond" pleaC
ed the voice
Il am afraid cannot, dear" answere
honest John, with a strange pang at hishea
"Oh, you foolish old Johnl How easil
lean deceive you. Do you suppose wal
diamonds when l have you ?" And standiD
on tiDtOe. with tears In har avao naLo,