Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-08-03

mean order.
Its a splendid morning for row."
she said 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 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
there2'
"Island ~ replied he. Yes, desc.
late enough. its dry now, at low wa
ter. but the waves 20 clean over it
when the tides up. Shall we land, and
take possession, and make believe
there's chance OF finding some.
thing?'
81 don't care" said Nellie, and in a
few minutes more they were seated
cozilv 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 he turned them again at Mel
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 p she
asked, with an attempt at banter. care
YOU"
" Hush, Nelly; don't laugh at me
| lust now" interrupted Jack, in a 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 fair advantage
for Jack to take, away out there on the
| half sunken rock, so far from Bayside,
and good quarter of amile from either
shore. Perhaps Nellie herself had some
such idea, or it may be she was startled
| and bewilder, d.
| At all events, when her eloquent
companion pleaded for an immediate
answer, she sprang to her feet with a
laugh that expressed a world of willful
meaning.
| "Do you mean to mock me, Nellie
Martin? DO you not know-can you
not feel that | am in earnest? 1t is a
matter of life and death with me! An
aver me!-oh. Nellie "
| "Mr. Jack Loutrel, will you have the
goodness to pull ashore, or shall | take
the boat, and 20 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 of
the little islet.
| F." Shall wait for your she said, and
there was half tremor in her voice.
| Jack Loutrel could not have spoken
at that moment to have saved his life,
and he sank back upon his seat, from
which he had partly risen, but with his
back toward the boat. He Justly felt
that he had said something which was
worthy of more serious dealing, coming
fr, m man in eernest.
Perhaps if he had spoken, or had
turned his great brown eyes upon her
for Il moment, the result might have
been different; but he sat, without
voice or motion, more like a human
barnacle than anything else.
moment more Nellie waited. She
would have given something for an an
swer, for any sign of yielding; but none
came, and her proud will carried her
| into the boat, and seated her at the
oars.
She pulled very slowly, and it was
| half mile to the beach in front of the
| Bayside Hotel, but curve in the land
at last hid the rock from her sight,
without her constant gaze discerning
the slightest change of posture in the
| figure she had left sitting on the ledge.
| 1t was tremendous experience for
Nellie, altogether unlike any she had
ever had before and it may have been
the tumult and exciteme1 of her feel
ings, even more than carelessness, that
led her to accept so eagerly the offer of
a drive with Murray Nesbitt, which
ped on shore. Little change was re
quired in her simple seaside costume.
and in a few minutes she was whirled
away behind the new team.
Meanwhile, Jack Loutrel had re-
NAMED, in almost sullen xedncss of
musing, for a much longer time than
those who knew him would have
dreamed of, for he had risked much on
one cast and he had failed to win.
| He was not physically uncomfortable,
for the fast risin.. clouds had now
eclipsed the summer sun. and with a
good provision of fishing, tackle, per
| haps the rock would not have been so
bad place.
Not so very bad, with due allowances,
! for now the sore.hearted watcher was
suddenly aroused by the plash of little
waves that were breaking at his very
feet, and he felt the fresh wind of the
sea upon his face.
Hallor' he exclaimed, "the tide
coming in? OF course it is; and what
am i to do, now Nellie has carried off
the boat p
Black and heavy the clouds were
gathering overhead, and sort of mist
had settled on the water away to wind
ward.
Looks like something rough was
coming. Drown, sure, if stay here
This is an awkward piece of business
but I've swan twice as far as that, and
carrie my clothes, too. They got
wretchedly wet, though. Well, here
goes ~
Jack Loutrel was man of action, and
his outer clothing were quickly enough
rolled into neat, compact bundle, and
fastened at the back of his neck. Then,
as he stood and watched the swift cur
rent of the tide sweeping into the cove,
thought seemed to strike him, and he
suddenly snatched off his light chip
hat, and sent it spinning out upon the