The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-15

under the will, the option between
giving me an estate some miles from
Gillandale, worth five or six hundred
q year, and presenting me with my
uncle's tall copy of Terence"
George laughed heartily at this
clause when it was read, and cried out
that of course / should have the I" Ter
ence !" had always preferred classics
| to mathematics, and he was sure that
Uncle Geoffrey meant it specially for
me, for he had it rebound not q wear
before his death. ~
But George did not laugh so loudly
when the lawyer came to the final
clause in the will, which provided that
in case of Georges marrying any one
by the name Of Penelope he was to
forfeit the property, which would
then pass over to me
George vowed that if he had not
made up his mind about the Terence
before, he had now, for he was sure /
had betrayed his secret to his uncle. I
disdained to reply, for to avow my in
nocence might look like an attempt to
induce him to change his mind about
the tall copy of Terence" But 1
learned before left the house that the
steward of the yacht, who was q conf
Dental servant Of my uncle's, had told
him all about our doings at Gulstone.
| / did not stay at Gillandale q mo-
ment longer than was necessary to
pack up my clothes and other lodgings.
had my last quarters allowance un-
touched, for 1 had been away when it
fell due, and my uncle had given it to
old Mrs. Madrew, the h0usekeeper, to
take care of for me.
1t was not a large sum, but it was
enough to exist upon for q while until
1 could look about me an find some
employment.
1 had half determined not to accept
the " Terence" !" but on second thoughts
I made up my mind to take it as q
memento of Uncle Geoffrey, whom I
could not help loving in spite of his
injustice to me. So l put it at the
bottom of my box, and turned my
back, as 1 thought, for the last time on
the place that for so many years had
been my home.
You will be very likely be able to
guess whittier I bent my steps. One
place was as good as another to medi-
tate ON my fortunes in, but at GulstOne
at least should find consolation and
sympathy, and according to Gulstone I
bent my step. 1t was the height of
the season. L found board and l0dg-
ings were scarce and dear, and was
fortunate enough to get clean and
comfortable room in the cottage of a
coast guard, situated about a mile out
of the town.
Alas, as might have been expected,
1 forgot in the pleasure of the present
the necessity of planning for the
future. Days and weeks sped
away, and in wandering and waiting
to catch a passing glimpse-Or, oh,
happiness short interview with Lucy.
In the meantime terrible storm
had burst in the POwsby family.
George wrote to Penlope, and told her
about the final clause in the will. 1t
would be useless, he urged, to prOlOng
the engagement. To marry her he
must sacrifice the property, and he felt
sure that she would not wish to wed q
beggar. When Penelope showed the
letter to Lucy, she at once declared that
[ should never dream of taking ad-
vantage of such clause to deprive
George of the estates: but Penelope
was a woman of the world, and she
pointed out that, considering the
shabby way in which George had
behaved to me, should be justified in
taking any steps to avenge myself:
Human beings were fallible and un-
certain, she said; though I might
promise not to do so, when the mar
riage had actually taken place, the
temptation might be too strong.
Old Powsby was SIMPLY furious.
Without waiting to consult his daugh-
ter he at once instructed his solicitors
to commence action for breach OF
promise.
This started George, and brought
him around in his yacht to try and
compromise matters. 1t was some
time before old POwsby would consent
to see him, and then only at the urgent
entreaty of Penelope, who was anxious
to avoid the publicity of an action at
law. a.t
By this time the contents of my
purse had reached point of tenuity,
which awoke me from my dreaming.
1 must be stirring if would not starve.
1 told Lucy, and in the course OF the
conversation 1 said half:jokingly, that
at any rate before starved l could
sell that tall copy of "Terence J" Lucy
laughingly expressed wish to see the
interesting volume, SO / promised to
bring it over the next day. Accord
ingly, upon leaving my lodgings the
following morning, put the parch.
ment-bound book under my arm, and
as the tide was going out, descended
the cliff, intending to walk along the
sands.
1t was q nice fresh morning, and
strolled along gently, keeping close to
the tide line, turning over with my
stick the odds and ends which the
waves had left behind them, and send
ing the sand-hoppers flying before me
in clouds.
All at once 1 heard cry that did
not seem to be the call of a sea bird.
looked round, and little further up
the beach 1 saw q heap of clothes
lying. 1 at once saw the situation
Somebody had been tempted to bathe
4 by the fineness of the day and the
seclusion of the little bay. l had been
warned of the danger of so doing by
my coast-guard landlord only two day.
before. A strong current swept int
the bay and out round Magog's Nose
DOluC q ullc SOuLu VI UnC O0yt oAAS
even the best swimmers, If caught In
this current, would have enough to dc
to save themselves. All this flashed
across my mind in an instant, while
1 was gazing out seaward. As the CRY
came again, more feebly, strained
my sight in the direction whence Il
seemed to proceed, and could discern
figure floating out to sea. There wa
not moment to lose. kicked Offmy
boots, flung off my coat and waistcoat
and throwing the tall copy on the tol
of them, rushed into the water. Th'
shore shelved rapidly and in few
minutes found myself swept off my
feet by the current and began to strik,
out in the direction of the bather.
was an excellent swimmer, and haG
only light fiannels on, 30 my clothe
did not much impede my progress.
y AS / rushed into the water l hat
given a long, loud shout, and it seemed
to Encourage the drowning man, for hi!
cries seemed stronger. i felt that
the current was no fiercer, and he has
presence of mind enough to obey m.
directions, could save him.
Imagine my surpriseon nearing hin
to see that il was George! I am gla'
to think that felt nothing but sur
, prise-not for one second did feel an,
.. hesitation. I called to him to lie OF
his back-I knew he was no swimmer
but could float, which is easy enougl
in saltwater. Then SWAN up to hin