The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-05-30

| VI nnulnS something
"I don't care" said Nellie, and in a
few minutes more they were seated co.
zily on the low ledge in the centre, 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 Nellie,
they had look in them that almost
frightened her, and she could have wish
ed herself in the boat again.
."What Is the matter, Jack Z" she ask
ed, with an attempt ut banter. Are
you-'
"Hush, Nellie; don't laugh at me
just now," interrupted Jack, in a voice
that was deep, even for him, but very
low and sweet; GIVE something 1 want
to say to you"
And so he had, and he said it all boz
fore Nellie could muster courage to stop
him. 1t was hardly a fair advantage
for Jack to take, away out there on the
half-sunken rock, so far from Bayside,
and 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 COM
swer, she sprang to her feet with laugh
that expressed II world of wilful mean
ing.
do you mean to mock me, Nellie
MartinE Do you not know-can you
not feel that l am i'll earnest : 1t is a
matter of life and death with me. An
swer me oh, Nellie :"
Mr.. Jack Loutrel, will you have the
goodness to pull me ashore, or shall l
take the boat, and go alone:"
Il 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.
"Shall l wait for you?' 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
from man in earnest.
Perhaps if he had spoken, or had
turned his great brown eyes upon her
been different ; but he sat, without voice
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
alf mile to the beach in front of the
;dy ,.ih Hotel, but curve in the land
1T laot hid the rock from her sight, with
..-.t her oonot.,At o~.s aironrn;nc tho
slightest change of posture in the figure
she had left sitting on the ledge.
1t was IL tremendous experience for
Nellie, altogether unlike any she had
ever had before; and it may have been
the tumult and excitement Of her feel
ings, even more than carelessness that
led her to accept SO eagerly the offer of
drive with Murray Ne.bitt, which
waited for her acceptance as she
stepped on shore. Little change was re-
quired in her simple seaside costume,
and in few minutes she was whirled
away behind the new team.
Meanwhile Jack Loutrel had remain
ed, III almost sullen fxedness of musing,
for much longer time than those who
knew him would have dreamed of, for
he had RI ked much on one cast, and he
had failed to win.
He was not physically uncomfortable,
for the fast-rising clouds had now
eclipsed the summer sun, and with
good provision Of fishing-tackle, per-
haps the rock wonld 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.
"Hullo" he exclaimed, 1.-THE tide
coming in: OF course it is and what
am l to do, now Nellie has carried off
the boat :"
Black and heavy the clouds were
gathering overhead, and a sort of mist
had settled on the water away to wind
ward
Looks like something rough was
coming. Drown, sure, if l stay here.
This is an awkward piece of business
but I've swan twice as far as that and
CdIIltu my CiOtleS, IOO. lhey SOI
wretchedly wet, though. Well, here goes"
Jack Loutrel was a man of action,
and his outer clothing was quickly
enough rolled in neat, compact bun
die, and fastened at the back of his
neck. Then, as he stood and watched
the swift current of the tide sweeping
into the cove, a thought seemed to strike
him, and he suddenly snatched off his
light chip hat, and sent it spinning ont
upon the water.
"It's one of those vanished things,
and I'm sure it'll float. I've got an
awful pull to get ashore, and I'll see
which'll be at Bayside tirst-I or my
hat"
If he had any deeper thought, he did
not put it in words, but dashed gallantly
into the fast-roughening water.
And now the wind was beginning to
be something more than breeze, and
Jacks work was all cut out for him, for
he did not care to be carried too far
into the cove by the tide.
Still, there was nothing so impossible
in the feat, for man like Jack, but
what, in due time, though pale, and
dripping, and exhausted, he dragged
himself out on dry land And then he
found it no contemplate job to coax
himself once more inside OF his water
soaked clothing.
Beyond him, at little distance, rose
the bald, weather-beaten knob that they
called "The View," and which formed
a L l n i 4 ~