Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-03-16

| 'AIO lCI ONu,
CHAPTERU.
What a lovely place it was, to be
sure! A little lake nestled down
among the hills; the water trans
parent and bright-inted shells
cleaning on the,bottom amid the
white, silvery sand.
The gay party had bivouacked on
its grassy banks, reclining under
the shadows of the great trees, that
looked at themselves in the clear
mirror at their feet, with rustic
of leave altogether coquettish.
A tiny boat was fastened near.
Among all the merry party that
day none had apparently been SO
light-hearted and happy as Agnes.
Kitty had manifested her dis
pleasure at this by continually re-
minding her of John.
"lt John was here, we might have
some of those exquisite pond lilies.
John is capital hand with an oar. :"
"We may have some, neverthe-
less, replied Agnes. Zone would
fancy, Kitty, to hear you talk, that
one S life depondend upon John. Mr.
Dermot, we'll take the boat and row
out to them"
"Done," said Dermot, unfasten-
ing the boat from the stake. "a
capital idea. Who wants to go?"
"Not J." Kitty said petulantly
turning away.
awe can 80 alone, Mr.. Dermof,"
laughed Agnes. "You will all be
anxious to share our prize"
"a cat likes fish," laughed Der
mot, "but she don't like to wet her
feet in getting them"
Further, and further out the
boat glided. Agnes leaned over
the side and grasped at the flowers.
"They are n tough flower to pull"
said Dermot, laying down the oars.
He leaned over the side of the
boat, the edge tipped to the water,
then dipped down, and suddenly
filing, the boat turned bottom up
ward, omptying himself and Agnes
into the lake.
A score of voices sent up
scream from the shore. Kitty ran
up and down, wringing her hands
helplessly, and begging some one
to save Agnes.
Mr.. Dermot grasped for her, but
she went down out of his reach.
He turned away making bold
strokes for the shore. Kitty scream
ed. A great fellow in soldiers uni.
form dashed by her, flung aside his
jacket, and threw himself into the
water.
"Desr old John-she's safe" said
Kitty, looking contemptuously at
Dermot, who stood shivering, un-
noticed on the bank.
She was very white when John
brought her out. Kitty leaned over
her. chahno her cold hands.
John drew on his jacket, and then
stood with folded arms, looking
down upon her, waiting for her blue
eyes to open.
Dermot, apparently ashamed of
his cowardice, fastened away. at
was so deuced unpleasant" he eaid,
"and so shockingly cold"
The blue eyes opened, then
closed again. John turned away
and stalked over the hill, never
needing Kittys words Of "John,
come bank"
"Oh, it wasso terrible" muttered
Agnes.
"Dreadful, assented Kitty.
"NIy preserver," said Agnes,
creeping out from the shawls they
had wrapped her in. "Where is
Mr.. Dermot? I must thank him
for saving my life"
"Infatuated GIRL" said Kitty,
quite bluntly. "NIr. Dermot didn't
save your iiie. He had no thought
of any one but his precious self"
"And who did save it, then?"
"Dear old john"
"And John is after all---?',
"a hero"
"And Mr.. Dqrmot-?"
"Is q most contemplate coward,
as always knew him to be-" said
Kitty, emphaticaIly.
"Where is John2"
"John's gone"
And for many long day, too, !"
volunteered Frank Lee. John is
soldier; enlisted last night. His
regiment was under marching or
ders to leave at noon to-day"
Agnes buried her white face in
her hands and fell to sobbing on
Kitty's bosom.
Quite true it was that John had
gone. How bitterly she remember
ed now all the cruel things she had
said to this great loving John.
How insignigcant Mr. Dermot ap-
peared in comparison.
How many times she awakened
in the night, fancying herself srug-
Cling in the water, a little dandy
swimming away from her, and Jonn
throwing aside his soldiers jacket,
and coming out to her.