The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-07-19
Either would do" he had said to his
.r ia mara than Onca

:
sob, now, Nellie must choose for her
self; and amt q, all sure she fancies
either Of them
No more was Nellie; but they both
smused her in just such way she liked
to be amused.
Jack and Murray calamity main
tanned an outward semblance OF per-
ronal goodwill to each other, through
all the ups and downs of Their doubtful
rivalry; but who shall blame Jack If he
experienced keen sensation of tri-
umph at finding Nellie Martin astually
in his boat, one splendid July morning,
when he felt sure he was bearing her
away from responding devices on
land? Alas! for Jacks triumph! If
he could only have known that the feel
ing uppermost in the heart OF his COM
panion was one Of merry anticipation of
the disgust of Murray Nesbitt, when he
should drive up to Bayside with his new
turn out, and find that she and Jack had
"gone 10 sea-"
Nevertheless, for she was fond of boat
ing, she fully appreciated the skill and
| vigor of Jacks rowing, AS the gay little
craft darted forward over the CLASSY wa
ter. Nellie herself could pull very well,
but Jack Loutrel was an athlete of no
mean order.
ats 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 a notion there's 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 60 ashore
there2'
"Island p replied he. ayes, desc.
late enough. It's dry now, at low wa
ter. but the waves 60 clean over it
when the tides up. Shall we land, and
take possession, and make believe
there's chance of finding some
thing?'
~ don't care" said Nellie, and in e
few minutes more they were seated
cozily 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 ne turned them again at Nell
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 2" she
asked, with an attempt at banter. "Are
you"
" Hush, Nelly; don't laugh at me
Just now" interrupted Jack, in a voice
that was deep, even for him; but very
low and sweet live 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 a fair adv antage
for Jack to take, away out there on the
half sunken rock, so far from Bayside,
and a 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
companion pleaded for an immediate
answer, she sprang to her feet with q
laugh that expressed 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 mel An.
aver mel-oh, Nellie T.
"Mr. Jack Loutrel, will you have the
goodness to pull ashore, or shall take
the boat, and 60 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.
" Shall 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
fr. m a man in e;rnest.
Perhaps if he had spoken, or had
turned his great brown eyes upon hel
for a moment, the result might have
been different; but he sat, without
voice or motion, more like human
barnacle than anything else.
A 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 hel
into the boat, and seated. her at thu
. oars.
She pulled very slowly, and it wa
half mile to the beach in front of thu
Bayside Hotel, but curve in the lant
at last hid the rock from her sight
! without her constant gaze discerning
3 the slightest change of posture in tn,
{ figure she had left sitting on the ledge
It was a tremendous experience 70