, 1876-12-03

| on the beach! !' RS1cd l1raysun, alter silence
I that seemed to his companion interninablr.
| '"Yes, daily,n replied Jack: but the maiden
| aunt is always with heron shore At least, azi2
| sometimes her father. She cautions mc iu this
letter not to meet her there, for, II were seen
there once, she might be forbidden even that
innocent pleasure"
al have it," exclaimed the young clergyman,
''You must meet her there to~morrow,--n
ehe sh wat water, mind you, not on the beach. Leave
'iou mean to carry her of BY force said
before NC could leave the island.':
"You haven't an iulslug OF what I mean,'
! said Grayson. ssclsra is yours. Now 60 hon,o
+! to your boadng- house, and sleep screnely. Thit
! Is the most atroclous case ever heard uf, anti
! yon have my sympathy No thanks. Gooa
| night Fine business for q minister of the Cos
old fellow.'' And Grayson fairly showed hn
! friend from the room and closed the door upo1,
him. When he had gone he turned the key, ara
sat down by tue window to think again.
! Miss Clara Monteith. stepping :ortE from he,
clearinghouse and running aeross the beach.
| stopping for moment to play with her litsl::
white feet in one OF the pools that the r.ced:::g
| tide had left, and then plnnsinE slcefnlly into
| in bcwitching bathlagtosts1r1le nF
! white and scarlet, and With her seantt
! full yellow hair streaming over her
! shoulders, she looked to Jack Turner, peepn<
through the rouul window OF his bathing-hous,,
like the poetic embodiment Of summer suit
shine glancing for moment across the sani-
then slipping into thu cool wave and riding npuu
its crest. Jack himself is he entered tic Wasr:
further down the beach, dressed in ba::->y 5!nc
shirt and trousers. was scarscly so picturesque
At The waters edge stooL the terrible maiden
aunt. and In carriage near at hand sat the Two
military gentlemen. Clara was certainly taking
l. Il
i Now. them" thought Jack, here We are.
WHAT'S to be done next! :"
As he padded further oct into the surf, he
saw slowly swimmin. down The beach, outside
which rose and fell upon the huge rollers aud
occasionally disappeared entirely. As the sar
came nearer human heatl became visible he
| neat1 1t, and, on reaching point near Claza. it
stopped and evidently add:e,sca her,. Fhe laly
on the beach and the gentlemen in she carriage
became restless. So did Jack. and he swain
! toward the two figures in.the water, who now
appeared to bc III earnest conversation.
''Bloss mel" exclaimcdJarS IS Er came near
| er, I believe it's Grayso1.''
The water where they stood WAS nearly
shoulder-1eep, and each hug: roller that esa'!,o
from seaw:rd lifted them from their foot aud
! rendered. conversation somewhat difficult.
1--WE :nust hurry up this business y said Gray
| son, as Jack arrived; 'I've explained it all ia
Miss AFouteirh, and old-wtat'-llis-nainc there
in the carriage aud thu lady:s aunt will be w.t.
ucsscs."
H rcmoye: his scoop shaped aathing-har
and took therefrom small book, which he held
at arms lcngth above his head Jack 1iEiuvL
his intention at once. und. seizins Clara'5 band
beneath the Water, pressed 1t to his heart AZ
that moment Il huge wave swept over Elm, and
the entire party Disappeared tro:n View.
s'Dcary beloye1,'' said Grayson, splnttering.
and reading from the book, which hc still hcld
in his hand, though it was now reduced nearly
to pulp, ''deariy beloved: We are gathered
$,~& r.u. ~ $+S
joi1,-togcther this man and this woman in holy
matrimony-"
He paused until the next wave passed. and
then proceeded.
may not lawfully be joined together (thcre goes
my lat), let him now speak, or else hereafter
forever hold his peace"
The wild wash Of the sea was the only answer
to this challenge, although Cl:ra's friends On
shore were gestieulating violently. They were
out Of hearing, however, aud Grayson COLI
John Henry Turner. wilt thou have this
woman to be thy welded wife, to llve-guy--
The Rev Mr.. Grayson's mouth va. full Of
saltwater, aud the rest Of the sentence was in-
distinguf$hAbIe-
II will!n yelled Jack, leapirg into the air to
ayoitlthe next roller that broke over tslc1l.
stClara Montcith, wilt thou haye this man tobc
thy welded husband (xc'n have to shorten this,
for I'm getting chilly)!"
ssI will.'' said Clara.
s.Nho giyeth this woman to be married to
this nan!" nsked (srayson, looking toward tho
shore, whcre the ewo old gentlemen: who had
descended from their carriage. were ranged,
with the maiden aunt, along the edge Of the
water, gesticulatiug in the most frantic manner,
like the 5rigand5 IN nd tne 2Pcr1 h.z +,,;,
Jack and Clara, he continued: 'Then I pro-
nounce you man and wife, and may"
4 monstrous billow struck the Reverend
Grayson In the small Of the back. and launched
him upon all fours towards the beach, When
he emerged, Clara and Jack had disappeared
stKeep the book: he said, handing 1t to Jack.
as he and his bride struggled 70 their feet; 1th'
marriarc-ccrtilicatc is in it. Now let lis make
peace with your father, Hiss 3lontcitll, and
your husband that was 70 be-,
It WAS not very promising task. f,r the
former gentleman. who seemed To have gained
an inKIing OF what had been going OIL, Was
stamping up md down the hcach in q perfect
ever, Jack and Clara kncl: hc:orc him
* Allow me to present to you Nh. aud Mrs.
John Turnrr,'' said aIr. Grayso.-
"clara, goto your bath'nS.house 1s t,' sna dress
fierccly. s:What tonfoolcry is all this, sir, and
who the devil arc you:",
"Eho the devil am 1:'' asked Gr.,yson.
ayes. sir, who the devil are you!" repeated
Mr.. Montcith. livid with rage.
ssMy name Is Grayson, sir, and have just
married your daughter to Mr. Turner, aml
hope he will show more affection for her IS her
husband than her father has rs her parent re-
pIicd Grayson. with some warmth.
"Yes, father,'' said Clara, tive are married.
O! father, forgive us, for love him." anti Clara
twined her wct arms around.Jack's necs<, and
laid her head on his shoulder.
Mr. Monteith was spcechlcss. His face be-
came purple, white, and rcd, -by turns, and he
staggered is II about to fall. The other old
gentleman slapped him suddenly Oh the shoul-
der.
s1Hang me II I don't like the girls spirit"
he said, .and the young fellows audacity.
My boy' turning to Jackf, ~ give up my
cl;llm to YOU. think you've earned it. Now,
Montcith, make up your mind to make the best
Of it. THEY'VE outwitted you. SO let them &C
ana get on some dry clothes, and we'll all go to
nv house to dinner, and the wedding shall come
OF tomorrow in public. only with = Change of
bridegrooms."
Grayson seized the old gentleman BY the hand.
Clara kissed her father. That individual be-
came by degrees somewhat molli:lrl, and al
lett the hearh togcther.---St.e York Nerc4ry.
BLANCHE TO --
Aht pass me by tbon proud one.
With placid. chanwefess brow,
Look or tone Of thine hath los:
Its power to muyc me now,
Yet there's dropping of the lids
hail.