The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-08-29

the hotel piazza. For once he had
been in earnest; for once he had
abandoned the light, bantering tone
which was a second nature with him
Annie wondered at him.
They were looking out upon the
bay. plain in the moonlight.
"See," he said, chow playful the
the waves are tonight. Men OI
science tell us the depths of those
waters are quiet. May there not be
human hearts showing only their
Tighter emotions, yet having in their
depths strong purposes and earnest
love?'
She looked up, smiling, for his
manner that night pleased her, and
said:
II can conceive it," then added,
lightly: Ami to consider this b
personal explanation"
Quite earnestly he answered:
'Annie, listen to me There is a
strong stream in my nature, and it
turns toward you. Heaven knows l
am not trifing now, when 1 say /
love you better than my life-re-
member that, Annie, better than my
life %
She does not answer him at once.
That second nature of his pokes it.
self into the scene like an inconveni-
ent third party, and Edward says:
"You hesitated. This is TO be
another case of bleeding heart, sup
poser
He had hardly spoken the words
before he regretted them.
They decided her. She rose, say
ing, rather indignantly:
cit is useless to talk upon such
subjects, Mr.. Craver. Goodnight y
Without protestation he left her.
She saw him shortly after, among a
group of gentlemen, talking and
laughing.
81 did right. she muttered." He
is an empty-headed, empty-hearted
fool -
But she sighed.
The next day he asked her to take
a drive, as though nothing had hap
pened. They drove along the beach
for several miles, until they reached
a certain small hotel. Here they
put the horses up, and hired sail
boat.
At some distance from the shore
there was a wide rock. At low tide
it stood some little distant out of
the water, and at high tide it was
covered. .
Being low-Water mark, Edward
headed the boat for it. There was
an iron stake drived into the rock.
Edward fastened the boats chain to
this. not noticing that the other end
of'th chain was lying loose in the
boat, unfastened.
They had come upon the rock on
the side next to the beach. With
their backs to the shore and the
boat, they sat upon the rock, looking
out upon the bay.
The sun had dried the stone sur
face, and they were sitting, as Ed
ward said, Turkish fashion"
He was wonderfully interesting
that afternoon. Although he did
not even hint at love. Annie appre-
ciated his earnestness and gravity.
His wonted humor only came in
flashes.
Neither of them noticed how time
was fieeting until they were warned
by the spray of wave falling upon
the rock.
eff we don't want wetting. Mr..
Craver, we had better go, Annie
said, as they both rose.
Edward glanced toward the rear
of the rock, then he turned quickly
to Aannie.
"Are you a brave girl-stout of
heart?"
"What a strange question, Mr..
Cravcr! WhS?"
"Annie, do not be frightened. The
boat is gone y
She turned pale in moment.
She clung to him, crying:
"The boat gone? Then we are
lost ! The tide is rising, and tops
OF waves are dashing at our feet.
We are lost-we are lost -
'Be brave little woman. We
are not lost"
Ed ward looked for the boat, and
saw it far away, drifting out to sea.
No passing vessel came so near the
shore, and the only assistance to be
hoped for must come from the land.
But upon that long stretch of
beach there was not living soul.
He would shout perhaps the peo-
pie ir the hotel might hear him.
He did his best, but his voice was
drowned by the wind and waves.
The winds mourning and the
waves roaring struck terror to his
heart-terror for the woman he low
ed. He tried to hide his face from