The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-28

"You have ever been" commence,
my eyes filling with tears, and pang Of
remorse shooting through my heart for
ever having said word or committed an
act that could wound Aunt Deborah's
gentle spirit.
But Aunt Deborah interrupts lie.
81 don't need any thanks" she ex-
claims; 81 have only done my duty.
Answer me one question, and this pain
full subject shall be dropped. Do you
love anyone else? Are you fonder of
any one than you are of Jack?"
My color mounts to my forehead.
"No," reply.
My aunt rises, and putting her arms
about my neck, kisses me affectionately.
THANK Heaven for that, my dear"
she says with much emotion"
And so the conversation ends.
Aunt Deborah's house is situated on
the parade at Ramsgate. / have lived
with her for more than seven years, and
she has proved mother to me in every
way. / have to-day, for the first time
| in my life, told her a deliberate false
hood / do love some one better than
| Cousin Jack. This afternoon mean to
meet him on the beach. He has asked
me to be his wife, and have all but
consented. Ours have been clandestins
meetings. To own the truth, I spoke to
him without q formal introduction.
One afternoon, when 1 was alone upon
the sands, he made an excuse for speak
ing to me. He warned me of the in
I coming tide, saying he feared might be
surrounded. Since then our meetings
have been frequent; since then my feel
| ings for Cousin Jack have grown colder
and colder.
1t is afternoon, the afternoon of the
same day on which 1 have told Aunt
Deborah the deliberate falsehood as to
my affections, my newly found lover is
at my side, my handsome gay-hearted
Arthur. Soon, trust, the day may
come when / shall be his wife; when I
shall bear the name of Stanford.
tell him about my aunt's lecture.
GAN this kind of thing" he says,
'.must be put stop to, my little Jane,
as soon as possible. Don't you think it
far better that it should be so?"
'How can it be put stop to? L ask.
"There is but one way" he answers,
''and to that 1 hardly dare hope you will
consent"
"Tell me what it is" say.
"For us to elope, Jane"
The color mounts to my cheeks, and
my breath comes quickly.
Jane, my darling Jane, he murmurs,
twill you fly with me tonight"
Before we have separated have con-
sented to his proposal.
The wind is blowing briskly as he
wishes me an reuOir.
II am just going to have sail in my
favorite little skiff-a farewell SAIL" he
says; land then 1 must return to my
hotel and make all necessary prepara-
tions."
"It's blowing so strongly" I answer;
"and I'm always afraid of some accident
when you go sailing in that slender
craft"
"Never fear," he responds gaily, "I
can swim mile or two if need be; there's
no danger of my coming to grief Fare
well until tonight; tonight, darling
and then we shall meet to partno more. +"
He grasps my hand, oh, SO warmly,
and then he leaves me. watch his re-
treating figure as he makes his way to-
wards that portion of the beach where
he hires his sailing skiff.
Presently 1 see him ON the bosom of
the sea, the white sail set, and the little
skiff lying over on her side-so far over
that I expect to see her capsize momen-
tarily.
Farther and farther out to sea he sails.
away in the afternoon sun, my lover, for
whose safety 1 tremble.
The wind freshens every moment.
Others eyes, as well as mines, are di
rected towards the bold young English.
man who ventures to ride SO daringly
upon the treacherous ocean.
A cry goes up from those assembled
on the beach, q cry in which my voice
joins, for the white sail of my lovers
boat is seen to dip into the water, to lie
upon the bosom of the sea; the frail Graf
has been taxed too heavily, and in an.
other moment it has capsized.
As that wall of agony escapes my lips
a hand is laid upon my shoulder, hand
that is ever ready in the hour of danger
Cousin Jacks hand. NJ
"Don't give way" he exclaims, il
Heaven grants me strength l will save
himi'
And then 1 see Jack Randall plunge
into the sea and strike out to the rescue
A minute later 1 fall senseless among
the pebbles. 49,
When consciousness return, I fine
myself in bed. My first inquiry is:
"Have they saved him?"
"You must not attempt to talk at pres
ent, DEAR" answers Aunt Deborah, who
is watching by me.
"But must know" cry excitedly,
endeavoring to rise. -
At this moment the doctor appears
upon the scene. -
"I must and aoul know If he ii
saved" shouted frantically.
; "One moment, my dear, one mo
ment," says the doctor kindly, sand yor
shall have all you require ->hear all you
wish to hear.
Then few hurriedly whispered words
, are exchanged between Aunt Deborah
and him, and she hastily leaves the
room.
"You have been very ill, my dear,
says the doctor, taking my hand; "but
/ I'm thankful to say, if you will only
, keep quite calm and quiet, you will soor
i be perfectly well. You have been in bee
ten days, you know"
''Ten daysl" I exclaim with extreme
astonishment. 1t doesn't seem ten hours
to me. But" flying off to the old topic
81 must and will know where he is-he
Arthur Stanford, whom love-"
, broke down in a wall of agony.
"Oh, don't hide anything from me,
sob. 'I am prepared to hear the worst
, / expect to hear the worst; only be can
> did with me, and 1 will do anything yol
9 please"
= The doctor puts his finger on m,
Q pulse.
''You know, my dear, that accidents
!, will happen to the best of u.s."
0 '.He is dead" I cried; IT know b.
: your face that he is dead"
! AS the words pass my lips the doc
opens, and Aunt Deborah re-enters fol
4 lowed by Cousin Jack.
: Cousin Jack" cry, holding out M
4 arms towards him; 81 know you will tel
t me the truth; you who never lie, VIII,