Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-22


said she, cheerily. @Mr. Richmond, what
should have done without your
Her lips were blue and her face was
pale; she shivered as she spoke. He, too,
was colder than he had ever been in his
life; but he was more used to rOughing IL
than she.
"Rubyou hands" said he, when he saw
how she was suffering.
She tried TO thank him and obey; but
her teeth chartered, and her hands seemed
powerless to do much in the way Of NOV
ing. He took her hands and chafed them,
and restored some circulation. He drew
her nearer TO him. '.Do not mind what
l do said he. "You must not get too
cold"
The rain grew less heavy, but twilight
was fast approaching. IL will make one
more attempt to bring help" said he. as
there any chance of a boat from the 'Doro-
thea coming?"
''I am afraid not-the captain will think
that have met with friends in st. Malo.
There are some people whom we know at
ohC VI lHtTts dlNl stlilC db III
nan as we'll daI esay they will send to
seek me in both places when once they be-
come alarmed. but that will not be until
ten or eleven o'clock"
II will go out and make the round of
the island again. Promise me to sit still
until come back" said he, and wrapped
her carefully in the dry coat.
"Yes; but don't be long, shall be afraid
until you return"
He enjoyed her absolute dependence on
him, but he went very thoughtfully away.
SHOW patient she is" said he to himself;
sand yet she is wretchedly cold, and tired,
and hungry" He went to the st. Malo
side and made signals until darkness clos
ed in. He went to the steps-nothing was
there but water, and then he saw that all
hope was over till morning dawned and
the waters went back. AS he stood in
brief despair, flash of vivid lightning,
blue and angry, darted down and seemed
to strike the ground quite near HIM. 1t
was startling in its suddenness, and was
followed almost instantaneously by a
crashing peal of thunder. His first
thought was Lucy, and the need there
was for him to hasten back to her. There
was pleasure in the idea of rejoining her.
wretched, damp, and cold as the cave was,
for the moment he felt it to be home,
with Lucy for it's mistress. He ran with
all haste over the slippery grass, but a
second flash of lightning came before he
reached his goal, and when he got there,
Lucy was crying. He felt that he ought
not to have left her solong.
"Don't cry," said he, tenderly, as he sat
down by her; but she laid her forehead
on his shoulder and did but sob the more.
He drew her towards him. "Don't cry"
he again said; it is but little more pa
tience, and then you and will walk away
over that abominable causeway Of theirs,
and enter their stupid, unhelpful town,
and state our grievances strongly"
She tried to say it was the thunder she
was afraid of nova fact he knew already
but her teeth chartered, and she trem-
bled too much to be very intelligible.-
Her hands were icy cold; he chafed them
and wrapped her more closely in the coat
which had done them such good service
but each flash of lightning made her
tremble still more. 1t was not cold
night, but the damp was excessive.
After a long time the thunder passed
away, and Lucy seemed to fall into an I'M
easy sleep. He sat there in the darkness,
listening to her breathing, wishing for the
light. The rain cleared away. One by
one the stars cut their way through the
dense veil which hid them from sight
The thunder was over, and all that he
heard was the ceaseless wall of the cruel
sea. Lucy's head was resting on his
shoulder and his arm was round her. She
was sleeping quietly now, and she was
warmer, for very gently had he laid his
hand on her face to feel. Presently with
a sigh and faint shiver, she awoke. Al
first she did not know where she was. She
put up her hand, felt his face, and started
back and away from him.
"Do not move away" said he. "We are
perhaps thus saving each others lives"
She bethought herself of how cold he
too, must be; he had given her his coat
and must be aching with cold. She
touched his shoulder; his clothes felt dank
and chill.
"You have given me your coat" said
she. Il am warm, and you will catch cold
and die" and while speaking, she began
at once to take it off. His hand restrained
her.
II will not let you take it off. I have
part of it. 1t will soon be morning, and
then we can go. am not cold. am SC
happy to be here to take care of YOU"
Did the hand he held slightly press
his9 He thought it did.
"How miserable poor dear Aunt Esthe,
and Lettice will be! How miserable
should be myself if it were not for your
said Lucy.
"We will go the moment day dawns."
"But can you bear it till thenY' she
asked. "You are icy cold, am sure
Your clothes make me start when touch
them"
81 am very happy" was his answer. 81
shallnever be so happy again"
Lucy said no more; he, too, was silent
hours passed. During this time there was
an interval of Inconsistencies on Hugh
Richmond's part, though he would have
denied that he had been asleep. Whe,
he became once more aware of where hi
was, his first thought was that he missed
the sound, faint though it was, of Lucy's
breathing. Her hand had slipped away
from his grasp. He sought it, but his