Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-08-10

There was pause.
Row near the bank, in the shade
Tom
Another long pause.
"Say, SIS" said Tom at length, now
we're of, I'll tell you where were 60
ing"
"Where you're going? Why, you're
going to take me out for q row"
Not much. I'm going two miles up
above to see some fellows who are
camping out"
aAnd going to take me? think you're
mistaken, sir. Give me those oars
mo. you don't. Leave EN- alone ana
sit still"
aTom, turn this boat instantly, or
awhas1l you do? Come, now you sit
still, or TIL
A thought seemed to strike Tom.
aCome, keep cool, 10. Well go up a
piece further, anyway. Iwon't take you
up to the camp if you don't want to go.
You don't want to 60 back yet awhile
do your" Ele..eo
.rom, there's the Desert Isle just
ahead. Don't run into it. Be careful
you're going straight toward it"
I'VE might land there" said Tom,
blandly.
aTo be sure, we might" said his sis
ter, glad of anything to divert him from
the fist scheme. sst
aAll right, just as yeu say.
Tom turned his boat toward the great
rock which lifted its broad back out OF
the water. 1t was fitly called the Desert
Isle, for its few square feet of surface
supported not 30 much as a blade OF
grass, or a bit of moss.
"Hep out" said Tom. "I'ye got to see
to the boat guess yoa can climb up
to the top easy enough"
"Of course, can," said Josephine; "as
if needed your help,yOu little monkey 7
In a moment she stood at the top OF
the rock, and In another moment de.
risive laugh came from below.
"God-by, 10; hope you'll enjoy your.
self. I'll see you later"
Plato says: "a boy is the most vicious
of all wild beasts" Plato and Miss Vail
were of one opinion on that point. She
locked about her, and took in the situa.
tion. She was monarch of about twen.
! ty-five square feet of rough gray rock
| the sides of which descended abruptly
to the water. Perched high on this
massive pedestal, her figure stood Oui
against the sky in bold relief. A bOoi
and parasol were her only accessories
for by some happy inspiration she hae
clung to these. The sun was high in tht
heavens, but its hot ravs were merciful
ly tempered by a soft breeze On the lake
Josephine seated herself, raised he
parasol and opened her book. She faced
the probability that at least two hour'
of MONDAY solitude were before her
The only philosophical course of actor
was to make the best of it. But what ;
situation to be discovered in. She re
membered with satisfaction that larg
party had gene on a picnic to-day ant
the dowager left behind were not givel
to boating at high noon. She tried +
think how she should laugh it of If any
body should see her, but under the mos
cheerful aspect she seemed to herself
ridiculous spectacle. To be ridieulou
in a good cause had in 1t an element o
heroism, but the present situation wa
one of unmitigated ahsurdity, and Jo
sephine Vail always felt the heroi
rather than the comic to be her forte
|
head began to throb in sympathy wit
!. the hot pulsations of the air about hel
An hour had dragged its length alon
when Josephine suddenly lifted he
head and listened painfully. A man
voice singing and the splash of oars, ,ant
yes, IN an instant, boat swung slowl
round the bend. One man sat in it, Ia
zily rowing and lazily singing.
ats that 6tGSe creature who watches
US off this morning thought Josepint
ats a type detest. And to think b
should see ME here. It's really NOR
than can endure" She looked wit
envy on the tsrtoise which slipped easi
ly from the base of the rock into tn
water as he heard the disturbing SCUM
of oars. 10.
~ hope he'll have the good taste t
!, tsuppese came, here OF my own free will
He wouldn't think of interfering wit
me, II hope. What? believe he's com
ling straight toward me-"
| Josephine turned the leaves of he
book. with an interest that grew ever.
moment more and more intense. But a
last decency required some recognition
of the nearing boat. The young mai
was rowing as if he had q renew in
terest in life. He was soon at the bas
Of the rock. az
II "Ibeg your pardon. he said, as b
raised bis hat; can ! be of any sssistanc
to your"
y "Y0u. are, very kind sir. You fnd m
in a very absurd position" z
4 you haveevidently' been shipwrock
cd. Are you the sole surviyOr?" ~
@No, not ship wrecked, but put ashor
! and abandoned by my cruel tyrant Of
Z brother. To tel yen. the truth, sir.
am the victim of a practical joke. NJ
little brother has left me here while h
goes further up the lake to visit som
friends who are camping there"
81 beg you will make use, of my boa'
then, to return. l will come up to yO
! in one moment sras
Leaping out of this boat before Mis-
: Vail could say word, he drew it up o
low shelf of the rock and quickl
reached her side.
, "Let me help you," the young ma
said, with such firm assurance of good
! breeding, that she made no resistance Q
attempt at independence, but accepte
the proffered said in quiet matter-o1
course way.
: "Your boat! your boat, sirl" she sud
. denly cried. 1t was too late. The ris
3 ing breeze drove the water with sue
| force against the rock as to dislodge th
3 boat, and before Adams could grasp i
2 the little craft was gayly fitting abou
| half dozen yards away.
ell The two looked at each other q me
: ment and then simply laughed. thoug
/ both were conscious of its being que
j tienable taste.
!. Adams sobered and said: "Csn 20
/ ever forgive me Miss :"
r Miss Vail 1 am Miss Vail"
a "And am Mr.. Adams. Can you /
d magnanimous enough to forgive me?"
: THAT is the question should as
a you"
b "Ah, you evade mine. At any rate,
shall never forgive myself. A worse b
Z of bunrlinp never saw. The truth /