Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-03

eS, you may keep him ana ne
shall be called Lil's Folly" he said
rather drvly.
The next minute her arms were
around his neck, and they were
both laughing heartily.
But Lil's Folly, fed and washed
brushed and treated kindly, began
to have a respectable appearance,
His shaggy coat became black and
glossy. Lii observed that he was
growing; and Major Lawney surrep-
titlously fed him from his plate at
dinner, and pronounced him a very
good specimen of the Newfoundland
mot so bad an investment, Lii,
he fiually remarked, kindly, when
in the spring Folly had reached a
remarkable size.
Lii laughed.
THANK you can bear consid-
siderable of that sort of thing, Guy;
| have been ashamed of him so very
long !"
Folly was invested with a hand
some new collar, and in the summer
went down to the seashore with
them. They took board at the new
hotel. Lii had never been in such a
place before. The great restless,
level sea, the stretch of silent, shift
ing sky, the panorama of the gliding
sails were indescribably delightful
to her. She was constantly out of
doors, running along the shore and
climbing the rocks like child. She
sat in the yellow sands watching the
snowy surf, and lived all the happi-
ness she had ever dreamed.
Her husband leisurely accompan-
led her light footsteps. If his own
thoughts were graver than hers, they
were not less pleasant; and that
bonny, golden, glancing head was
the light of his eyes. But one day
he had letters to write when Lillian
wanted to be out of doors.
''Be quick as you can, Guy, and l
will run about myself with Folly,
until you are ready, when we shall
go down to the shadows" she said,
and was away, the great Newfound-
land at her side.
Lii had occasional errands at the
village. If Folly followed her I'M
perceived and was sent back he
always obeyed, s.Home, sir-home,
but returning to the piazza OF the
hotel, where he lay down and bided
his time.
But this morning he was free to
follow his young mistress. He ran
at her side, his head erect, his great
tail moving like banner, apparent
ly as happy as she was.
Lii took a different direction this
morning, and being out of sight OF
the hotel, ran into the restless waves.
There she sat down to rest, but soon
busted herself picking up some very
beautiful pink sea shells.
When an hour had been spent in
this way, she turned to retrace her
steps, but paused in amazement. She
was upon an island. The sea had
advanced, crossed the neck at its
lowest point, and cut her off from
the main land. And, to her horror,
she saw that it was still advancing,
and lessening the island on which
she and the dog stood.
After moment she climbed upon
the highest rock and watched it.
Yes, the tide was coming in rapidly,
and swiftly and surely surrounding
the island. She had reason to believe
that it would soon be submerged.
Folly, too, seemed to scent danger.
He ran back and forth uneasily,
the air.
Lii sank down upon the rock and
tried to think. She was about
mile from the hotel and out of sight
of it. Her husband would appre-
bend no trouble, and, when he should
have finished his letters, would take
a cigar and await her returned. No
one was on the shore and no boats
in sight. If the water should sub
merge the rocks upon which she sat,
there was no prospect but she would
be drowned.
| cannot tell how long the poor
girl sat there watching the creeping
water-trying to be brave-trying
not to think how happy she had
been-how her husband would be
stricken by her death-for she never
knew herself.
But she arose at last, making
desperate effort for life. She would
send the dog ashore with message
to her husband. tK
Tearing blank page from a letter
in her pocket, she wrote few words
upon it with little gold pen that
hung from her watch guard, then
tried to fasten the note to Folly's
collar; but the paper was to perisha-
BILE to trust to the water. The salt
drops, already dripping from his
shaggy coat, instantly soaked it and
made it useless and she began to cry.
The next instant she snatched the
pretty straw hat from her head and
tied it securely to Folly's neck.
He looked into her eyes, whined
and crouched at her feet. Was he
troubled for her or himself =?
go home, sir-home," she said.
For the first time Folly did not