The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-09-28

| mi, however, kept his eyes upon
Joe as he swan out to the open sea,
and went on talking about him with
out requiring any special reply.
"Joe is a little impulsive and reck
less, perhaps" said Phil, "but he's a
capital swimmer"
cit is growing cold" said Miss
Mortimer, contracting her shoulders in
that graceful way that some women
have of making shiver attractive
Phil remembered with remorse that
her wrap was hanging forgotten upon
his arm. He fastened to put it about
her shoulders, but the wind, viii h
was raising to gale, made the effort
prolonged one.
Don't you hate the wind?" said
Miss Mortimer, coquettishly.
6 am never ungrateful.' said Phil,
capturing the ends of the shawl again,
and holding them fast this time about
her slender form. A keen look of
incipient triumph flashed from Miss
Mortimer's eyes. Pills words always
seemed to mean so much more than
they said. And she could not, unfor-
tunately, see that his eyes were still
looking fixedly over her head upon the
water beyond the surf.
a shaft or two of wild light flashed
down upon the scene. An ominous
rumble from the clouds mingled with
the roar of the sea. Suddenly the
earth and sky were enveloped in
binding glare. In this spectral light
Phil distinctly saw Joe Barrett fling
his arms wildly aloft and disappear in
the darkening waste.
Phil threw off his shoes and his coat
as he ran to the sea, and Miss Morti
mer had great difficulty in rescuing his
vest, which was nearly carried out by
a returning wave. Her costume was
drenched with the spray, and she
nearly lost her footing but she saved
the waistcoat, which contained Pills
watch and other valuables. Then she
hurried to the shelter of the bathing
houses, for the rain now began to fall
heavily. Through the blackness of
the storm she saw the white face of a
woman. Miss Mortimer knew it was
Mrs Barrett running wildly down to
tie water, but she attempted no re-
monstrance. She had made up her
mind that of the party of four that
went down to the sea that day two
would probably never return, perhaps
three. 1t was impossible TO say what
might happen where such impulsive
people were concerned.
Some men from the inn were now
hurrying to the scene of peril, and,
finding it impossible to induce Mrs.
Barrett to seek shelter, had thrown
about her rough tarpaulin, from the
harsh folds of which her haggard face
and wind-blOWn hair was sorry sight
to see.
The two bodies were now coming in
atop of the foaming surf, with no help
or hinderance of their own. and closely
locked together, were swept swiftly
ashore withother prey of the elements.
They were narrowly rescued from the
greedy nav of the returning wave,
and carried with all speed to the little
inn, where everything was in readiness
to re tore cons lou ness to the one and
foster it in the other.
The storm pas ed away as suddenly
"a it came. The pale glow of twilight
deepened into night. There wa no
moon, but the stars shone over the bay
and the harbor and the dusky little
promontory. TO look at the gentle
ripple of waves tapping lazily along
upon the sand, Phil could hardly
believe thatso little time ago two men
had been done almost to their death.
He could scarcely stagger out into the
wooden porch of the inn to breathe the
nj a1 n; 4 NJ 4 oil
only knew what would befall him. He
had been brought back to life, but not
to consciousness Polly had managed
to get word to the town physician, but
the way was long and the sand was
heavy.
1t must have been about midnight
Phil could not tell the exact time. His
watch was in his waistcoat, under
} Miss Mortimer's head, in the bed
of the landlaly. Phil had told them
not to awaken Miss Mortimer; under
no circumstances; he was so glad she
was asleep-and it would be impOsst
BILE to say how glad he was. Tho Latch
of the door clicked behind him. Pills
heart sank. He was afraid Miss Nor
timer had, after all, been awakened
But faltering. uncertain step reached
him, and the cold little hand of Polly
Barrett clutched his arm.
Any one but Phil would never have
. known her. The last remnant of hel
soft round comeliness seemed sweep
away with the storm. All he
womanly crimps and fripperies wer,
gone. She wore an ill-ftting gown o
: the landlady's. Her whole face wa
r of wan gray pallor, like the wave
D under the cold light of the stars.
D els Joe better?' stammered Phil
Q "Does he know"
! Gle knows everything, and perhap
i he's better. Oh, Phil - Polly re
!. pressed her sobs, and motioned Phil t.
t the door. Gle is determined 1 shall
i try and get some sleep, and that 20,
shall watch with him for a while. A
It if l could sleep! But go to him, Phil
:, don't thwart him-gor'
e Phil went in to JOp He will nave