Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-05-29


rock, and in another moment derisive
laugh came from below.
'Good-by; | hope you'll enjoy yourself
III see you later"
Plato says. "A boy is the most vicious OF
wild beasts Plato and Miss Vail we're of
one opinion OH that point, She looked
was monarch Of abou, % feet of rough gray
rocks. the sides Of which descended abrupt
ly to the water Perched high on this ped
es,al, her figure stood out against the sky
in bold relief. A book and parasoI were
her only accessories, for BY some happy in
spiration she had clung 10 these. The sun
was high in the heavens. but lis hot rays
were mercifuly tempered by soft breeze
on the lake
Josephine seated herself, raised her para
sol and opened her book She faced the
probability that at least two hours of
noon day solitude we're before her The
philosophical course Of action was to make
the best Of it. Bu, wha, a situation TO be
discovered in She remembered with salts
faction that large party had gone on
picnic to-day, and the dowagers left behind
were not given TO boating at high noon.
She tried TO think how she should laugh it
OF IL any body should see her, but under the
most cheerful aspect she seemed to herself
little ridiculous spectacle. To be ridicu-
lous in good cause had in il an element Of
heroism, but the present situation was one
Of unmitiga,ed absurdity, and Josephine
| Vail always felt the heroic rather than the
comic TO be her forte Once tears of real
I vexa,ion started as her head began to ,hrob
hin sympathy with the hot pulsa,ion Of the
air abou, her
An hour had dragged lis length when
Josephine suddenly lifted her head and
listened painfully. A mans voice singing
and the splash of oars. and, yes. in an in
slant, boat swung slowly around the bend
One man sat in il lazily singing
"lt's that base creature that watched US
of this morning. It's type detest. And
TO think he should see me It's really more
than can endure" The girl looked with
envy on the tortoise which slipped easily
/ from the base of the rock into the waters as
he heard the disturbing sound of oars
IL hope he'll have the good taste to sup
pose came here Of my own free will. He
/ wou!dn; think of interfering with me,
/ hope. What, | believe he's coming straight
! toward me-
J josephine turned the leaves of her book
| with an interest tha, grew every moment
more intense. But at length decency re-
4 quirrd somc recognition Of the nearing boat
The young man was rowing now as If he
4 had renewed interest in life lie was soor
\ at Tie base Of the rock.
J Il beg your pardon" he said as he raised
\ bis hat, Gan be ofpny service 10 YOU 2"
You are very kind, sir YOU find ne III
I a very absurd condition.
"lou have cyidcntl, been -hipwrcckcl
Are YOU the sole survivor
"No, not shipwrrcked. bu, pat ashore and
abandoned by my cruel tNraut of brother,
To tell YOU the truth. SIR am the victim Of
practical Joke Ms iitiic brother ha~
gone and left me here while be goes farther
up 'he lake to visit some friend, who are
camping there
I n beg You Will make u,c Of my boat.
then. 20 ret4rn. Twill come up 70 YOU in
one moment
lespiug out OF Bis boat before Miss Val
could say word hc drew il up On low
Shelf ~ rhc rock and qnicki, reached her
side
l.ci n.t help YOU the Young man said.
wGlh such firm assurance Of good breed
ing. that she made no resistance or attempt
Al independence. but accepted the profFered
aid. IN quiet matter -of-couIse way.
Your boat your boat. sir she sudden
~ cl.cd. IL was too tate. m" rising nl.rxr
drove the water with such force agains; the
rock 50 as 10 dIs.odce the boat. and before
Adam, could grasp u. 1t was gayy u!tiny
about. halt dozen yard, away.
The two looked a, each other moment.
aud then laughed. though both were con
srluls Of it. being questionable taste.
idams s,hcred and said Can you ever
forgive me. Miss"
Miss Vail; am Miss Vail"
And | an Mr. Adams. Can You be
masuanimous enough To forgive me
That is the question should asA YOU.
'Ah. YOU invade mine At any rate
shall never forgive myself. \ worse bi, OF
bunsing never saw. The truth i, Miss
Vail. | have had little experience IN rescuins
fair ladies' You are the irs, whose life
have tried 70 save | am no hero a. YOU
see"
The genuine annoyance Of her companion
reused the compassion Of Josephine. and
she began 10 talk To him with desperate
ohterfulness and acceptance Of tle situation.
What a cold -bIooded lutte villain that
brother of YOURS must be. Miss Vail, 10
0
desert you IN M, iash.on- suppose We
must '"fo" ourselves on MS mercy "hen ne
comes oaeH' lo" sre N"u gong % ac'
coun. i"r me consider me Your man ffi-
gay. .
Deneath 'het iisht talA ran an uhuef-
Z current oil more or le.s oitter incubation on
the part Of each Miss Vail shuddered to
INNS "ha' Rood ''ory thi' "ould MAKE 70
eH'u'a'e among 'he 'irhas' "h!ie ADAMS
ioresa" how y would ada 70 the con'iviaIily
oi ~ c'un re 'egah WIN ttt iefNeht
WIS" una, ne wa, OUT oi ,he e"hiounded
'FiP'. it ended an "hl'Sed . confess
~ ceasihs 70 th'N hoolnson ofusoe hl'
desert is'r, e. ana consider NJ, own lar pref
eran'e. iherr vas nreez'hes' ABOUT thiS
sll tha' mau" nun forget 'he mounting
thermometer Hhe had way OF gong 20
the point ana moreover >he nag poI"t'
wv" 'hihss "h!ch Den Adams t2!d h!' SISTER
hc appreciated ~ woman.
~ snort hi a'n' Of making the pest oi ~
Miss All ami Adams were hoih able to tx,
press honest elrpr Sc "hen 'oht appeared
IN me distance anu IN taxing oNt MS "a'ch'
AihnS i"uho y 10 he 'hree e!oeA;
~" - az Josephine >alu' pu' thefe
were conflicting emotions IN the uIUuU>N IIa-