The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-04-23

me, I hope. What! believe he's COM
ing straight toward me"
Josephcnc turned the leaves Of her
book with an interest that grew every
moment more intense. But ut length
dcccncv required some recognition of the
nearing boat. The young man was row.
inc now rs if he had renewed interest in
life. He WAS soon at the base Of the
rock.
Il beg your PARDON" he said, as he
raised his hat; ''can | be of any service
to youI'
"You are very kind, sir. You find me
in Il very absurd condition"
You have evidently been shipwrcckcd.
Are YOU the sole survivors,
",No. not shipwreckcd, but put ashore
and abandoned by my cruel t.yrant of Il
brother. To tell you the truth, sir, | am
the victim of q practical joke. My little
brother has left nc here while he goes
farther up the lake to visit some friends
who are camping there"
81 beg YOU will make use of my boat,
then. to return. | will come up to YOU
in one moment"
Leaning out Of his boat before Miss
Vail could say Il word he drew it up on
a low shelf of the rock and quickly reached
her side.
LET me help you," the young nan
said. with such Il firm assurance of good
breeding that she made no resistance or
attempt at independence, but accepted
the rroifcrcd aid in 4 quiet, mattcr-of-
curse way.
.'Your boat. your boat, sir" she sud-
denly cried. 1t was too late. The rising
| breeze drove the water with such force
AGAINST the rock so us to diSlodgc the
boat, and before Adams could grasp it,
it wa gayly fitting about, 4 half dozen
yards away.
The two looked ut each other a mo-
mrnt and then laughed, though both
were conscious Of its being questionable
taste.
Adams sobcrcd and said: Can you
ever forgive me. Miss
Miss Vail; | am Miss Vail"
.'.And am Mr.. Adams. Can YOU he
marnanimous enough to forgive me-"
THAT is the question | should ask
you.'
..Ah, YOU evadc mine. At any rate
shall never forgive myself. \ worse bit
| of bungling | never saw. The truth IS,
Miss Vail, | have had very little expert
cncc in rcscuing fair ladies. You are the
first whose life | have tried to save. lam
! no hero, as YOU see"
The genuine annoyance of her compan-
ion reused tho compassion of Josephine,
and she began to talk to him with Il DIES
pcratc chcer(ulncss and acceptance of the
situation. .,.
..What q cold-bloodcd little villain
that brother Of yours must be, Miss Vail,
to desert you in this fashion. suppose
we must throw ourselves on his mercy
when he comes back. How are you
going to account for me? Consider me
your man Friday
Beneath their light talk ran an under
current Of more or less bitter meditation
on the part Of each. Miss Vail shudacrcd
to think what u good story this would
make to circulate among her friends,
while Adams forcsaw how it would add
to the conviviality Of the club. He began
with the fcrvcnt wish that he was out OF
| the scrapc. He ended, | am glad to con-
TESS, by ccasing to envy Robinson Crusoc
his desert isle, and considering his own
| far preferable. There was 4 brcczincss
about this girl that made him forget the
mounting thermometer. She had a way
of going to the point, and, moreover she
tt ,>~s& {u-, thtnrs which Ron
Adams told his sister he appreciated in a
woman.
In short, by dint of making the best
of it, Miss Vail and Adams were both
able to express honest surprise when a
boat appeared in the distance, and in
taking out his watch, Adams found it to
be 5 o'clock.
"Noww was all Josephine said, but
there were conflicting emotions in the
monosvllablc.
"Iullo-o!' shouted a shrill voice
across the water.
"Hullo-o" called Adams back.
Blank establishment wiped all express
sion out of Toms face at first, but a
broad grin finally made its appearance.
"You'rc q great one, Jo,"hc muttered.
"T'd like to know where you wouldn't
find Il beau. Did he drop down out Of
the clouds"
"IIush, sir; you have been a very
naughty boy"
As they rowed home Adams devoted
himself to c~ultivating the acquaintance
of the young scapcgrace. The latter
proved very approachable, and Adams
found no difficulty in pcrsuading him to
90 fishing the next day.
When they were home at last, Jose
phine took her brother into her room and
turned the key.
tom, you've treated me very badly
to-day. What would you give if | would
not tell father? You wouldn' like to be
sent back to the military school, You
know"
Say, sis, I'll tell you what" and the
little wretch gave a wink of immcnsc sat
isfaction; IF YOU won't tell on me, l
won't tell on you. Honor bright
Mrs. Adams" said Mr.. Ben Adams to
his wife at their wedding reception a year
after Don't YOU think we might af-
ford to tell people how We met; never
knew a secret kept better. I nearly
ruined myself buying up that precious
brothcr-in-law Of mine. You see,
thought on your account l wouldn't let
him tell. l didn't care; l liked it. | had
no business to, you say But liked it,
nevertheless. Here are Rutland and his
Mary. Let's tell them the story. They
know we're going to Lake Winnipakc for
,ur HONEYMOON