Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-04-16

To the surprise of Phil and Miss MORT
mer, presently disappeared in huge
green wave that covered them with il
spray.
Joe is regular water-dog," sale
Phil.
Miss Mortimer made no reply. She
had not come down to the sea-shorC
that day to listen to laudations of 10,
Barrett and his wife. Miss Mortimer
felt that she had no time to lose, and
was resolved To waste no words upon
Joe Barrett's maritime proclvities.
Phil, however kept his eyes upon Joe
as he swan out to the open sea, and
went on talking about him without re-
curing any special reply.
Joe is a little impulsive and reckless,
perhaps" said Phil, "but he's a capital
swimmer"
1T is growing cold, said Miss Nor
timer, contracting her shoulders in that
graceful way that some women have OF
making even shiver attractive
Phil remembered with remorsc that
her wrap was hanging forgotten upon
his arm. He FASTENED to put 1t about
her shoulders, but the wind, which was
rising to gale, made the effort pro
longed one.
don, you hate the windP" said Miss
Mortimer, coquettishly.
IL 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 in
cipent triumph flashed from Miss Nor
timers eyes. Pills words always
seemed to mean so much more then they
said. And she could not, unfortunately,
see that his eyes were still looking fixed
over her head upon the water beyond
the surf
A shaft or two of wild light flashed
down the scene. An ominous rumble
from the clouds mingled with the roar
of the sea. Suddenly the earth and sky
wero cnvelopcd in binding glare. In
this spectral light Phil distinctly saw
Joe Barrett fling his arms wildly aloft,
and disappear in the darkenng waste.
Phil threw off his shoes and his coat
as he ran to the sea, and Miss Mortimer
had great difficulty in rescuing his vest,
which was nearly carried out by a re-
turning wave. Her costume was
drenchcd with the spray, and she nearly
lost her footing; but she saved the waist
coat, which contained Pills watch and
other valuables. Then she hurried to
the shelter of the bathing-fouses, for
the rain now began to fall heavily.
| Through the blackncss of the storm she
saw the white face of woman. Miss
| Mortimer knew it was Mr.. Barrett run
ming wildly down to the water, but she
| attempted no remOnstrancc. 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, per-
haps three. Ii was impossible to say
what might happen where such impul-
sive people were concerned.
Some men from the inn were now
hurrying to the scene of peril, and find
ing it impossible to induce Mrs. Barrett
to seek shelter, had thrown about her a
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
hindrance of their own, and closely
locked together, were swept swiftly
ashore with other 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
restore consciousness to the one, and fos-
ter it in the other,
The storm passed away rs suddenly as
it came. The pale glow of twilight
deepcncd into night. There was no
moon, but the stars shonc over the bay
and the harbor and the dusky little prom
ontory. To look at the gentle ripplcs
of waves, tapping lazily along upon the
soft white sand, Phil could hardly be-
lieve that SO little time ago two men had
been done almost to their death. He
could scarcely stagger ont into the
wooden porch of the inn to breathe the
cold sea-scentcd air. And rs for Joe,
God only knew what would befall him.
He had been brought back to life but
not to consciousness. Polly had man.
aged 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
Mortmer's head, in the bed of the land
lady. Phil had told them not to awaken
Miss Mortimer; under no circumstances;
he was SO glad she was asleep-and it
would be impossible to say hoO glad he
was. The latch of the door clicked be-
hind him. Pills heart sank. He was
afraid Miss Mortimer had, after all,
been awakened. But n faltering, I'M
certain 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 her
soft round comeliness seemed swept
away with the storm. All her womanly
crimps and fripperies were gone. She
wore an ill-ftting gown of the land
lady's. Her whole face was of wan
gray pallor, like the waves under the
cold light of the stars.
as Joe betterP" stammered Phil.
docs he know"
ale knows everything, and perhaps
he's better Oh, Phil! Phil" Polly
repressed her sobs, and motioned Phil
to the door. "He IS determined l shall
try and get some sleep, and that you
shall watch him for while. AS if
could sleep! But go to him, Phil; don't
thwart him-gor'
Phil went in to Joe. He will never
forget the low-ceiled room, the two
wooden chairs, the pine table, whereon
a mop of ragged wick iared from n
saucer of oil, the bottle of liquor within
reach, and the coarse green glass, the
grim old clock in the corner, ticking off
the seconds, and Joe's CHASTITY face and
motionless form upon the camp cot in
the corner. Joe tried to stretch out his
hand to Phil, but it fell back heavily
upon the patchwork quilt of the land
lady.
"You did your best, Phil, he said;
"you brought me ashore, but the trouble
was done out there; something seized
me, God knows what-paralysis,
cramps, palsy-who can tellp Any
way, I'm done for, old man. / cant
move muscle below. It's mere ques-
ton of time, Phil, and we can't afford
to lose any," 49,.
| az hone vou're wrong Toe: we'll