The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-12-11
a SEASIDE MONSTER.

had nearly week at Derby only last
Easter" grumbled Miss Holland
Young people think of nothing nova
days, but gadding about and holiday
making. When | was young we
thought a quiet visit to our relations
once in two years quite change enough;
but. now
There, don't be cross, Aunt Mary:
can't be mewed up in London duria<
this hot August weather, and you must
confess that | stick close enough to
business to deserve my holiday when I
get one. Invent to Derby on business,
you know said Edwin, bright. good
natured, gentlemanly young fellow as
ever bore with the whims and humOred
the fancies of two old maids You'd
better 90 with me, Aunt Mary he
continued: the change would do you
and Aunt Becky more good than all the
doctors stuff.
''Nonsensen' snapped the old LADY,
Change, indeed, That's lust what we
both hate, and what causes more than
half the peoples illness-leaving their
own homes, where everything is well
looked after, to 60 and sleep in damp,
dirty beds, and to eat half-cooked food,
to be robbed right and left-they call
that a holidayr'
And besides that, which docs not
matter to a young fellow like you as it
would to old folks like us" put in
Aunt Becky. solemnly, ''there is the
much greater danger of making bad
companions"
"Or of some designing, painted crea-
ture getting hold of YOU, and making
YOU marry her whether YOU will or
not, said Miss Holland
Il will promise you no one will get
hold of me; so be quite content and
don't worry yourself, aunt" answered
the object of their doubts and fears.
Il don't intend to marry for many
years yeti like my liberty too well,
and you make me too comfortable
And with this soothing conclusion
Edwin Holland escaped, and, his prep
aratiOns being soon made, a few days
after he was stroIling on the beach at
Swanscombe-a very pretty but quiet
seaside town on the south coast
Il am afraid you must make your
self contented indoors this morning,
Katie: you know Martha and Ellen are
making the preserves, and | expect my
brother and his wife to lunch, SO that |
really have my hands so full | cannot
90 out. said Mrs. Gray to her niece,
who was staying on n visit with her at
her villa on the Swanscombe cliffs.
Very well, auntie, | will stay and
help you, answered the girl cheerfully.
But by twelve o'clock Mrs. Gray S
preparations were completed. Lunch
con was not till two. but the visitors
down contentedly in the cool dining
room with her Knitting Then Katie
looked out at the waves gently ripping
in the August sunshine, at the boats
gliding on them with their white sails
spread, and she envied the people who
were able to be out in the sweet, cool
sea-air, and grew restless and discon-
tented.
might | Just take one little run,
aunt-just to the Cove aRd back? ]
would not stay out too long she VEN
tured to ask presently.
MY dear, | would gladly let you
90; but you know how very strict were
your mother injunctions to me on no
account to let you stray about by your
self"
Il know, aunt, and it is nonsense for
mamma treating me like great grown
up baby said Katie, Indignantly.
But you know, dear, being her only
daughter, she is naturally more anxious
about you," answered Mrs. GRAY
Then | wish | had half-a-dozen sis
ters, aunt. | am tired of being taken
about, and watched and worried over y
was Kate's ungracious reply. ''What
can mamma possibly see of danger in
my taking a walk by myself in this quiet
| place?n
There are always monsters of some
kind lying in wait for the young and
pretty. my dear; it is of these your
mamma is fearful" answered Mrs.
Gray, trying to speak seriously, but un-
able to repress a merry twinkle in her
eve.
"Oh! | know what you mean. aunt;
but mamma need not fear-I have too
much pride to allow any gentleman to
| speak to me who has not been properly
introduced. | shall never do as poor,
silly Matte We're did-run away with a
man she met at Scarborough, and then
find she had married her uncIe's clerk"
and The stately pose of katie's head as
she spoke would have befitted a duth-
csS at least.
u believe you, my dear Katie. You
will never, am sure, break your moth
er's heart BY any foolish escapade.''
Then show your trust in me by al
lowing me little liberty now and then.
dear auntie You often 90 out when
You would prefer remaining in, know.
Let me 90 out this morning; | give you
my word of honor no one shall speak
to me- and | will speak to no one"
Aunts need to be made of Sterner
stuff than Mrs. Gray was composed of
to withstand the pleading of such q
pretty winsome girl as Kate Leigh.
Ten minutes after, she was walking
merrily along the Parade, alone, and
rejoicing in the unaccustomed sense of
freedom.
About half an hours walk brought
her to some sequestered spot midway
between the town and small fishing
village Here she sat down to rest for
awhile in a natural grotto in the rocks,
whence she had good view of the sea.
Then she fixed her sunshade in front of
her to keep off the suns rays. and, pro-
ducing a novel from her pocket, she
prepared to enjoy herself for half an
hour. at the end of which time she must
return to be in time for luncheon.
About five minutes elapsed, and Ka-
tie was deep in the interest of thrill
ling tale, when ..Whewi" came a sud
den gust OF wind. and away went her
sunshade tumbling over, and careering
gaily down the rocks. She rose, with
little cry. to rescue it, when another
little squan took the book from her
hand.
In desperation she prepared to de-
scend the rocks.
Pray do not novel You might fall
and seriously injure yourself. 1 viii
endeayor to recover your stolen prop
erty for you" cried voice, and look
ing round in perplexed wonder. Katie
perceived a young man scrambling
L. L. s., l.