Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-04-04

grass or a bit of moss.
''Hop out, said Tom: GIVE got to see
to the boat. guess you can climb up to
the top easy enough"
''0f course l can," said Josephine;
''as if l needed your help, you little
monkey"
In moment she stood at the top Of
the rock, and in another moment de-
risive laugh came from below.
"Good-by; l hope you will enjoy your
self. I'll see you later"
Plato says GA boy is the most
vicious of wild beasts" Plato and Miss
Vail were of one opinion on that point.
She looked about her and took in the
situation. She was monarch of about
twenty-five feet of rough gray rocks, the
sides of which descended abruptly to the
water. Perched high on this pedestal,
her figure stood out against the sky in
bold relief. A book and parasol were
her only accessories, for by some happy
inspiration she had chung to these. The
sun was high in the heavens, but its hot
rays were mercifully tempered by soft
breeze on the lake.
Josephine seated herself, raised her
parasol and opened her book. She faced
the probability that at least two hours of
MONDAY solitude were before her. The
philosophical course of action was to
make the best of it. But what situa-
ton to be discovered in! She remem-
bered with satisfaction that a 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 off if anybody should see her,
but under the most cheerful aspect she
seemed to herself a little ridiculous spec
tacle. To be ridiculous in good cause
had in it an element of heroism, but the
present situation was one of unmitigated
absurdity, and Josephene Vail always
felt the heroic rather than the comic to
be her forte. Once tears of real vexation
started as her head began to throb in
sympathy with the hot pulsation of the
air about her.
An hour had dragged its length when
Josephene suddenly lifted her head and
listened painfully. A mans veice sing
ing and the splash Of oars, and, yes, in
an instant, boat swung slowly around
the bend. One man sat in it lazily
singing.
''It's that base creature who watched
us off this morning It's type detest.
And to think he should see me here !
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 water as he heard the dis
turbing sound of oars.
81 hope he'll have the good taste to
suppose came here of my own free will.
He wouldn't think of interfering with
me, hope. What believe he's com
ing straight toward meW
JUsOPlIUno CuIneu Un9 leaves Oh ner
book with an interest that grew every
moment more intense. But at length
decency required some recognition of the
nearing boat. The young man was row.
ing now as if he had renewed interest in
life. He was soon at the base Of the
rock.
81 beg your pardon" he said, as ne
raised his hat; "can l be of any service
to youG"
"You are very kind, sir. You find me
in very absurd condition"
"You have evidently been shipwrecked.
Are you the sole survivors"
"No, not shipwrecked, but put ashore
and abandoned by my cruel tyrant of q
brother. To tell you the truth, sir, l am
the victim of a practical joke. My little
brother has left me 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"
Leaping out of his boat before Miss
Vail could say word he drew it up on
a low shelf of the rock and quickly reached
her side.
'Iet me help you," the young man
said, with such firm assurance of good
breeding that she made no resistance or
attempt at independence, but accepted
the proffered aid in q quiet, matter-of-
course 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 as to dislodge the
boat, and before Adams could grasp it,
it was gayly fitting about, half dozen
yards away.
The two looked at each other a mo-
ment and then laughed, though both
were conscious of its being questionable
taste.
Adams sobered and said: "Can you
ever forgive me, Miss"
"Miss Vail; am Miss Vail"
"And / am Mr.. Adams. Can you be
magnanimous enough to forgive me9"
''That is the question l should ask
YOU"
'Ah, you evade mine. At any rate
shall never forgive myself A worse bit
of bungling | never saw. The truth is,
Miss Vail, | have had very little expert
ence in rescuing fair ladies. You are the
first whose life have tried to save. l am
no hero, as you see"
The genuine annoyance Of her compan-
ion reused the compassion of Josephine,
and she began to talk to him with des-
perate cheerfulness and acceptance of the
situation.
"What cold-blooded little villain
that brother of yours must be, Miss Vail,
to desert you in this fashion 1 suppose
we must throw ourselves on his mercy
when lie comes back. How are you
going to account for me2 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 shuddered
to think what good story this would
make to circulate among her friends,
while Adams foresaw how it would add
to the conviviality of the club. He began
with the fervent wish that he was out of
the scrape. He ended, am glad to con-
fess, by ceasing to envy Robinson Crusoe