Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-05
CHAPTER V

that. for some inscrutable reason, Mrs.
Lyall had decided that she would stay
at home, and that was to take Edith
alone.
"Do you particularly wish to go on
the pierp" | asked.
"I'll 90 wherever you like" she
said blandly, although could see she
would have given anything to get rid
Of me.
"Don't you think you are wasting
valuable time with me ?" / asked mis-
chieyously. 81 know where you want
to go-to see the nameless one. You
can't deceive me :"
Edith hesitated, and while she was
inwardly debating went on:
81 have not lived all this time in the
world without gaining some knowledge
| Of human nature. Come, Edith; you
know where he is"
|. "Oh. Mr.. Merton" she said, "what
wonderful penetration you have"
could see she was laughing at me
| in her sleeve, but / was determined to
be mBgnanlmous.
"And now" said |, g suppose you
intend to desert me for the nameless
one. / know he is lodging about some
where watching us, and suffering pangs
OF jealousy. Go, my child, gol Flap
your downy wings in the sunshine"
Edith beamed at me with eyes full of
pleasure.
81 haven't got any wings to flap yet 4!
but will you let me go, really?"
"Let you, indeed "
~ thought, you know" said she,
"you might have some absurd notion
that was under your charge, but you
are far too clever and sensible for any
such foolish ideas. | never knew a
less narrow-m minded man than you
never / wish all people were like
you"
"Flattcrer hatterer. see through
it all. Although consider myself re-
sponsible for your behavior, go! Don't
keep the nameless one waiting in his lair.
You are the kindeSt man in the
| world " said she.
"And the most easily beguiled,"
said /; but don't imagine I'm
blind"
"No, no; you are perfect lynx"
And off she went, with joy in her
eyes, thinking no doubt my percep-
tions were more akin to those of a
mole than Of the bright-eyed, prick
cared feline. went on the pier where
the band was playing, and he who
played the drum-a vigorous execu-
tant-was doing his utmost to conceal
the deficiencies of his colleagues. Not
finding this amusing | went on the
beach, and to me, meditating, there
came boatman, who commenced pes
tering me to hire boat. Suddenly
an idea occurred to me.
III take a canoe if you have nice
one" said !, seeing several on the sea.
OF course he had and in few minutes
| was aAoat in it, my embarkation caus-
ing some mirth among the idlerS on the
shore; but people at the seaside will
laugh at anything.
| padded away toward the cliffs,
fancying ] might see the lovers at their
former trysting place and gain another
advantage over them. The sea was
very calm except where the tide swept
over reef of rocks, where the water
seemed to snarl and show CLEANS of
white teeth. Beyond was lonely boat
apparently drifting with the tide. Al
most before | was aware of it | had
reached the troubled waters. The little
choppy waves began to splash over my
gunwale, and, while | was ar
ranging the waterproof over my legs,
suddenly, to my dismay, my paddle fell
into the sea. Using my hands as oars,
| began to propel myself laboriOusly to-
ward the paddle rising and falling in the
most tantalizing manner afew feet from
me. just when had reached it, and
was leaning nervously forward to clutch
il, larger wave than usual struck me,
and toppled over with stilled bel
low, and the water was kissing round
I my frightened ears. Coming to the
surface again, wildly shouting /" Help -
I struck out for my treacherous craft
that floated upside down few yards
from me.
"Help, Help. Help" clamored
whenever the waves, which hit me vi.
ciously in the mouth, would let me.
The canoe seemed drifting further away
or else my frantic efforts produced re-
PROGRESSION. My clothes were coiling
around me like clammy snakes; my
cries sounded like the shouts Of some
| one else; | was horribly, horribly
frightened, and nay struggles were
growing feebler. Like in some night
} mare, | could see the boat row.
ing toward me. How slowly il
appeared 30 move! My body seemed
turning to lead. | don't believe any
, one ever had such body, for suddenly
it dragged my head under in spite of its
efforts to keep above, and | felt as one
might feel shut up in gigantic bottle
of saltwater at the moment some
Titanic hand drew the cork, the water
Kissed, fzzled, and swirled so hideous'
ly. AS it closed over my crown, sud
denly a strong hand clutched me and
dragged me to the surface again, and
: heard above the awful, jubilant splash
ing Of the sea a familiar voice utter
: ing / know not what of encouragement
Then somehow ! clutched the side of
/ boat; there was long struggle will
my inert body that could do so little TO
itself; and finally / found myself, lik
, a newly-caught fish, gasping at the bot
tom of the boat, and looking up in min
gled terror, joy. and amazement, at m!
nephew Charlie and the frightened fac
of Edith Lyall.
, "You're all right now, Uncle, eh?'
cried Charlie cheerily.
"Yes-all-righ'-all right-now!'
gasped. Then, feeling like mumm.
in wet swaddlipg clothes, | sat an ami
mated sponge on the seat.
: II was all so strange that | could onl..
blink my eyes in wonder.
"Thank you, my dear boy though
, it was all up .-watery grave ugh
A, lonotb GRADUALLY my breath in