The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-11-06

in rocky niche, staring absently upon
the darkening beach, and dreaming of
''the days that were no more"
Rapid footsteps sounded around an
angle of the uneven path, but she did
not hear; hurrying figure emerged
from the shadows of the crags, but she
did not see.
But when voice, passionatcly eager,
spoke her name, she turned, quiverng
in every nerve, her eyes .dilating with
wonder, her face whitening with the
agonizing thrill as of something clutch
ing at her heart.
"Am l so ghostly, my dear love?"
said tender voice. "But am here in
the flesh, however; l was rescued from
my sinking yacht, all reports to the con-
trary notwithstanding And l have
been searching through many a long day
for you, Marion !-and have you not one
word of greeting?"
For moment she stood with her fair
head averted and with one hand up
lifted, as if imploring him to leave her;
then she turned abruptly and almost
angrily toward him.
"Did you get no message from me?"
she inquired, almost harshly.
He only shook his head with look
of questioning perplexity.'
II gave you freedom; | gave you back
to her. She would have been your wife
had | not come between you!-go to
her and leave me with my memories"
she cried reproachfully and wildly now.
81 do not in the least understand
you," he said gravely. 81 only know
that you are the one and only woman
whom have ever loved, or desired for
wife Marion, love"
But just then great swell broke on
the rocks before them, and the binding
spray dashed in mist all about them.
"We must not linger here; in very
few minutes the swells will be rolling
over the path where we stand," he said
anxiously, as he hurriedly drew her
away.
But even as he took step forward,
he stopped with look of CONSERVATION
changing to keen alarm.
Already the path on either side was
submerged; and they were prisoners in
that narrow niche which was being
swiftly enclrcled by the fatal incoming
tide.
"Some one may come to help up, but
our chances are meager. You have
doubted me, perchance, but you will
believe me now-now when we are face
to face with DEATH" he said, as he
clasped her to him and kissed her on
brow and cheek and lip.
And Marion did believe him, with a
trust that gladdened ever those harrow
ing moments as they stood there wait
ing the insidious approach of the creep
ing tide.
Each moment seemed an eternity; the
swells beloved about them and the
. sprays drenched them as they vainly
watched and listened for some oppor-
tune boat on the darkening waters, OF
the tread of some wayfarer on the steep
crags above.
ut is all over with us, my darling"
he groaned as at last he felt his foothold
. failing him.
But just then there was an encourag
ing shout, followed by the stoke Of
rapid oars; then the Prov of boat
:, cleft the surging tide, and strong arms
were outstretched to snatch them bach
, to life and safety.
C And in that supreme moment O
e deadly peril each heart seemed to have
g gained a dearer knowledge of the other
= "She Is loving and constant-my dar
ling" Keith Lansing repeated tohim
self the next morning as he awaited he
@ coming OH the veranda of the seasid,
hotel, of which their accident had mad,
4 them both guests,
If "iIe is tender and true-my love,
Marion knew, despite the little episod,
d of certain young person who had pro
: fcssed to adore him.
IS 81 was intimate with her family ant
Il frequently guest at the house; but
cannot account for her notions con
n cerning my attentions" Keith said, a
!. they stood together on the veranda AM
f. watched a few early equipages dashini
n down the drive.
h And even as he spoke a carrlag
a moved slowly past, and an exceedingly
pretty girl glanced indifferently towar,
- them.
Marion shivered little as she notet
e the fairy stature, the infantile contou
of feature, the daintiest of dainty attire
II and so recognized her visitor of a Ger
n tain distressing and somewhat ridicu
lous occasion.
, "She has quickly transferred her af
n fections," Keith smiled. "That is he
Il husband with her; she was married
y week OF so ago. Could you have for
gotten so easily, my cold, prou,
IS Marion?' he added, with a PECULIAR,
t, merry emphasis.
r. 81 should have remembered always
answers Marion, blushing at her owl
d earnestGess.
A FIRsT-cLAss FAMILY PAPER
=, The CARBON ADVOCATE is valu
able medium for the enterprising mer
chant as is evidenced by the fact tha