The Irish standard., 1888-02-11
RY FLORENCE E. DIAMOND.
scvywigats2, 1887. By The a. N. kellogg Re'os
papar CoazpGny.1

"Dorcas Lynn" he musca, JnougnLlu1ly.
then observing my plain dress and evidently
suppocing me to be ono Of the servants he
said, more quietly: ssExcuse me, little girl,
but you greatly resembled my-some one !
used to know. am mistaken. Don mind
it, Child" and he went on, leaving me
strangely disturbed at his words. wan.
dered out into the dim, dreary shrubbery,
now lcalless and shorn Of its beauty. The
wind blew in ftful gusts, now roaring
throngb the trees in a fury, now dying
away to a breath. Almost unconsciously
had wandered, to the shore Of the lake where
I could see the boats gently rocking on
the water. I had been at the heights five
years, but in all that time had never en-
tered one of those boats; but q strong inn
pyllse made me determined tonight to take
s. sail in one. I had often watched them
rowing on the lake, and felt sure I could
manage one easily enough. Accordingly /
nnfastened one and got in, needless that a
stiN breeze was blowing now, and that
knew nothing about rowing. I took up an
gar and q, ,tempted 4, row, but it was clumsy
work, found, and the next thing T. did was
TO dropit into the water. was somewhat
frightened at this, for tho boat drifted
gulftly out from the land aud ] could not
see how could reach the shore again with.
sut the missing oar.
] sat quite still, however, and the boat
.drifted on, borne by the wind, which was
Blowing from the land. A gale WAS spring
ing up, saw, for the boat rocked fearfully;
and chung to the side lest should fall out.
4 should never get back to the shore, said
10 myself. should be drowned in the lake.
But after all the thought was not 50 terri
BILE. had nothing to live for, ] said. Every
one at Calcdon except the servants would be
relieved to know they were rid Of my pres,
eylce forever And then suddenly rcnlen-
bered that il died the mystery which sur
rounded me- would never be cleared up.
Who l was, what was, and what strange
clue kept me at Caledon would never be
known. Even should Mr.. Dudley return
and discover, as he had prom:
ise6, this secret, its knowledge could never
benefit me. I should long since have fur.
nished food for the fishes in the lake where
cnco in passion ! had wished Irna Barrett
might he.
All these thoughts flashed through my
brain in the few moments ! chung to the
boat that was now being tossed like an egg.
she'll in the center OF the lake by the fear-
tul tempest that was raging. Every mo.
ment expected to be thrown out into tho
boiling waves, when suddenly saw a boat
put cut from the shore and row straight fo1
the place where I was. Some one had seen
,ne from tho house, I conjectureds though it
seemed improbable, as it was noev dark and
j. fine rain falling with the wind made it
unreasonable for any one to venture forth.
Iwatched the boat as it neared me, and
could family discern single person in the
bow. In my anxiety to see who he was
leaned out over the edge OF the boat, and
suddenly losing my balance, fell out head
long into the water. felt rush OF cold
water, a binding spray covered me COM
p!etely, half sufocating me-; then felt
strong arm grasp me- and was lifted into
boat beside dark form and knew l was
again safe.
MY preserver did not speak, but did not
wonder, for it required his utmost efforts to
manage the boat and guide it to shore. But
suddenly as it had risen the wind lulled and
only gentle breeze swept the Lake. The
sky, which had been overcast, now partly
cleared and the moon shone through, by
whose light could see my companions
lace. Surely there was something familiar
in that face-some long-remembered Inca
ment. It could not bel yetit must be Oliver
Dudley who was with me. And at that in
slant he spoke. I knew that voice had
not waited years for those same kindly
tones. ssDorcas," he was saying, s'ittle
Dorcas, and is it thus find you?''
Somehow his words seemed strangely
b ccol and calm. could hardly speak, 80
tumultuous were the feelings that rushed
ever me.
eMr. Dudley!'' I cried, springing forward
md clutching his arm, eagerly. ut IS you,
really you'll Oh, how glad ami" poured
4 forth this in a torrent, still holding fast to
s,his ann the while lest he might vanish as
lsuddenly as. he had come. But his rs answer N
sv,p what b. Iexpected.