The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-07-25

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southern sky.
Little by little, as she left the inhabited
region behind her, the grand rcpose of
the landscape soothed the girls ruffied
feelings, while its beauty pleased her
artistic eye. She felt once more, as shc
had done many time already, that the
strongest armor against the petty worries
and vexations Of life is to withdraw from
them for time into the great sanctuary
Of nature, in whose presence all carth's
troubles look mean and trivial.
How long she stood there, drinking in
the splendor of that wonderful panorama,
she could never have told; but suddenly
she noticed, with start, that the sand
was growing wet and oozy under her feet.
She turned and was dismayed TO find her
self completely surrounded by water.
The rising tide, pouring through the
lower levels Of the beach behind her, had
actually cut her oil from the shorel
Instantly thousand tales of treacher-
ous quicksands, Of furious spring tides,
of children and even grown men swal-
lowed up before the very eyes Of their
friends, came crowding upon her memory.
And even while she looked, the sand be-
meath her feet vanished, and all was
water, water, water, rising higher and
higher every moment
Suddenly, rs she stood motionless, and
| paralyzed with terror, a tall figure APP
! peared at her side, a strong hand grasped
hers, and Ashley Melincourt's voice
shouted in her ear: "Run, run there's
not "a moment to lose! Hold fast by me,
and run for your life"
Il was race for life, indeed Fast as
/ they fled, the hoarse roar of the pursuing
/ tide came closer and closer behind them.
Could they but reach yonder projecting
headland they would be safe but how ter
rbly distant It seemed! And, long be-
| fore they reached it, the sea was upon
them in earnest, almost dashing the girl
/ from her feet. Mclincourt snatched her
up in his arms and plunged desperately
/ on, breast deep amid the forming waves.
| Deeper and deeper grew the water,
stronger and stronger pressed the current.
! Twice he all but fell, where to fall was to
| rise no more; but at length, by a super
/ human effort, the rock was gained, and,
laying his charge gently upon n broad,
| Hat ledge, he sank gasping beside her.
GLOW can ever thank you, Mr.. Mel
incourtl" faltercd Laura, as she regained
| her breath.
"Time enough for that YETI" answered
Ashley, with an affected gayety which he
was very far from feeling. "The first
thing to be done is to get safe place,
| for the tide will soon oyertake us here"
Wet and exhausted rs they both were,
| that upward struggle over the slippery
| rocks, thickly coated with sea- a-weed, was
/ long and perilous task; but the roar of
/ the advancing tide from below spurred
/ them on, and the top was reached ut last.
| Then wild cry burst from Laura's lips,
when even her iron-nerved companion re-
coiled in dIsmay. They were standing
upon an island!
There was no room for doubt; one
glance made the whole truth terribly
clear. Their sheltering crag was but an
! isolated fragment of the main cliff, di-
vided from it by hideous chasm nearly
thirty feet in width, through which the
waves were already lcaping high and
! iicrcely. They had escaped sudden de
struction only 20 feel the lingering agony
of being devourcd inch by inch; for n
moments inspection showed them that
every ilood-tde covered the rock to the
very summit.
at seems hard 10 die so soon" mur-
INJURED the girl, pitcouSly.
Hard for you, said her companion,
simply. "No one will care when | am
| gone"
And then both were silent; but their
hands met and did not part again. Cut
of from the living world by fast-ap-
preaching death, they felt the need of
clinging to something in that grim isola-
ton of the grave. Parted in life, they
were drawn together MS life ebbed away.
All at once Laura uttered wild cry
the cry of sudden rcvulson of hope, fol-
lowing up utter despair.
"A boat, boat We may be saved
YETI
'Thanl, God" calculated Mcincourt,
feryently, as the flitting sail caught his
eye.
Instantly his powerful voice was up
lifted in shout that made the air ring.
Twice the hail seemed unhecdcd, and
their hearts died within them; but the
third time came q faint answering shout,
and the boat, veering suddenly, made
straight for the spot where they stood.
Then Lauras trmness gave way at last,
and she sank helplessly upon her com
panion's sustaining arm.
Half an hour later, they were safe in
the boat; and the sturdy old Breton fish,
crman, having made the lady comfort
able in the stern sheets, with spare sal
by way of cushion, went forward tC
the bow blessings on him for a consider
ate old fellow j and busted himself witt
the management Of the boat.
Miss Maynard, said Ashley, ,solemnly
latter what we have passed through to-
day, there can be no reserve between us
owe it to you to explain my rudcnes
the other day, by showing you that m!
hatred of critics and criticism is no
without cause. Two years ago, a dea
friend of mine died very suddenly, ant
, left his widow almost starving; and, m
happily, was quite unable to help her
. except by writing Il book which might,
hoDed, Weld money enough to keep he