The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-06-14

Phil, however, kept his eyes upon
Joe as he swan out to the open sea,
and went on talking about him with
out requiring any special reply
''Joe is little impulsive and reck.
less, perhaps" said Phil, "but he is
capital swimmer"
1T is growing cold, said Miss Mort
inner, contracting her shoulders in that
graceful way that some women have
Of making even SILVER attractive.
Phil remembered with remorse that
her wrap WAS hanging forgotten upon
his arm. lie FASTENED to put it about
her shoulders, but the wind, which
was rising to gall, made the effort
prolonged one.
Don't you hate the wind2" said
Miss Mortimer coqucttishly.
i all never ungrateful, said Phil,
capturing the ends Of the shawl again,
and holding them fast this time about
her slender form. a keen look OF in
cipient triumph flashed from Miss
Mortimcr'5 eyes. Pills words always
! seemed to mean SO much more than
they said. And she could not, unfor-
tunatoly, see that his eyes were still
looking ilXedly over her head upon
the water beyond tho surf.
A shaft or two Of wild light flashed
down upon tho scene. An ominous
rumble from the clouds mingled with
the roar of the sea. Suddenly the eath
and sky were cnveloped in u binding
glare In this spectral light Phil dis
tinctIy saw Joe Barrett fling his arms
wildly aloft and disappear in the
darkness
Phil threw off his shoes and his
coat, as he and Miss Mortimer had great
difficulty in rescuing his vest, which
was ncar y carried out to sea by re-
turning wave. Her costume was
drenched by the spray, and she near
ly lost her footing, but she saved the
waistcoat, which contained Pills
watch and other valuables. Then she
hurried to the shelter of the bathing
houses, for the rain now began to fall
heavily. Through the blacllness of the
storm she saw the white face of wo-
man. Miss Mortimer knew that it
was Mrs. Barrett running wildly
down to the water, but she attempted
no remonstrance. She made up her
mind that of the party of four that
went down to the sea that day two
would probably never return, perhaps
three 1t was, impossible to say what
might happen where such impulsive
people were concerned.
Some men from the inn were now
hurryiug to the scene of peril and
finding it impossible to induce Mrs.
Barrett to seek shelter, had thrown
about her rough tarpaulin, from the
rough folds of which her haggard face
and wind blown hair was sorry
sight to see.
The two bodies were now coming in
atop of the foaming surf with no help
or hindrance of their own, closely
locked together, and were swept swift
ly ashore with other prey of the ele-
ments. They were narrowly rescued
from the greedy NAV of the returning
wave, and carried with all speed TO the
little inn, where everything was III
readiness to restore consciousness to
the one, and foster it in the other.
The storm passed away as suddenly
as it came. The pale glow of the twi-
light deepened into night. There was
no moon, but the stars shone over the
bay and harbor and dusky little prom
ontory. To look ut the gentle ripple
of the waves tapping lazily along the
soft white sand, Phil could hardly be-
lieve that so little time ago two men
had been done almost to their death.
He could scarcely stagger out into the
wooden porch of the inn to breathe
the cold, sea scented air. And as for
Joe, God only knew what would be-
fall him. He had been brought back
+~ l;fo l,,,t not fr conco;n,,c,,occ Dol
ly had managed to get word to the
town physician, but the way was long,
and tho sand was heavy
1t must have been about midnight.
Phil could not tell the exact time.
His watch was in his waistcoat under
Miss Mortimer in the bed of the land
lady. Phil had told her not to awak-
en- Miss Mortimer. under any circum-
stances; he was so glad that she was
asleep-and it would be impossible to
say how glad he was.
The latch of the door clicked behind
him. Phil's heart sank. He was afraid
Miss Mortimer had, after all, been
awakened. But q faltering, uncertain
step reached him, and the cold, little
hand of Polly Barrett clutched his
arm.
Any one but Phil would never have
known her The last remnant of her
soft, round comeliness seemed swept
away with the storm. All her woman
ly crimps and fripperies were gone.
She wore an i'll fitting gown OF the
landlady. Her whole face was of a
wan, gray pallor, like the waves un-
der the light of the stars.
SIS Joe better2" stammered Phil.
"Does he know
.'Ho knows everything, and perhaps
he's better. Oh, Phil, Philr' Polly
repressed her sobs and motioned Phil
to the door. He is determined l
shall try and get some sleep, and you
will watch with him for while. AS
if could sleepl But go to him, Phil /;
don't thwart him-go."
Phil went in to Joe. He will never
forget the low ceiled room, the two
wooden chairs, the pine table where
on mop of ragged wick sputtered
from a saucer of oil, the bottle of liquor
within reach, and the coarse, green
glass, the tall, trim old clock in TIE
corner ticking off the seconds, and