The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-09-27

hers, and Ashley Mehncourt voice
shouted in her ear: "Run5 runl-there's
not a moment to losel Hold fast by me,
and run for your ifeln
1t was q race for life, indeed. Fast as
they fed, 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
ribly distant it seemed! And, long be-
fore they reached it, the sea was upon
them in earnest, almost dashing the girl
from her feet. Melincourt 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 pressedrthe current
Twice he all but fell, where to fall was to
rise no more; but at length, by super
human effort, the rock was gained, and,
laying his charge gently upon broad,
fiat ledge, he sank gasping beside her.
'sHow can 1 ever thank you, Mr.. Mel
incourt2" faltered Laura, as she regained
her breath.
Thine enough for that yet7" 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 VIII soon overtake us here"
Wet and exhausted as they both were,
that upward struggle over the slippery
rocks, thickly coated with sea-weed, was
a long and perilous task; but the roar of
the advancing tide from below spurred
them on, and the top was reached at last.
Then a wild cry burst from Lau-a'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 leaping high and
fiercely. They had escaped sudden de-
struction only to feel the lingering agony
of being deyoured inch by inch; for a
moments inspection showed them that
every fiood-tide covered the rock to the
very summit.
at seems hard to die so soon!" muir
INJURED the girl, piteously.
lizard for you, said her companion,
simply. mo one will care when l am
gone.
And then both were silent; but their
hands met, and did not part again. Cut
off from the living world by fast-ap-
preaching death, they felt the need OF
clineing to something in that grim isola-
ton of the grave. Parted in life, they
were drawn together as life ebbed away.
AL at once Laura uttered wild cry
the cry of a sudden revulsion of hope, fol-
lowing up utter despair.
"A boat boat We may be saved
yet!o
fervenay, as the fitting sail caught his
eye.
/ Instantly his powerful voice was up
lifted in a shout that made the air ring.
Twice the hail seemed unheeded, and
their hearts died within them; but the
third time came faint answering shout,
and the boat, veering suddenly, made
straight for the spot where they stood.
Then Laura's firmness 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
erman, having made the lady comfort
able IN the stern-sheets, with spare sal
by way of a cushion, went forward tc
the bow blessings on him for consider
ate cid fellow) and busted himself with
the management Of the boat.
Miss Maynard, " said Ashley, solemnly,
''aftcr what we have passed through to-
day, there can be no reserve between US
l owe it to you to explain my rudenes'
the other day, By showing you that ny
without cause. Two years ago, deal
friend of mine died very suddenly, and
left his widow almost starving; and, IN
happily, was quite unable to help her,
except by writing a book which might, ]
hoped, yield money enough to keep her
from absolute want. had to write it in
a desperate hurry, of course, as my kind
critics were good enough to remark; but
still, | think might have saved the poor
woman if one OF those 'slashing articles
in the New York Umpire had not ruined
alll7
"The New York Umpire n echoed
Laura, in 4 voice so unlike her own that
it made him start. s'What was your
book 2alledl-tell me quickl"
'Withered Leaves.
Laura uttered stifed CRY, and, burst
ing into tears, seized his hand in both her
own
ooh, Mr.. Melincourt, can you forgive
lrzlincJdrt looked az her m sIia5F
Il wrote it." she repeated, with a
woman's impetuous eagerness to atone for
any injustice; "but oh, never dreamed
how could Il-what harm was doing
.neverl neyerl And to think how /
enjoyed writing it, and read bits of it to
my friends, while all the while Can
you ever forgive me?n
my wife and I never had but one
quarrel, " said Ashley 8Ielincourt. some
ears later; land that, luckily, was be-
ore our marriage. over a book of mine
hat she cut up. She'll hardly cut up
ny more of them now, though, for I |
make her the heroine of every one 7 |
Erlte !"-FtuHk LesLie's Monthly.