Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-06

The rising tide, pouring through the
lower levels of the beach behind her, had
actually cut her off from the shore!
Instantly Thousand tales of trcacher-
Gus quicksands, of furious spring tides,
lowed up before the very eyes Of their
friends, came crowdng 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, us she stood mo.ionlcSs, and
paralyzcd with terror. tall figure ap.
pcarod ut her side, strong hand grasprd
hers, and Ashley Mclincourt's voice
shouted in her car: ''R,n, run there's
not Il moment to lose. Hold fast by me,
and run for your lifc"
1t WAS II race for life. indeed. Fast rs
they fled, the hoarSc roar of the pursuing
tide came closer and closer behind them
Could they but reach yondcr projecting
hcadland they would be safe; but how ter
riby distant it seemed. And, long be-
fore they reached il, the sea was upon
them in earnest, almost ,lashing the girl
from her feet. Mclncourt snatchcd her
up i'll 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 ut length, by n super
human effort, the rock was gained, and,
laying his charge gcntly upon broad,
flat ledge, he sank gasping beside her.
GLOW Car | ever thank YOU, Mr. Mel
incourt!" faltcrcd Laura, as she regained
her breath.
"rimc enough for tha; YETI" answered
Ashley, with an affected gaycty which he
was very far from feeling. "'rhc first
thing 10 be done is to get safe place,
for the tide will soon overiakc us here"
Wet and exhausted as they both were,
that upward struggle over the slippery
rocks, thickly coated with sca-wccd, was
II long and peri!ous task; but the roar OF
the advancing tide from below spurrcd
them on, and the top Was reached ut last.
Then wild cry burst from Laura's lips,
when even her iron-ncrved companion re-
coilcd in disnay. They were Standing
upon ;ln island
There was no room for doubt; one
glance made the whole truth terribly
clear. Their shcltcring crag WAS but IN
isolated fragment OF the main Gill, di-
vidcd from it by hidcous ciiasm nearly
thirty feet in width, through which the
waves were already lcaping high and
iicrccly. They had escaped sudden de-
struc,ion only to feel the lingering agony
of being dcvourcd inch by inch; Tor u
momcnt's; inspection showed them that
every ilood-;ida covered the rock to the
very summit.
at seems hard TO die so soom!'' muir
nurcd The girl, pilcously.
Hard for you sail 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
Oil from the living world by fast-ap-
proaching death, they felt the need of
ciinsing to something in thai grim isoia-
ton Of the grave. Parted in life, they
were drawn together us life cbbed away.
All at once Laura uttered II wild cry
the cry of sudden revulsion of hope, fol-
lowing up utter despair
"a boat! a boat! We may be saved
YETI"
"Thank God!" calculated Melincourt,
fcrvcntly, as the fitting sail caught his
eye.
Instantly his powerful voice was up
lifted i'll shout that made the air ring.
Twice the hail seemed UNDECIDED, and
their hearts died within them; but the
third time came Il faint answering shout,
and the boat, vecring suddenly, made
straight for the spot where they stood.
Then Laura's firmness gave way at last,
and she sank hclplessly upon her COM
pnnion's SUSTAINING. arm.
Half IN hour later, they were safe in
the boat; and the sturdy old Breton fish
crman, having mndc the lady comfort
able i'll the stern sheets, with spare sail
by way of cushion, went forward TO
the low blessings on him for consider
ate old fellow y and busted himself with
the management Of the boat.
Miss Maynard, " said Ashley, socmnlv,
''atier what we have passed through to-
day, there can be no reserve between us.
| owe it to You 10 explain my rudeness
The other day, by showing you that my
hatred Of critics and criticism is not
without cause. Two years ago, n dear
friend Of mine died very suddenly, and
left his widow almost starving; and, I'M
happily. was quite unable to help her,
except by writing book which might, |
hoped. yielt, money enough to keep her
from absolute want. had to write it in
il desperate hurry, Of course, as my kind
critics were good enough to remark but
still, think | might have saved the poor
woman il one of those 'slashing articles
in the New York Umpire had not ruined
all"
The New York Umpire" echoed
Laura, in Il voice so unlike her own that
ii madc him start. "What WIS your
book 'alled?-tcll me quick!"
"'Witlcrcd Leaves"
Laura uttered III stincd cry, and, burst
ing into tears, seized his hand in both her
OWN.
sob, Mr.. Mclincourt, can you forgive
ne: That horrible review wrote it,"
Mclincourt looked at her in silcn.
amazcmcnt.
81 wrote it," she repeated, with
woman's impctuous cagcrness to atone for