The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-06-18
ashs viii, though be asserted,

danger, her full confidence in his
ability, their long love, other
wise hopeless-she made no further
objection, but entered heart and
soul into the wild scheme.
"How am to know when to fall?"
stYou must find your opportunity.
Scream as you fall, and then away
l will go. l shall be very near you
all the remainder of the day; but
do not notice me at all. You will
be very careful, so that no one may
see that the fall was premeditated.
And-there goes the FIRST belli Run,
Ethel No one must know we have
been talking. Aud, Ethel, do not
let that Lord, but she was gone.
Slowly passed the day. Luncheon
was over two honrsago and the after
noon was slipping on. In the saloon
the tinkle of a guitar mingled with
the sound of merriment and singing;
only scattered few were left on
deck. Watching the waters were
Ethel and the inevitable young Lord
Fenyll, with his inevitable eyeglass;
she could not get rid of him; the
miserable young man was too infat-
uated to perceive her abstraction.
Little by little she drew near to a
part of the boat where she thought
she might make the dreaded plunge
most easily.
Tom, in the shadow of sail, ap.
peared to be absorbed in a novel.
No one, not even himself, knew that
the book was upside down. Ethel
stole glance ut him. Will he be
in timer she wondered in agony of
fear and anxiety. How blue the
water was-and how deepl What
if-but mol no. she would not think
of that. Now was the time; she de-
cided feverishly.
"Is that not sail, Lord Fenyll?"
she asked.
ga sail In which direction?"
Eagerly he took up his telescope.
This was just the opportunity she
wanted. Slowly he swept the hori.
zon with his glass.
"Why, yes he says. 81 see it
quite plainly. / can even read the
name on-oh, Miss Van Zandtl Helpl
help!"
With shrek of terror she had
disappeared over the side; only one
terrified scream, but in an instant
the deck was filled witheager, frigh.
tened faces.
Lord Fenyll was rushing from
one end of the place to the other,
dragging with him an immense coil
of rope, tangling up himself and
every one else, crying out the awful
accident at the top of his voice.
Mrs. Van Zandt and another lady
had tainted; the gayety had vanish
ed; all was confusion and haste.
Tom saw nothing of this. He
was in the water before the echo of
her voice had died away on the
startled air. With firm, rapid
strokes he beat the waves, and his
eyes were alert to catch the first
glimpse. The sun glared into his
face, but he did not find her. His
heart failed him. Godl he could
not see herl Why did she not rise?
"Ethel!'' he cried aloud in frenzy.
But what was that white speck yon-
der? Could he reach it? A mo-
ment more-only a moment more;
with ebbing power, as the white
face came to the surface, he threw
one arm around the body. His
strength all but exhausted, he was
taken with his lifeless charge into
the boat lowered to meet him. The
glad news was shouted to the wait
ing yacht, and willing help was
ready to greet the rescued and res
cuer.
The little figure in its cIinging
dress seemed devoid of life. The
soft baby curls around her forehead
clustered darkly off one by one, till
there were little pools on the floor.
Pale and pure and still as death it.
self she was-ahl pitifully still. The
red, laughing lips were pallid now ;
the soft white hands limp and inert.
"My girl, my little girlI'' moaned
and sobbed Mrs. Van Zandt, and
while tears fell, they took her be-
low, and toiled for hours to sum-
mon back the wavering spirit.
"Tom-unhappy Tom-was the
hero of the hour. But he could not
be quiet; he could not wait in pa
thence. Great waves of remorse
filed his breast, till the drops stood
out upon his forehead and his Iins