Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-03
where for the present they could be com

peratiyely. i have been trying to speak
to you all day, and that glass-eyed little
cad would not give any one else chance
You must listen to me for moment /
have an idea, thought. have evolved
plan which is really stroke of geuius
And then, abruptly ethel, is your
mother fond of you!"
why. yes, of course in surprise.
But mean very fond. What would
she do if she were to lose you--if you
were drowned, for instance2p
| She looked at him askance.
"Tom, she said suddenly, "you look
sane, but you do not act SO. What is the
matter with you! Is the sea breeze too
much for your
| Ethel, do you love me2" he queried,
I irrelevantly.
All the laughter had left his face, and
she saw only the passionate love and mag
netism in his blue eyes-deeply, darkly
blue they were now, almost black. She
turned a little pale, her quick breath
came yet more quickly. His face was
very near hers, so near that wanton
breeze blew stray tendril across her
cheek.
"You know it, she said, simply
Was that kiss The sea gulls could
have tolo, but they never did
"Then. Ethel, he said, II have way
1t is little dangerous, will not deny
that. If you love me, dear, as well as |
do you you will not fear"
The hand in his trembled slightly, but
she made no protest
4 cannot give you up. This is a
desperate remedy, but desperate cases
need such. am going to make heroine
of you. You must fall over the rail into
the water
TOM" she gasped, staring at him
with wide eyes.
"Yes-wait. You must fall into the
water, you see, and then l will jump over
and save your life. It will be easy. As
soon as you fall will be overheard, too.
Do not be afraid to trust yourself 10 me,
there is really not much danger, because
can swim as well as | can walk It is
the only way, dear, believe me. You are
not afraid !"
She considered little.
81 see, Tom; you think mamma will
be SO glad to have me brought back to
life that she will-will let us have our
way"
"Yes, that is just it, he agreed.
"But, oh. is there not some other
way? This is reckless, it is
well, Ethel, he said, ~ can see no
other way | shall be sure to save you,
and then-then, little girl, you are mine
for always
But, Tom, she urged, suppose
mamma will not yield them
She will, though" he asserted, con
tidently.
Something Of his own daring spirit in
fected her. The spice of danger, her
full confidence in his ability, their long
love, otherwise hopeIess-she made no
further objection, bat entered heart aud
soul into the wild scheme
GLOW am to know when to fall?"
''You must find your opportunity.
Scream as you fall, and then away will
go. | shall be very near you all the re-
mainder 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 pre-
meditated, And-there goes the first
bell Run, Ethel No one must know
we have been talking. And, Ethel, do
not let that Lord but she was gone.
Slowly passed the day. Luncheon
~ "a
noon was slipping on. In the saloon the
tinkle of guitar mingled with the
sound of merriment and singing, only
scattered few were left on deck. Watch
ing the waters were Ethel and the in
evitable Lord Fenyll, with his inevitable
eyeglass; she could not get rid of him;
the miserable young man was too IN
fatuated to perceive her abstraction.
Little by little she drew near to part
of the boat where she thought she might
make the dreaded plunge most easily
Tom, in the shadow of a sail, appeared
to be absorbed in a novel, No one, not
even himself, knew that the book was
upside down. Ethel stole a glance at
him. Will he be in time? she wondered
in agony of fear and anxiety How
blue the water was-and how deepi
What if-but mo- no! she would not
think of that. Now was the time, she
decided feverishly.
SIS that not sail, Lord Fenyl!" she
asked.
"a sail In which direetion2"
Eagerly he took up his telescope This
was just the opportunity she wanted.
Slowly he swept the horizon with the
glass.
"Why, yes" he says. 81 see it quite
plainly. can even read the name on
oh. Miss Van Zandt Helpl help"
With shrek of terror she had disap-
peared over the side; only one terrified
scream, but in an instant the deck was
filled with eager, frightened 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 any one else, crying out
the awful accident at the top of his
voice.
Mrs. Van Zandt and another lady had
tainted; the gayety had vanished; all
was confusion and haste.
Tom saw nothing 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 God he could not see her, Why
did she not risei "Ethelm he cried
aloud in a frenzy. But what was that
white speck yonder2 Gould he reach it2
A moment more-only 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 waiting yacht, and willing help was
ready to greet the rescued and rescuer
The little figure in its clinging white
seemed devoid of life. The soft baby
curls around her forehead clustered
dsrkly golden; the large drops of water
slipped off one by one, till there was
little pools on the floor Pale and pure
and still as death itself she was-ahi
pitifully still. The red, laughing lips
were pallid now; the soft white hands
limp and inert.
my girl, my little girln' moaned and
sobbed Mrs. Van Zandt, and while they
talked in undertones, and while tears