Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-05

the rock. CT am infinitely obliged to you.
was Just going to swim for it; can't bear
losing my game. 1t seems so cruel to shoot
birds for nothing"
81 dare say that you will not make much
use oft now that you have got it, !" said the
gentle voice in the canoe. "Curlew are not
very good eating"
"That is scarcely the point" replied the
Crusoe on the rock. ''The point is to bring
them home. Apres celia"
The bird stufer, said the voice.
mo, answered Crusoe, 'the cook
A laugh came back from the canoe, and
then question.
Pray, Mr.. Bingham, can you tell me
where 1 am? have quite lost my reckon
ing in the mist"
He started. How did this mysterious
young lady in boat know his name?
"You are at the Red Rocks; there is the
bell, that gray thing, Miss-Miss-"
Beatrice Granger" she put in hastily.
t'My father is the clergyman of Bryngelly.
/ saw you when you and Lady Honoria
Bingham looked into the school yesterday.
i teach in the school" She did not tell
him, however, that his face. had interested
her SO much that she had asked his name.
Again he started. He had heard of this
young lady. Somebody had told him that
she was the prettiest girl in Wales, and the
cleverest, but that her father was not gen.
tleman.
'Oh," he said, taking off his hat in the
direction of the canoe. "Isn't it a little
risky, Miss Granger, for you to be canoeing
alone in this mist?"
''Yes," she answered frankly, "but I am
used to it; go out canoeing in all possible
weathers 1t is my amusement, and after
al H., 1v- not
she added, more to herself than to him.
While he was wondering what she meant
by that dark saying, she went on quickly:
do you know, Mr.. Bingham, l think
that you are in more danger than am. 1t
must be getting near o'clock, and the tide
is high at 7:45. Unless 1 am mistaken
there is by now nearly half mile OF deep
water between you and the shore.
"Mv wordp' he said. 81 forgot all about
the tide. What between the shooting and
looking after that curlew and the mist it
never occurred to me that it was getting
late. suppose 1 must swim for 1t, that is
all"
''No, no, she answered, earnestly, "it is
very dangerous swimming here; the place
is full of sharp rocks, and there is tre-
mendous current"
''Well, then, what is to be done? Will
your canoe carry two? If so, perhaps you
would kindly put me ashore?"
"Yes," she said, sit is a double canoe
really. But I dare not take you ashore
here; there are too many rocks, and it is
impossible to see the ripple on them in this
mist. We should sink the canoe. No, you
must get in and 1 must paddle you home to
Bryngelly, that's all. Now that I know
where 1 am I think that can find the
way"
"Really," he said, "you are very good"
"Not at ALL" she answered, "you see 1
must go myself anyhow, SO 1 shall be glad
Of your help. 1t is nearly five miles by
water, you know, and not pleasant night"
There was truth in this. He was perfectly
prepared to risk a swim to the shore on his
own account, but be did not at all like the
idea of leaving this young lady to find her
own way back to Bryngelly through the
mist and gathering darkness, and in that
frail canoe. He would not have liked it if
she had been a man, for he knew that there
was great risk in such a voyage. So, after
making one more fruitless suggestion that
thev should try and reach the shore, taking
the chance of rocks, sunken or otherwise,
and then walk home, to which Beatrice
would not consent he accepted her offer.
"At the least, YOU will allow me to pad
Oi6, ne SAlO, as sue shll4lullN brought Ine |
canoe right under his rock, which the tide |
was now high enough to allow her to do.
''If you like" she answered, doubtfully.
'My hands are little sore, and, of course"
with glance at his broad shoulders, 'you
are much stronger. But if you are not used |
to it dare say that should get on as we'll
as you"
'NOnsense," be said sharply, "T will not
allow you TO paddle me for five miles"
She yielded without another word and
very gingerly hoisted her seat so that her
back was toward the bow of the canoe, leaV-
ing him to occupy the padding place op-
posite to her.
Then he handed her his gun, which she |
carefully slowed, together with the dead |
birds, in the bottom of the frail craft Next,
with great caution, he slid down the rock |
till his feet rested in the canoe.
''Be careful or you will upset u.s." she |
said, leaning forward and stretching out her |
hand for him to support himself by.
Then it was, as be took it that he for the |
first time really saw her face, with the mist |
drops hanging to the bent eyelashes, and |
knew how beautiful it was.