The Forrest City times., 1891-04-17
A MAIDEN AIR.
pr cHARLxs e1Brox.
CHAPTER TX. ALL FORIORy.

| chan ris0 high and jagged above the sea, which dashes and churns white against them,
 1aJsng back moaning as if with disap- pointment that it cannot overthrow them.
 But 1t has made inroads at their feet form ing curious archways, leading to great cav erns, once the haunt of smugglers. Still the
 rocks stand firm, proud guardians of the coast, and terror to mariners and fisher men when the winds blow high. The little Mermaid looked like speck on the water in contrast with these ants of | nature. As it steamed slowly and safely | by them there were some on deck whose | hearts beat quick at thought of the peril | they were so narrowly escaping. All were | grateful to the captain, who had come so | timely with such skill and strength to their
 rescue; only one pitied the man who had | led then into the danger. | As for Duncan Murray, his breast was full
 of wrath. The reputation for care and skill which he had earned with lifetime to be | jecpardised at last, and only saved by a miracle! Jeopardised by the man he had | trusted as he trusted himself There was
 no penalty heavy enough for such villain 1 | Except the engine-man and Ross, who had been placed on the floor of the cabin, all re- mained on deck. But no word was spoken until they had passed the grim Buffers. They were like people petritied, pale and dumb, watching the sowing figure at the wheel. When they knew that they were safe there was one great breath like a sob of relief, and silent prayer of wondering thanks. Then the power of motion was re- stored to them by the loud voice of the cap tain giving some brief commands. Annie had been by her fathers side all | the time, SO white and calm that she was more like statue than living woman. She watched every movement of the vessel. how obedently it answered the helm under | the masters hand, until at length it took 1 them out into safe water. But her mind | was busy seeking the reason for this strange occurrence. Her father in his rage had said | that Ross was drunk, but she could not be- lieve it. Her mind leapt to the thought that he had fallen in some fit; and at her fathers first words she moved swiftly away, down to the cabin.
 There on the floor lay the man she loved. the man to whom she had pledged herself, and who had so nearly destroyed them all-- a senseless. ugly piece of humanity. She approached him, bent over him with tender hope.
 She drew back quickly and her face f1ush- ed. His breath told her that her father had spoken truly. And yet she was dmly con- scious that mingled with the fumes of whisky there was something else, which she did not understand, and which at the mo- ment did not impress her mind. There was the one horrible fact; he had been drinking and so had imperilled all their lives!
 The first sickening sense of dsmay over, she became calm again, and bethought her that something ought to be done to restore him to consciousness. Who was to help her? She dare not speak to her father and she would not speak to Cargill. By-and-by she would be able to get one of the men. but none of them could bs spared at pres ent.
 Meanwhile she got towel, dipped it in cold water and laid it on his head. Next she shook him roughly by the arm; but he made no sign. Then that was all she could do.
 There was one thing more. She called him by name; but he made no sign. Whilst doing this she became little more con- sclous of the presence of that something be- sides the fumes of whisky, only she was too busy in her efforts to rouse him to give it particular heed.
 And she was wondering. How could this
 
 that she had ever heard of him there had been no hint of this. Quite otherwise; one of the qualities for which he had been spe- cially noted was his sobriety. Then how should it come now in the hour when he was most anxious to please her father?
 She could not understand. Itwas strange; that was all she could say, and in her be- wilderment begin wondering again. And as she was wondering there came suddenly a pain in her breast and dull aching in the dry eyes, for was not his shame hers?
 "Oh, how brave and noble she had be- lieved him to bel How much above all other men in everything-how pure, how strong and faithful in all that became a man! And To, there he lav helpless-such sorry sight!
 She could not bear it and she covered her face with her hands, rocking herself to and fro as she knelt beside him. Strange, pit- eous cries in her brain but no sound coming from her lips. The idol seemed to have fallen from it's high place-failen 80 low down and still was loved.
 She did not care now who knew 1t. She loved him and she would help him though everybody else should turn from him.
 She knew by the sounds on deck-tramp- ling of feet loud vcices-and the varying movements of the engine, that they vera nearing port. Whether or not the noise had any effect in rousing him. Ross at length stirred from his lethargy.
 He moved slightly as if to turn on his right side. With anxious face and ready hands she assisted him. He muttered some thing in husky whisper, but she was unable to make out what he said.
 She called him by name twice and her voic, seemed to reach hlm at last There was spasmodic movement of the body, ,and this time his muttering was distinct enough for her to comprehend
 .'Starboard, ,starboard confound ye. There's the Dun Buy-we must hold off"
 The rest of his words faded into indis- tinctnesS again.
 The turmoil above grew louder. and the movements of the engine more eccentric than before.
 She dipped the towel into cold water and bathed his face and hands. He breathed more freely and regularly than ho had been doing for some time, and presently he open ed his eyes.
 What weary. wild eyes they were, staring at her without the least sign of recognition. They frightened her. and yet they brought the tears which relieved her own parched eyes.
 "Do you na ken me. Bobs" she hesitat- cd a little over the name.
 Tho wild expression disappeared and slowly there came a smile of recognition.
 "Na ken you, Anniel how could that over be? My lass! But what dream hae had--that gut fou and let the boat gang on the rocks and"
 But there the glimmer of intelligence