The Iola register., 1891-10-09

Ladies and gentlemen" said he
srm sorry to spoil sport. but there
a squall brewing. if ever there wa
one. and we'll be safer well at sea thar
on these ragged points of rock. especi
ally as the tide is coming deal faste
than we'd calculated on. So il you'll
step lively l shall be particular,
obliged"
The ladies began hurriedly to re
pack the incomplete repast and tS
gather up their hats, wells. parasols
and gloves; the gentlemen looked
around for shawl-straps. books. and
baskets; and once again ran the ques
ton:
But Octavial Where is Octaviap'
And Dorsey Wheeler. strained his
eyes through the gray mist which was
already beginning to gather over the
landscape, exclaimed:
WHO has an opera-glasse / see
something on that tall rock that seems
to lean toward the water-something.
l am quite certain. that moves"
The captain produced his glass.
Though to be sure" said he, ''glasses
amt much use in such plaguey Scotch
mist as this. But, / declare, there Is
something up there huttering in the
wind, like someone waving signal of
distressi"
Bolton snatched the glass from the
veterans hands and hurriedly adjusted
it to his own eyes.
ut is Octavia's veil." he said. Il
can see the pink flowers, like little
dots of color, on her head. Good
heavens! She has been mad enough to
climb that rock, all for spirit of crazy
adventure"
Its bad job for her. then" said
the fisherman. who, having left his
nets to take care of themselves, had
mingled, black pipe and all, in the
general confusion. For now the tide
is in there ant nobody nor nothin' can
get near Mother Carey's rocks And
if the wind rises. as its goin' to do, as
sure as blazes she'll be blowed into
kingdom come at the very first puff :"
Can nobody help herp" cried the
Mortified group.
The old salt shook his head.
You'd come to your own DEATH"
said he, without helpin' her a mite.
There was man killed there twenty
one years ago come October. He"
I'VE are losing time" said the cap
tain impatiently. There's black
squall driving up on the wind. and I'd
not give much for our lives if we don't
get clear of those confouuded rocks.
OF course we're all sorry for the young
lady. but so far as l can see she'll have
to take the consequences of her folly.
It's impossible to risk whole barge
load for her. Ladies and gentlemen,
all forward now. if you please!"
But Duncan Ray stepped out from
the ranks.
"Boltonm said he, Mcdowell!
Christian men all of you! Are you
going deliberately off, to leave the
sweetest and most precious of our
number to perish in the winds and
waves?"
IL don't see that we can do any,
thing" stammered Bolton. This
good man says that we should only
risk our own lives to no purpose"
And you must see yourself" added
Launcelot Mcdowell, that it would
be certain death to try to cross the
water now that the tide is rising so
fasti'
There's no time for parlev!" said
the captain impatiently. The bell
will ring directly, and whoever isn't on
board then isn't on board at all! Eh!
where are you going. Mr.. Ray?"
TO the top of yonder cliff" said
Duncan. pulling his hat resolutely over
his brows. TO rescue that girl or die
in the attempt"
But at the same moment a slender
figure, with a zephyr shawl drawn
lightly over its head, stepped out from
behind the old bulkhead - Octavia
GLAND herself.
do not risk your life, Duncan Rayw
she said in a sweet, clear voice. II
sm quite safe. My veil and hat blew
off, and l could not disentangle them
from the sharp rocks. But l myself
was fortunate enough to make good nv
retreat before the dreadful wind got
too high. And came up behind you
all and heard you talk. and-and-O
Duncan, / can't bear to think of it all!
Let US 60. back to the steamer as fast
as we can, and get out of this frightful
place."
She covered her eyes with one hand
as she spoke, while with the other she
clung close to Duncan Rays arm, as
if it were a refuge beyond all compu-
tatioD. But all the way back to New
York she never once condescended to
speak to Harry Bolton or Mr.. Nc
Dowell; and when she returned home
that evening she was engaged to Dun
can Ray.
For l know now," she said with
little tremor in her voice, who, and
who alone, would have risked his life
for such a silly child as II
Harry Bolton aud Mr.. Mcdowell fell
like recreant knights indeed.
Decidedly awkward!" said the
former.
Yes" asserted the latter. PUTS
one-ahem!-in such an awkward posi-
ton. ."-NeaO Orleans Delta.