The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-07-02
CALL 1T SQUARE

two miles to the northeast Of Put-in-l3ly.
From its peculiar formation the island
is generally supposed to have derived its
name, though some assert that the ap-
pellation was bestowed in consequence
of the illimitable quantities of the rattle
tailed species which rendezvoused in and
among the crcviced and caverned rocks.
From these businesses they were wont to
wriggle forth into aggressive promi-
nence, kissing and clicking their spite
and whipping the surrounding vegeta-
ton until everything looked blue.
An able accessory in the dispersion Of
this reptile host was undoubtedly vested
in the Drawn and muscle Of old Hank
Hammond, who, with his family, locat-
ed on the island. Old Hank wasn't
afraid Of rattlcsuakcs, evidently, and
prided himself manifcstly upon owning
and occupying with his household gods
a whole island, which, if not very big,
was at least far enough removed from
adjacent isles to afford ample seclusion
SO at least he imagined, and so i'm relli-
ty might have proven but for the single
obtrusive fact that the old codger was
possessed of several comely daughters,
and since ''love laughs at locksmiths." 2"
scales heights inaccessible, traverses dis
tances imneasurable and achieves i'm
possibilities of all sorts, this blind but
active imp was not long in finding his
way to Rattlesnako island.
Sadie, the oldest, was an attractive
maiden of twenty years, with eyes that
matched the color of sea and sky and
hair fluff of golden brown. She w
1.-THE and active, free and fearless, "A
reveling in adventure, too, on the her
like duck. She was an expert at fish
ing and fowling, could manipulate apair
of oars with admirable skill, and with Il
light slliff was accustomed to cross fire.
quently, sometimes alone, the two mile
stretch of water which intervened be
tween Rattlesnake and Put.in-Bay.
At the latter place she speedily be-
came the attraction of a youthful fish
ermau, who inadvertently crossed her
path-one Tom Taylor. After this de-
velopment there was no more peace for
Rattlesnake. From time to time its
vicinity was haunted by a spectral sail
which circled about the island, cdging
nearer and nearer at each cruise; until
one day it lay beachcd close by the
"grout" house of Hank Hammond. AT
beck of the little winged god Tom Tay.
lor and his boat had followed the charm.
er to her rocky retreat. This being hi,
first experience in courtship, however
Tom proved bit fresh, and his bashful
ness was eXcruciating. His feeble ad
vances We're regarded with apparent dis
favor, the coy maiden turning a deaf
ear to his opportunities, until in blanl
despair he shook the dust of Rattle
snake from his feet
One early spring day, some MONTH
following the collapse of Toms love af
fair, terrific squall, such as sometime
swoops down upon the islands unan
nounced, struck Put-in-Bay with fore,
that wrenched limbs from trees and sen
the troubled seas sporting up the rock
in binding showers, Looking from he
window an old woman who occupied
cottage on East Point thought she espiet
a small boat far out on the lake DRIVING
eastward before the gale From a shel
she snatched a pair of field glasses
through which she took a second obseI
walton. Yes, the boat was evidentl
drifting at the mercy of the wind am
current Not an oar was in motion.
Only a single occupant could be dis
cerned, and that a female, With breath
less haste the old woman rushed alon
the shore to little cove, where anon
the trees stood fish shanty. With
an angle Of the L-shaped dock severa
boats lay moored, and two tishermo
dressed in yellow oilers and sou'westeT
I were coal tarring twine over a smoBin
kettle on the shore, One Of these ind
viduals proved TO be our friend, ToI
+ Taylor Tom took the field glasses pro-
fered by the scared old lady, and throug
them examined the drifting boat
"Blast my buttons if it amt a won
= an!7 he exclaimed With two or thr5
long strides he reached the dock and lD
- gan unfastening a boat.
"What you goin to do? demanded h
companion.
"Goin 10 pick up that skiff, Come OF
jim"
Jim demurred, urging that no BIO.
could live long in such n sea and that
] WIS IAnN AhNAAhAhAl ~ NNuAhAts
i Tom, however, would take no denial
and with serious misgivings Jim w,
finally persuaded to take hand at Il
oars. Under the double pull the DO,
plunged outward into the boiling SUI
and spray dashed over the two rover
1t was a hard struggle, and many timO
the boat barely escaped swamping
the heavy seas that struck her; but
last the castaway was overhauled.
k they approached the woman stretche
/, appealing hands toward them and To
q turned in mis- seat 10 get a square look
her. "Great Scottw
The beaded perspiration on his bro
began streaming down his checks
was Sadie, she who had so Cnelly iilt,
him. But all differences were forgot,
when life and death hung so nice
poised in the balance. The driftiI
boat was nearly filled with water and
seemed as if every sea would suhmer
1t; but the boat and Sadie were bo
y rescued and landed upon the lee side
w projecting headland. Sadie vs.
drenched through and through H
hair hung in strings, her clothing clul
closely about her, and altogether s.
looked as picturesque as a ducked heI
'You may thank your lune for yo
salvation" remarked Jim, turning
the fair but dilapidated Sadie.
Il never see a woman yit that
w thought more of than 1 do Of my inl
N vidual self, aud If Tom hadn't sham
t. me ont and made me go ! expect d,
q. a went alone, and you'd "a both go
TO Davy Jones', and the rough old Il.
erman inverted a rubber boot that
had removed for the purpose of dra
ing of the water which was sloppi
about IN It,
The girl made no reply, but from q
an der dripping looks she beamcd up
Tom a smile, the most hearts0me "a
approving which no had ever received
In answer TO inquiries Sadie explain
how that when midway between thet
islands q rowlock had become dutacl
and had fallen overheard, rendering
oars useless, and being overiaken hy
d. squall, she had drifted until discover
aud rescued.