The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-24
care the cottages in dangery'
"That's what we are going to se

care the cottages in danger?"
ssThat's what we are going to see
about"
Forsyth asked no more. Craig cot
tage and the Eliots' villa were quarter
of mile apart, and both were very near
the beach. There were no men but the
servants in either.
The light grew stronger moment by
moment and the noise fairly deafening
as they approached the sea.
elbow long before aoodT asked For
syth uneasily.
ssStill an hour" and while the man
was speaking the party paused at the
sight before them-a gray wave with
curling streamers of spray lowered
above the distant sand dune and broke
Kissing beyond 1.-THE first.
A shudder ran through the little party.
eve had. better divide" suggested
Forsyth. 'sCount me as one Of you.
This is the nearer way to Mrs. Eiot's.
The waves must be up to their lawn.
Let us make haste"
A moment later and they could see
the villa, and as they sighted it a group
Of people were rushing from it with
cries that were drowned by the tumult
Of the waves.
ssThey have escaped, and none too
soon" muttered Phil Olmstead.
Forsyth was pressing in advance. 'lt
is not the family-it is the servants" he
groaned as the half clad men and women
ran beckoning frantically toward them.
Waiting for nothing, they passed on,
but not so fast as the high tide. A great
crash of shattered glass told them that
the windows were giving way. Forsyth
ran now like man possessed. The beau
tiful villa was creaking like vessel
among the tossing waves. Already ar
ticles Of furniture were floating about.
ssThese are the chambers, )" he shouted
and began the ascent of a ladder which
stood-it did not occur to him to wonder
how it came Hereunder Miss Arma-
dale's window.
In the gray light. amid the deafening
roar of wind and waves, he leaped into
the girls chamber. A man was before
him. This man stood by the bedside.
..Hope!' he shrieked as he lifted the
unawakened girl and huddling the
sheets about her staggered to the win
dow with his load. Forsyth had paused
Hope awoke now, and paralyzed with
fear struggled from the arms Of her
saviour, and the three confronted one
another-Alan Craig, Forsyth and the
woman they both loved.
The water into which they descended
was knee deep. Olmstead bound the
little party together and fairly hauled
the women to spot Of safety.
Their lives were saved, and as they
flew from the scene the wild waves were
sweeping through the pretty rooms,
through the presses filed with dainty
garments, scattering the contents Of toi-
let cases and jewel boxes.
At the nearest place of safety, where
breakfast and clothing were furnished, a
stranger, who evidently belonged with
the Eliots, was first observed by Forsyth
and Craig. He was a tall, middle aged,
grizzled gentleman, who would be pom
pous under less forbidding circum
stances.
''Mr. Auchinloss, of Scotland, !" was the
title by which he was presented. "He
arrived only last evening" they were in
formed by Lucille.
'.It is Hopes intended husband, you
know" Mrs. Eliot explained abruptly to
Forsyth when opportunity occurred.
'sThey are to be married very soon," she
added hastily. 1.-The engagement took
place in England in the spring. Hope
would not have it announced until Mr..
Auchinloss could come over for the mar
rage. It is very fine match for Hope,
and trust she will appreciate her good
fortune"
Forsyth made no reply, and Mrs. Eliot
added, with a quiet smile:
Hope has been sad firt, but sus-
pect her flirting days are over"
A few weeks later Hope Armadale
WGUOCu uGT 4(tl1u duO WO&4UC CAl ck%A SoS CAAS
water to be grand lady. Neither Craig
nor Forsyth saw her again after the
morning when they looked defiance at
each other amid the .furies of the high
tide.
But the months went by, and year
from that fearful day Lucille Eliot and
Victor Forsyth were joined in marriage
in the pretty little chapel at Indian
Beach, and rumor asserts that an en-
gagement will soon be announced be-
tween the best man and the first brides
maid on that happy occasion-to wit,
Alan Craig and his Cousin Clare.-True
Flag.
She Was Very Pretty.
Il was in San Francisco and strolled
down to witness fire that was raging
within few blocks Of my hotel" said