The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-19

TeCSHt NOydse u Aut pIcScht SoihPaio a.
tive peace and security was SO great
tnat we all made iisnI OF such small
matters as the sea wet clothes we wore
and the SALINE incrustations on our
faces and hands, where the spray had
dried. We repaired damages with mer-
ry hearts ana words and Tom crawled
out from some impossible hiding place
in the 10 's'le san" and began 10 pre-
pare meal, seasoning 1t with many
quaint quib; yet MS flow OF speech was
Interrupted and MS eye rolled nervous
ly toward the shore with each repeated
peal OF the heavy bell notes that now
seemed to be overhead. Indeed 1t
dashed all our spirits to hear that dole
ful sound. Miss Marcy, TO whom IN
the excitement of our greatest danger.
when we first turned to the shore, had
said a few words of purely personal
nature, was decidedly nervous and stole
her hand into mine when no one was
looking. 1 had simply assured her In a
brief sentence, there being no time 10
choose my words, that If we struck she
need be under no anxiety for her life.
as IL was much more precious to me
than my own and / would see that no
harm came to her. That was all, yet AZ
seemed greatly to allay her anxiety ana
now it was exceedingly pleasant to me
that she should show her reliance upon
me as her chosen protector really,
when | think of 1t am inclined to for
get that there was any discomfort at all
attending our situation. / hardly think
that we watched the conilagratlon OF
the Cairnstorme house as intently as
our companions did. having other
thoughts to distract us.
After awhile the flames died down
and then we took advantage OF Tom
efforts to make our quarters comforta-
BILE by turning In for rest, the women
In the cabin and the me in the cockpit.
where. in spite of the noise of the storm
that still ragged outside and the sound of
the bell that continued to toll, sleep soon
came to most of us. Not to all. / lay
awake. thinking long thoughts for a
long time, and Miss Marcy afterward
confessed to me that her slumberS were
fitful
When morning came the noise of the
bell had ceased. The sun shone on the
bright water and the glstenlng foliage
of the shore, and only the smoke from
the ruined mansion reminded us of the
terror of the previous night.
After breakfast we repaired the dam
age the yacht has suffered and hoistcd
our mainsail. with peak dropped. to
dry. Then we went ashore in our dory
to explore the mysterious island.
Most of the party strolled In the di-
rectlon of the house, but Miss Marcy
and | got separated somehow from the
Others and made our way to the rocky
ledge which overlooked the bay ar.l the
reef. II was n barren and dcsolate
headland not difficult of ascent save for
the Unbalanced scales of rock that sue
cessive storms had thrown upon the
shore AT the very summit was one
larger than the others that rested in
securely on the irregular foundation OF
smaller fragments. 1t must have been
ten feet across and was hard and black
as flint.
''Se," I said to my compan Mon, here
Is curious bit of natures work. This
leaf has been the roof of one Of the lime
stone grottoes of the shore. The waves
pounding into II have worn it thin till
one mighty one proved too much and
burst 1t as you might strike the cover
OF bon bon box. What a terrific force
VI must nave been 10 cast it here on top
OF this mass of debris. one of the be
cniiarites of such rock is that 1t cuts
IKE chalk almost when it Is first un-
covered and then hardens in the air
like steel"
She walked around the slab studying
~ suddenly. giving a little cry of sur
prise she pointed to some marks cut
upon its surface. Here Is more shan
''t'"'' N. SIlt Sdll.
| came TO her side and saw there on
the rock, rudely engraved, an inscrlp-
tlon. 1t read:
beneath this unstable stone lies all
that is mortal Of Florence, the wife of
Robert Cairnstrome."
When Dora looked up at me her eyes
were SWIMMING In tears.
she was very beautiful" she said
softly. Poor thing"
why" ] asked in surprise, "You
have never seen her. She died long
ago"
II have seen her miniature. NY
mother was her niece and was said TO
resemble her greatly"
Dora did not add that the resem-
blance had descended to the third gem
Grafton, but wien | looked at her /
understood why Florence Burnett had
been noted for her beauty.
AS ! leaned upon the edge of the
slab a strange thing happened II
tipped upon its insecure base and