The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-06-21
should have left Primrose as we'll as

Sn0uld nave lett Primrose as well as
Octavia.
However, Uncle Ben had probably
found Octavia less willing to take
his advice than he had believed her,
for he did not give me those promised
hints.
Our visit prolonged itself, and Will
mar Cottage became a paradise, for
Primrose Grey came to it nearly every
day. We rode or rOwed all through
the pleasant days, and as Uncle Ben
absorbed much of Octavia's society, l
had the delight Of being alone with
Primrose.
In the evening when Captain Will
mar came home from his Office in the
city, Uncle Ben, as in duty bound,
sought the society Of his old friend.
Then Octava felt it her duty to cheer
her parents, and, as everybody evil
rdently forgot all about me, | used to
walk around the lake to call on Miss
Primrose. 1t was the happiest time
of my life.
The momentous afternoon of which
am about to tell you was windy. In
deed, rain threatened, and the ladies'
took waterproof cloaks with them
when they went rowing.
We were in the middle of the lake
when storm came up, and Uncle
Ben seized a cloak for the purpose of
folding about Octavia-at the same
moment treading on the end of the
garment with which l was about to
shield Primrose from the falling drops.
No one ever knows how these things
happen; 1t was, l believe, combina.
tion of accidents in our case; but vul.
carly speaking 1--WE got there just the
same"
In less time than it takes to tell it,
we were in the water-Our boat drift
ing away from US. l had caught Prim-
rose in my arms.
"Be quiet and l will save you," l
said.
She obeyed me.
swan we'll enough, and reached
land. The pale, terrified little crea-
ture lay on the sand, her head upon
my shoulder.
"Octavia-Mr. Baldwin !" she gasp.
ed, "where are they ?"
am perfectly ashamed to say that
in thinking of my precious little arm
full, l had forgotten both of them, but
now glance lakeward. A large body
was steadily towing another in to
land.
"Uncle Ben has saved Miss Octavia, f"
l said. "Oh, my angel, IL anything
had happened to you, what would my
wretched life have been ?"
l kissed her, and she kissed me.
Glow l love you, Primrose" said.
"Oh, Allen, dear" she whispered.
At that moment the large bodies
foundered up on land, and saw that
things were not exactly as i supposed,
for it was Miss Octavia who had saved
Uncle Ben.
"You splendid woman" he was
gasping, "I--owe my life to you'll
cannot swim a stroke"
"But you doated very well," she said
Then suddenly she flung her arms
about his neck
what would life be to me without
you ?" she sobbed.
"My angel" said Uncle Ben, II
have adored you all my life. Can it
be that you like me ?"
"Of course | do" said Octavia.
They were kissing each other now,
and it was five minutes before my
uncle said:
II hope those young people are all
right"
CONSERVATION prevailed at the cot
tage when we arrived in our dripping
condition. We could hardly prevail
on Mrs. Villmar to believe us alive.
The young ladies were hurried away,
and, l believe, put to bed.
Alone, beside an impromptu wood
fire, enveloped in bath robes, and sip
ping something hot, my uncle and ]
looked into each others eyes.
"Allen, he said 81 have acted like
coward, and yeti had no choice.
How can l tell you?"
"Dear uncle" | answered, II was
nearer than you thought--I heard all.
After Miss Octavia had expressed her
feelings, what, as gentleman, could
you do? Besides, have been sure
you loved her all along"
"You are behaving very nobly, my
boy" said Uncle Ben.
"Not at ALL" l replied, which, as
my readers know, was perfectly true.
but it made my uncle happier to be-
lieve that l consoled myself for the
loss Of Octavla by marrying Primrose.
- - )N---------
HE PREFERRED DEATH.