News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-01-16

the channel. IL may nave been UhaJ
the group of girls watching them
from the piazza had something to do
with Greta's persistence. Now, how
ever, they passed out of view, and
Greta's attention was claimed by
Grey ford. She watched him admir-
ingly; the proud poise of the head
and the annoyed determination of
his face; then she laughed softly.
Greyford looked at the lowering
storm-cloud and then at the express
sive face of the girl before him, into
which no touch of seriousness had
come.
eff we 90 round the island" he
said Eve take our lives in our hands,
probably to dash them to pieces on
the Hypocrite rocks" He rested on
his oars, still looking at her.
81 have never been Lear death"
said Greta, thoughtfully.
His lips came together firmly. 81
will not take you near it. Have you
never a serious moment in your life?
Is there nothing more to you than
effervesence?'
She had said truly that in such an
experience as they were now expert
encing, conventional acquaintance
would vanish.
Very graveIy she looked at him
now, with all the carelessness fed.
YES" she said, simply, "there is
much more to me. Because it has
never been put to the test in your
presence, you ought not to think it
lacking. The effervesence would not
be attractive if its foundations were
poor"
THANK you," he answered. 81
am glad. 1t is time, then, that we
stopped this madness; we will go
back"
Greta made no answer, but the
woman in her approved of his quick
tone of command. The boat swung
round under his skllful guidance.
They were almost mile out from
shore, with wind and tide against
them, and Greyford's teeth set firmly
as he saw the little Roadway they
were making.
A wave of foam crested water rolled
over the boat dashing itself up into
Greta's face and over her gown, but
she did not even start. "Most girls
would have screamed, )" thought Grey
ford, with an observant look at her
quiet face, with the clustering curIs,
that the water had not Strengthened,
about it.
Suddenly one of the oars gave an
ominous crack, and Greyford's face
whitened almost to his lips.
"God!" he muttered. This thing
cannot stand the strain, and we are
a half mile from shore"
Greta leaned forward to the white
determined face. There was no ter
ror in her own; the Morryses had not
been used to lose their heads in peril.
ut is my fault" she said in low
voice, lyon would not have gone but
for me. Before-anything-happens,
you must let me ask you to forgive
my seIfshness, and to thank. you
with all my heart for the friendship
of man that you have given me-"
He met the bright blue eyes with a
new light in his own-the approving
look that bravery gives to courage.
"There is nothing to forgive" he an
swered hastily.
Another long stroke and then once
more that ominous crack. For an
instant Greyford paused; then again
the oar swept through the surging
water. 1t shivered and splintered in
his grasp. Greta's face grew paler as
the broken oar tossed out on the
wind-lashed sea. The boat swayed
around in the waves, rocking and
shivering.
Greyford looked up.
81 can do nothing with this one
oar in such a sea. [ loaned Dale the
other pair yesterday"
"And the storm will break in a few
minutes" answered Greta, looking
from the dark sky to the island,
where all the girls were doubtless
dressing for dinner, and then at the
mass of water that lay between them
and safety.
The boat had been swept around
to the south shore, where there was
no chance of their being seen or as
sisted; the hotel and its people had
long been out of sight.
There is only one chance"-Grey-
ford's steady voice paused, and h
looked at her GENERALIZATION life
We must swim tor it. The tide car.
ries the boat further out each minute
and if the storm overtakes us there
will be nothing to hope for"
For a moment she did not answer
Perhaps she was thinking of Clinton,
for her eyes grew tender. Then sht
threw off her hat and said:
Il think you are right. If it means
life or death, must do my best tC
make the swim easier; my shoes-anC
and"
A faint color came into her white
face.
YES" said Greyford, gently. 81
will be hard battle-and we mus
both of us do without our useless
clothes"
He pulled in tie oar and turned hit
back to her to remove his own shoes
and coat. One moment Greta hest
tated then her shoes came off anC
the long outer skirt. She gave a lit
tie gasp and another look at thu
water to be gone through; then sh,
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