The herald., 1896-09-07

I. = OILS. ana, VII. Ire ic-S, suuuy rzuz2
c. !. c-si. -.i;s-,, swept out into the ehannM
'-.ow- vo-et .o, arc'' she seid, caRozoG
II ri:,.-..,'s, i:cr ..zz ca her head.
Nc, L aIl l1s5 yoxed," 10 anSWUuA
'"but it vii ret be a. laughing mattm
You arc vcyy recE,ers."
"Wcll, thcn, so e-o you," she rstcrtsd-
His eyebrows G-ov together. with 3
difference am Lot reckless for my oVu
sakc.''
''For mice," with Tn upward ding q
her lashes, Tor for the sake Of bctnn
thought uncommon"
~ will leave you to guess" he ansWcr-
ed dryly. Uncertainties always attEao1
you"
Greyford looked at the lowering storm.
cloud and then at TIE expressive face Of the
girl before him, into which no touch Of -
robustness had come.
'If we go round the island" he said an
grily, Eve take our lives in our handa,
probably to dash them to pieces on the Hyp-
ocrite rocks.'' He rested on his oar1.
still looking at her.
81 have never been ne:r DEATH" sid
Greta thoughtfully.
His lips came together firmly. IT Will
not take you near =. Have you never Q
serious moment in your lifc9 Is thers
nothing more to you than effervesccnccep
Eyes, she said simply, "thero is irurh
more to me. Because it has never hec1
put to the test in your presence you ought
not to think it lacking. The effervescerce
would not be attractive if its foundation
were poor"
"Thank you," lie answered. II 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 COM
mand. The boat swung round undor his
skillful guidance.
They were almost mile out from shore,
with the wind and tide against them, and
Greyford's teeth set firmly as he saw the
little headway they were making.
"We must beat the Storm he said
gravely. A wavc of foam crested water
rolled over the boat dashing itself up into
Greta's face and over her gown, but ihe
did not even start. Most girls would
have screamed" thovg.st Greyfnrd. with
81. vuservanu LOOK at lser uuies face, Win
the clustering curls that tie water had not
Strengthened about it.
Suddenly, one of the oars gave en- omir
nous crack, and Greyford $ face whiteue&
almost to his lips
"God!' he muttere6. ".rhis thing can
not stand the strain, and we are h.
nile from shore. -
Greta leaned forward to the w1ite, d.
ts41niped face. There was no serror In her
own, the Mo-ryses had not been used to
lose their heads IN peril.
'It ID my fault she said in low voice
"You would not have gone but for nc
neutrality-suspicious. you must let
me ask you to forgive my selfishness and
to thank you with all my heart for the
friendship of naz,- that you have given
me''
"There is nothing to forgive" he an
swered hastily.
Another long stroke and then once more
that ominous crack; the oar swept through
the surging water, it shivered and splln-
tered in his grasp.
Greyford looked UP. II can do nothing
with this one OR in such sea ! lens
Dale the other pair yesterday"
And tho stern will break in few
minutes," answered Greta, looking from
tho dark sky to the island, where all the
girls wcro DOUBTLESS dressing for dinner,
and then at the mass Of water that lay be-
tween them and safety.
Greyford's eyes had followed her. There
was no single person on shore and not an
other boat of any description to be sesn.
Even tho mail steamer was not due for an
hour Tho boat gave sudden lurch over
ON to its side and a pool Of water filled tho
bottom.
"There is only one chance" Grcyford's
steady voice paused and he looked at her
critically, ''for life. We must swim for it
The tide carries the boat farther out each
momont and If the storm overtakes N
there will be nothing to hope for.'
For q moment she did not answer. Then
she threw OIL her hat ard said: II think
you are right. II it means life or death, I
must do my best TO male the swim easier.
My shoes---and--and"- A, faint color
crept into her white face.
"Yes," said Greyford gently, at will be
hard battle, and we must both OF US do
without our-useless clothes -
He turned his back to her to remove his
own shoes and coat. One moment GretA
hesitated; then her shoes came off and the
long outer skirt. She gave little gasp
and another look at the water to be gone
through; then she looscned the blouse OF
her gown. removing it's girdle and what
other impediments to her free movements
that she could.
81 am ready" she murmured.
With ready tact, he did not look at her
when he turned, but carefully lifted the
bundle of clothes and put them IN the lock-
er, a swaying, unsteady performance.
"If we get the boat back, they will be
unharmed," he said.
Very gravely she held out both her hands
to him. He took them in his own with a
warm, close clasp, and they looked into
each others eyes-a man and a woman
with all tho guarding conventionalities Of
life swept away.
The water gurgled around them and over
them, the stinging waves lashed their
faces and tossed their bodies to and fro.
For many minutes they were almost at the
mercy Of the waves, but at length the long,
steady strokes told, and both were carried
slowly forward.
1t was true that Greta was On expert
swimmer. Each summer that had brought
her to the coast had proved it, but the
strain now was almost too severe.
"Can you last five minutes longcr?" he
asked "We will reach it thcn-if-only
the storm does not break" +" Greyford's q
voice over the waves sounded singularly
tender.
"I-I am giving out" she said In low
gasps.
'Float again." he answered, "untfl
you are rested"
"No," she said. "No-IRgrcss.
A great wave dashed over them, drown