The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-01-29

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the group of girls watching them from
the piazza had something to do with
Gretas persistence. Now, however,
they passed out of view, and Greta's
attention was claimed by Greyford
She watched him admiringly; the
broad shoulders, the proud poise OF
the head and the annoyed determiua-
tion of his face; then she laughed
softly.
Greyford looked at the lowering
storm-cloud and then at the expressive
face of the girl before him, into which
no touch of seriousness had come.
"If we 60 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.
~ have never been near DEATH"
said Greta, thoughtfully.
His lips came together firmly. al
will not take you near it. Have you
never q serious moment in your life?
Is there nothing more to you than ef-
fervescencs?'
She had said truly that in such an
experience rs they were now expert
encing conventional acquaintance
would vanish.
Very gravely she looked at him now,
with all the carelessness fled.
eyes," 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 effervescence would not
be attractive if its foundation were
poor"
"Thank you," he answered. "I am
glad. 1t is time, then, that we
stopped this madness; we will go
back"
Greta made no answer, but the wo-
man in her approved of his quick tone
of command. The boat swung round
under his skilful guidance. They wero
almost q 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.
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 curls,
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 q
half mile from shore"
Greta leaned forward to the white,
determined face. There was no terror
in her own; the Morryses had not
been used to lose their heads in peril.
SIT is my fault" She said in q low
voice. "You would not have gone but
for me. Before -anything-happens,
you must let me ask you to forgive
my sel6shness, and to thank you With
all my heart for the friendship of q
mGn 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 in
stant 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.
'I can do nothing with this one oar
in such a sea. 1 loaned Dale the other
pair yesterday"
"And the storm will break in 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 assisted /;
the hotel and its people had long been
out of sight.
"There is only one chance'-Grey-
ford's steady voice paused, and he
looked at her eritically-"for life.
We must swim for it. The tide carries
the boat further out each moment,
and if the storm overtakes us there
will be nothing to hope for. A"
For moment she did not answer.
Perhaps she was thinking of Clinton,
for her eyes grew tender. Then she
threw off her hat and said:
81 think you are right. If it means
life or death, must do my best to
make the swim easier my shoes-and
and"
A faint color crept into her white
face.
eyes" said Greyford, gently. "It
will be hard battle-and we must both
OF us do without our useless clothes. 4"
He pulled in the other oar and
turned his back to her to remove his
own shoes and cost. 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
loosened the full blouse of her gown,
removing its girdle and what other
impediments to her free movement
that she could. She wrapped her
clothes into a bundle swiftly and gave
o few deft touches to her costume-a
white skirt and green and white