The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-19


a point where he might spy out the
land. He stopped short, and his calm,
intellectual face assumed such an ex-
preston that the professor, who had
paused below to take breath, was fain
to inquire what the matter was.
A good deal is the matter, 1 should
say. We're on an island
Professor Swithin clambered labori-
ously up to level with his companion
and his face blanched and then paled
Stretching out before them landward,
for nearly mile, was an angry waste
Of waters, which, Infatuated by the
rising storm, was already tossing spray
up into their very faces; and the tide
was rising. Above doomed an awful
sky, torn up by flashes of vivid fire,
and roaring with the sullen rage of a
beast of prey. Already it was dark,
and big splashes of rain cut their faces
now and then.
Can you swin?" asked the professor
in hushed voice
mo. Who could gain the shore
through such a sea as that, anyway ?
It's awkward We may have to re-
main here all night
No said the professor in a hollow
voice. 1--WE shall never remain here all
night"
How do you know?" asked the gen
eral uneasily.
Because this rock is entirely covered
at high tide"
"Merciful heavens, How calm you
are" cried the general Here we've
been sitting all the afternoon like a
pair of turtle doves, and l never had
any idea of such a trick. Why didn't
you tell me?"
Il give you my word of honor, 1 for
got all about it, said the professor,
wiping the cold moisture from his
brow My mind was ON other things,
don't you know? Yes, that was the
way it was
The two men gazed at each other
with that awful sincerity that sud
den calamity calls forth. An observer
would have noticed that the horror eff
the moment had intensified the natural
peculiarities of each. The general
looked taller. thinner, paler and more
sihrunken: while the professor had ap-
parently grown shorter. stouter and
redder in the face.
We'll, well, something must be
DONE" said the general at last, rousing
himself; here is the tide, I'D to our
feet already. Our only chance is to at
tract attention from the shore. It's too
dark for them to see US. Let me see
I think have it. Have you a, match?''
The professor held one out in clamlny
fingers. The general took off his coat,
touched the match to it, and then,
flinging the blazing garment over his
walking stick, waved it TO and fro until
a dash of rain extinguished the flames.
The storm was now full upon them.
Embracing a narrow point of rock, and
buffeted by the storm in one direction
and dashed by the sea in another, they
were prone to be silent for many min
utes. At last the generals voice could
be heard uplifted in anathemas upon
the peninsula and everybody on it;
next he blamed himself for having
come there; then with rising infection
and stronger expietives, he spoke of
solar biology in terms which left the
professor no room for hope that even
if they escaped. any of mis- fortune
would be given for the extension Of
learning along this line. Meanwhile the
tide crept up; they were half sub
merged Presently the generals voice
was heard again.
''It isn't that I'm afraid to die" he
shrieked above the storm; cts the alb
Surd Situation-men at our time of life
falling into a trap like this. A man
who has faced shot and shell as I have
drowned like rat-it's simply fool
ish.''
Death has no t-terrors for me-
gasped the professor, who was SILVER
ing with cold and fright, "but I've al
ways had objections to being
d-drowned-yes a singular thing"
A cry of joy from the general inter-
rupted him. ga boat-a boat" he cried
Saw it by a flash of lightning. Hallol
HalloI There is is again-looks like my
nephew"
"Hallol hold on cried clear voice
above the storm. The little boat, tossed
like leaf in the wind, came nearer.
at is my nephew, God bless him.
cried the general Hes risking his
life for a couple of old idiots like US
great-grandfathers fought in the revo-
lutionary war. Yes. remarkable Incl
dent. I'm proud of him. But blood
will tell"
Hes a good fellow" quavered the
professor humbly. Hes got Venus in
A-quarius-great love for the p-peo-
pie" "Confound Venus in Aquarius,
growled the general savagely. and the
professor sunk into a detected silence.
The boat now bumped against the
rock CuthbeTt Ogden steadied it while
the two men clambered in. Then the
general seized one of the oars. and he
and Cuthbert began the struggle of the
return trip. When land was nearly
reached the boat capsized, and in the
embraces of a monstrous blow the
three came ingloriously to shore.
Mr.. Baxter and Jack Armitage We're
there. and from the blaze of light ON
the piazza looked out anxious women's
faces. But down upon the beach in
all the storm a woman, wrapped in a
dark mantle, swung a lantern to guide
the seafarers. As the exhausted trio
gained the shore. the professor saw
this wornan--a Saghtarius woman
slip her arm through Cuthbert Ogden's
with a cry Of thankfulness; and he
stopped and kissed her there and then,
in the midst of all the wind. rain,
thunder, lightning and dreadful tenn
pest. and in the presence of the entire
Baxter household. In that supreme
moment the conventionalities of life
slipped cable, and they deliciously lost
cogniZance of things present and
things to- come.
An hour later the storm had died
away, like the uncertain temper of a.
spoiled child, and d, fine young moon
was struggling with a few white clouds
with manifest victory. In the Baxter
household order had come out OF con-
fusion.
tits all right, dear Mrs. Baxter"
whispered Lalla that evening. Jack /
and I have made it up. CWasn't it /
storm0 You see. in giving the pro-
lessor his birthday. Jack dated him
self five years ahead thinking 1 would |
ike him better if he was old; so he
hasn't got Mars in Libra after ALL
Mrs. Baxter laughed. She could af-
'ord to laugh, for the cook and wait |
'ess had promised to remain. and were
% have their fortunes told by the pro-
lessor that very evening
Later, Mr.. Baxter approached his /
yifss a twinkle in his eve ssrT1,a orap