The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-10-27
)F SKILL.
By BEATRICE WHITLEY.

But she would be miserable; her kind
heart would be with the sailors, and
her thoughts of them would blind her
eyes to the beauties of the storm. He
was getting on fast, he was going
ahead. To his comrades unutterable
relief, he suddenly drew out his watch
and changed the subject.
1t is half-past Z" he announced. care
lessly. He thought that, perhaps, her
Watchless position had made her re-
CARELESS of time. Sat what pace the
time has gone
Every nerve in her body Justify neg
atived that remark, but she said:
Yes, it is very, very late. Won't
you timidly-"be late for dinner?"
Yes" he returned, with regretful
sigh; unless we start at once, | shall
probably get no dinner at ALL
Don't she began, with sudden
boldness; please don't think it neces-
sary to wait for me. l shall not go
home for some time-I don't know,
when | shall go home-not for hours
and hours"
Then" he returned, grayely, you
mean to deprive me altogether OF my
dinnerY'
But surely you have forgotten you
must go; it is the night of the ball"
He murmured something which the
breaking of the waves drowned, but
which was, in reality a rash avowal Of
oblivion to the mundane matters of
life under the present circumstances.
She smiled a beWildering kind Of
smile into his face.
"Good-by," she said, holding out her
hand to him. Il won't allow you to
stay for another moment l should
never forgive myself if you lost your
dinner through your-politeness; and
don't you think-I'm Sure-at least I
think your people will want you, and
won't know where you are"
A pathetic, pleading note had be-
come entangled in her hesitating tones.
He took her little, cold hand and held
it tightly. answering her with some
words apt and soft enough to repay
her amply for her favor. He fancied
that he knew a good deal about the
ways Of women, but this one puzzled
him. Game as easy of acquisition was
sport not worthy of the name. But
the hand which he held, small and cold
though it was, struggled stOutly for
freedom; so stOutly, indeed, that he re-
leased her.
IOOI I1cIcu. Lie failure, OI Rather,
the result of her final effort to rid her.
self of this unconscious aggressor,
overwhelmed her. She was disheart~
ened, perpleXed and tired out. The in
coming waves splashed dangerously
near her; a few minutes more and her
present position would be untenable.
Hire mouth quivered perceptibly, and
the tears started in her eyes. Mr..
Jones noticed these preliminaries with
diSmay; he had barely time to feel that
matters were getting serious, and to
reflect that the kissing away of these
would be blessed work, when her
drowned gray eyes were turned trag
ically to his.
Wont you go? Will nothing make
you go?" she cried, pushing forth, for
one moment from beneath her serge
skirt, a bare and bleeding foot, at
which she pointed with pregnant GEES
ture. Il have to walk all the way over
those dreadful stones barefoot. |
could not find my-my boots or stock
ings when you frightened me; they
were out there on the rocks; they have
been washed away. Oh you are laugh
ing-how can you laugh?'
And the tears in her eyes Welled over
and rolled slowly down her cheeks.