The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-11-26
TRYING FOR HIMSELF

ThatS the rock, SIR" said the wealth
er-beaten old tar.
Ted Rivers looked up and laughed
little bitterly.
"a nice place to propose to a lady,
said he. ut seems to me that it woult
not be so easy as you think to get he
there"
The old fisherman looked shrewdly a
Ted and winked to himself.
"Well, sir, if you'd like to try fo1
yourself"
Pm not thinking about myself a
all" burst out Ted, with SO much indig
nation that his companion Immediately
drew his conclusion.
Il never thought as you were, sir
twas only my little bit of a joke. Blu,
yon's the rock, and the gal Us is asked
there Is had for the asking. It's gospel
truth, what's more, and it's there rs
l got my old woman, which wouldn't
80 much as look at me until 1 caught
her a-sittin' on the rim Of that there
rock.
Says I, Betsy, I've come to ask you
to marry me- and she looked round
sorter scared like, and l says, 'You'm
a-sittin' on the love rock, Betsy, and it's
here as I've follered you, for you're the
only gal what l wants; I've set my
heart on marryin' you,' says 1, and
you're on the love rock
'Then she looks up as meek as lamb
| chn Coll ~
as If her heart would break, for Betsy,
she always did admire that young
scamp Pete, but she knew as well as me
that she'd got to marry me, because I'd
asked on the rock.
I'VE was so took up with what had
happened that we was all but caught
by the tide, but we got offin time. The
rocks niver quite covered, but 'twould
be an ugly place to pass night, and
next to impossible to be got off; there's
nasty breakers in the best weather, and
some sharp bits of rock around, so as
no boat can get near"
Ted had fixed his eyes on the love
rock. He was not listening to the gar
| rulous old man and he certainly did not
believe the superstition about 1t, but,
all the same, he felt inclined to COM
pass the difficulties in the way, and get
Millie Lloyd there-it would be as good
place as any he knew for telling the
secret which had been his torment for
months, and which he now felt was i'm
possible to keep to himself, even if the
telling of it meant the ruin of his hopes.
He could not endure to see her chat
ting by the hour with old Fielding, who
evidently admired her and was quite
equal to asking her to marry him, old
villain that he was! And Millie-who
could guess what she would do?
"It's time to be going back" said Ted,
pulling his watch out. "Good morning.
I've an idea that this would be rather
a nice spot for picnic-not half bad"
Old Jack Grice bent nearly double
with laughter the moment Ted's figure
disappeared around the cliffs, and then
he went home to tell Betsy the joke.
She was a shrewd old woman and gave
it as her opinion that Ted was in love-
Meantime Ted hurried back to the ho-
tel in sort of panic; he felt uneasy
suddenly because he had been absent
for several hours, and Fielding might
be taking the opportunity!
A set Of tennis was being played on
the asphalt court; Millie was not there.
He went and leaned on the fence that
guarded the cliff and gave a sweeping
glance from right to left, taking in the |
long walk from the top Of the cliff and |
the shore below, both visible from this !
point. Neither Millie nor Fielding was
in view.
So he went in and looked for them |
all in the public sitting rooms. There
was not sign of either Until the
gong summoned all the visitors down
to table d'hote he was unable to find
her, and then he heard casually that
she had been out for drive with her
mother.
1t was Ted who proposed picnic and
Ted who suggested the best spot for
one.
THAT'S close to the love rock. isn't
IL! dSheu SOI1eOue.
"The love rock?" said Ted with the
utmost innocence. "What's thatY"
With the impatience of young folk,
the picnic was fixed for the next day,
weather permitting or not. A storm
had been predicted, but the objections
of the elders were talked down with
many arguments as unanswerable as
hey were Illogical.
"It's not at all the weather for pic
lics," growled Mr.. Fielding, following
he group of enthusiasts, and looking
'ourly on Ted and Millie, who happen
ID to be talking together
1--WE don't mind the weather." said
Iillie. Her face was radiant, and she
entered into the plans with all her
leart. Ted saw her smile and stepped
,ack aghast
Il should much prefer quiet day Il,
N the Shore" said Mr.. Fielding in a
over tone.
Millie glanced at Ted, and then she ,
Tipped away. Somehow she now felt .
ut Of heart with the picnic. AS for ,
ED, there was nothing he would have ,
Iked better than to take Mr.. Fielding ,
y the throat and throttle him.
The next morning broke bright and
unny. A brisk wind that afterward ,
ecame bOisterous was blowing from
he sea. With baskets of provisions ,
nd long sticks-which they called their q
lpenstocks-the party started for the q
I'VE rock.
They took their lunch in the shelter of +
ne cliffs. The tide was out, and the o
we rock stood up gaunt and jagged in h
I'LL view. They intended to explore it d
lat afternoon. r
The tide had turned before the party d
cached the rock, and now the wind n
as so strong that few less daring D
)irits turned back. Ted kept close to g