Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-06-03
A SEA CHANGE.
'sbut at any rate it's something to be
on dry land once more"

'sbut at any rate it's something to be
on dry land once more"
The next morning, however, under
e bright blue sky, the island put on
its prettiest face and Janet could not
help being pleased with it. The fresh
ly painted cottages beneath the rows
of trees looked very attractive, and
the old sugar house, which did duty
as ball room, gave promise of pleas.
ure to come.
The days passed lazily and pleasant.
", for stiff breeze had swept away
the mosquitoes, and the air was
like q daught from the Fountain of
Youth.
Mr.. Van Dyne was his own charm
ing self, and Janet could not help ow.
ing that there was something very
winning also in PhiPs good spirits,
though she was repelled by some of
the sentiments he uttered.
stHe must have hard, selfish streak
in him." she thought, for she was still
young enough toiudge people by their
words.
But presently the bright weather
began to break up, and on the day set
for an excursion to the neighboring
lighthouse, the sky looked so threat
ening that Mr.. Dale would not allow
Janet to go with the party.
"Fhose long wisps of clouds mean
wind" he said.
Janet felt inclined to pout as the gay
party, headed by Phil, set forth on
their quest of pleasure.
Darker and darker grew the sky,
and toward afternoon it began to rain
IN gusts, and the wind piped shrilly.
Some anxiety was felt on behalf of the
absent ones, and Janet joined group
of watchers on the dining room gal
lery. Presently the lugger appeared,
her sail sometimes almost fat upon
the water as o fierce gust made her Ca
reen; but at last she battled her way
to the wharf.
"What, are you among the watch
ers?" said Phil to Janet.
"We feared you might have come to
HARM" she replied.
s'You feared for me?" he questioned,
eagerly and wistfully.
"You, who believe in the duty of
being selfish, can hardly imagine, /
suppose, that one may feel interested
in the safety of q fellow. being" she
retorted, turning away from hum and
leaving him rebuffed and bafied.
All the next day the rain fell in tor
rents, and the wind ragged. Janet
slept little when night came, for the
dark was full of strange noises.
Toward daylight she arose and went
to the window. AS fer us the eye
could see the island was covered with
water. 1t had risen level with the
gallery floor, and was gurgling ana
gnlping under the house. Still the
wind howled and the rain eleluged the
earth. A terrified flock of COWS
stampeded through the watar on their
way to the high grounds OF the ridge.
Presently rocking chair came bob
b1ng along on the food; then wheel
barrow; then chicken coop; then o
barrel. Janet looked across the road
toward one Of the cottages and saw the
water flowing in at the front door,
under the bed, and out of the back
door. She gave little shiver as she
turned away, and went to knock at
her fathers door.
"Get up, papal" she cried, 'eyery-
thing is under water"
Mr.. Dale, after splashing forth on a
hasty tour of investigation, found that
mos: of the cottagers had already ad-
| iourned to the ''ball room"-that
being considered the safest place.
Phil was going around in skiff to
carry them thither; trying to revive
their dropping spirits with the theory
that the whole thing was great lark.
"This will be something to talk
about next winter" he said, MS he
helped Janet into the skip. eff ever
/ you get short OF subjects for conversa-
tion, you can always fall back on your
perilous adventures.
"Yes-if we live to tell the tale, u
remarked Janet.
Up at the ballroom they found 8
dismal enough crowd. One stout Ger.
man lady shook her head automati.
cally, and calculated at intervals.
"We'll never see our happy homes
again!" The children were fretful.
and their terrified mothers seemed to
have lost the art of soothing them.
Phil made heroic effort to cheer them
up-played with the children, joked
with the old folks and induced some
of the younger ones to gather around
the piano and sing; but after ali it was
q fictitious gayety he stimulated, and
it soon fickered down again. There
was something too alarming to be
ignored in the fury OF the elements
the rising water, the never oeasing
wind and rain. Janet noticed with
some surprise that Mr.. Van Dyne was
gloomy, and ever snappish. He ans.
wered shortly when spoken to, and
seemed m ore concerned about his OWL
comfort than anything else. He
secured one Of the few armchairs, and
ensconcing himself in it, relapsed into
sullen silence.
And still, as dark drew on, the storm
increased, wieh lashing rain and
screeching wind, and, above all other
sounds, the great hoarse roar of the
breakers. Phil and some of the other
men made what provision they could
for the comfort of the women and
children; but Mr.. Van Dyne made nc
move to give up his easy chair. Pres
emily there were people asleep on the
tables and benches-some even hud
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