Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-04-06

tlon OF his face; then she laughed soft
ly.
Greyford looked at the lowering
storm cloud and then at the express
s1ve face Of the girl before him, into
which no touch of seriousness had
| come.
eff we go round the island" he
said, 1--WE 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.
II have never been near DEATH"
said Greta thoughtfully.
His lips came together firmly. IT
will not take you near it. Have you
never a serious moment in your life?
Is there nothing more to you than eff
fervescence?''
She had said truly that in. such an
experience as they were now expert
encing conventional acquaintance
would vanish.
Very gravely she looked at him now
with all the carelessness fed.
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 it's foundation
were poor"
t'Thank you," he answered. II am
glad. 1t is time, then, that we stop
ped 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 were almost a mile out from
shore, with the wind and tide against
them, and Greyford's teeth set firmly
as he saw the little Roadway 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
Greyford, with an observant look at
her quiet face, with the clustering
curls, that the water had not straight
ened 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
half mile from shore"
Greta leaned forward to the white,
determined face. There was no ter
ror in her own; the Morryses had not
been used to lose their heads in peril.
cit is my fault" she said in low
voice." You would not have gone
but for me Before-anyt hing-hap-
pens, you must let me ask you to for
give my selfishness, and to thank you
with all my heart for the friendship of
a man that you have given me
He met the bright blue eyes with
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
slant 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 dashed sea. The boat swayed
sea. The boat swayed around in the
waves, rocking and shivering.
Greyford looked up.
III can do nothing with this one oar
in such sea. loaned Dale the other
pair yesterday"
''And the storm will break in few
rninutes,'' said 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.
eThere is only one chance''-Grey
ford's steady voice paused, and he
looked at her critically-''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.'
For a 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, I must do my best to
make the swim easier; my shoes-and
and
A faint color crept into her white