Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-08-13

ed the Island as u sort oil eartnly para
disc, and as this is the first time
have ever consented to visit it he feels
personally responsible
1T is jolly sort of place when you
get used to it," struck in Phil. Not
very exciting, but you can do pretty
much as you please there-wear old
clothes and be as unconventional and
as selfish as you like
That is not my idea OF bliss" re-
torted Janet
Whatever else the place lacks said
Mr.. Van Dyne THE mir is delicious. 1t
makes one feel young and strong. cap
able of any exertiom.
BY this time the tiresome wait was
ended and the Tom Jones was putting
and snorting its way between the banks
of the narrow canal into the bayou.
which presently widened into a lake.
The sky had been growing darker and
now sudden squall arose, with sheets
of rain and wild wind. The feminine
passengers retired to the small AID
stuffy cabin, where most of them seized
the opportunity TO become seasick. AS
precautionary measure the engines
were stopped, the Tom Jones not being
a craft suited to stormy waters.
II trust this will grow no worse,
said Mr.. Van Dyne, uneasily. Are
you suffering any inconvenience from
the rocking of the boat, Miss Janet?"
Not at all; only | wish papa would
let me go outside. 1t is close in here"
Phil appeared just then, with BEAM
ing smile.
Such joker he exclaimed. "The
captain forgot to bring the anchor
along"
"Not really?" said Janet.
Il don't see much of joke about
that, my boy, especially if the wind
rises any higher"
One of the detected sufferers raised
a languid head to ask: Are we in any
danger?"
"Oh, no" said Phil, struggling to
open the door. Its rapidly going
down"
She gave hollow groan. HE says
we are rapidly going down." she
moaned to companion in misery.
The wind-not the boat" explained
Phil, and she fell back again with
muttered "Ohr
Presently the squall passed and the
boat steamed on once more, but as
they had been delayed it was dusk be-
fore they approached the island. Then
the painful news was circulated that
the tide was too low for the Tom Jones
to reach the wharf.
Must we stay on board all night?".
asked Janet.
We are going ashore in a lugger--
a romantic lugger that will satisfy all
your cravings for the picturesque" re-
piled Phil with unfeeling evity.
Don't be alarmedit won't last
long" said Mr.. Van Dyne reassuringly.
The passengers embarked upon the
lugger with murmurs of Dear me!
how horridw II wouldn't have come
if I'd known this" etc.
1t was dark, very dark, with only
the glimmer of the lantern at the
boats head to light their progress.
Two men marched up and down on the
thwarts, polling the boat along through
the shoal water, and the passengers
as they heard the cry, Hard
Off hard off, for they knew they were
about to stick in the mud Three times
they stuck, end meanwhile the mos
quitoes bit ferociously
Even you, papa, must admit that
this is poor beginning" said Janet,
but Mr.. Dale only grcaned and gave
a vicious slap at an invisible but very
audible swarm of mosquitoes.
AT last they reached the wharf and
disembarked with some difficulty. but
it was so dark that Janet began to fol-
low stray mule, under the impression
that 1t was her father She was res
cued from this vain pursuit by Phil,
who declared that her misapprehension
was very unfilial
"How dreadful it all is she said,
"but at any rate it is something to be
on dry land once more"