The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-11-12

1urtlVely.
I'm sorry I spoke as I did just now,
Kitty" he said, with plaintive gesture
of conciliation. You're only jokin',
ain't you? / guess amt half good
enough for you; but you amt goin' to
throw me overheard, are you? The
pictur' was grand, and no mistake; an
you looked just like yourself. 1t amt
the pictur'; it's-it's-"
He broke off short and glanced at the
little circle of gold that spanned the
girls white wrist. With quick move
ment she drew down the sleeve of her
pink blouse, covering it from sight.
"You've good cause for 1t, Jem," she
said. Perhaps you didn't mean all you
said, an 1 hope you didn't, lad, for
twas no way to speak O. your betters.
Did 1 ever promise to marry you, or
anyone else? Can't 1 take present
from anyone without bein' spoke to as
If I'd committed murder or robbery or
summat worse? WellY
81 guess you can do what you like,
itty," he said, sadly; "an' nobody-least
of all me-has no right to say a word"
'That's good. Maybe, for the futur'
you'll know your place. Good night"
He watched the little figure in pink
hNrrying over the sands till it dwindled
and disappeared among the shadows of
the gabled street, and then drew out a
boat to row across the bay. By and by
there was shout, and he glanced over
his shoulder and alphabetically backed
the oars.
Cant you look where you're going,
you dolt? Do you want to run me
DOWN.
81 guess I'll set you swimmin' If
you're not CIVIL" he said, squaring his
shoulders. "Mebbe you think we've no
blood in our veins because we live
rough, an don't dress fine an amt able
to earn much money. guess if you an
me quarrel you'll be the sorriest; so
stand clear! Good nightr'
The young man in the tweed suit
stood up, needless of the heavy pollock
tugging at his line. and started after
the retreating boat.
"The fmpudent houndv' he blurted
out. Then, as he cleverly played the
fish, and drew it in, till it lay gaspine
under the thwart, he laughed softly.
"Another of the girls admirers, 1 sup.
pose" he said.
In the morning Jem and Ted Trew.
lowe came down the village street to-
gether. Jem carried a coil of rope and
a pointed iron bar-the stock-in- -tra de
of his hazardous profession, that OF
egg hunter.
Tho hnof hoodod b.
whits column across the bay, the
Witches Pillar. They scrambled ur
the rift in the cliff, and reached the
breezy uplands. The iron bar was driv
en- deep into the soil, and five minutes
later the figure of a man swung higf
over the sea, terrifying the birds, ant
looming black against the lighter back
ground of the cliff.
Little Trewlowe sat steadying tn,
swaying rope, his heels firmly wedget
in the holes he had cut to keep then
from slipping, and his black cutty grip
ped tight between his clenched teeth
There was frightened look in his eyes
for Jem had seemed so queer and 81
little like himself.
Suddenly the rope slackened, ant
then grew taut again with fierce jerl
that started the bar a full inch ant
scared his hands. Then 1t swayet
Imply against the cliff edge, and ,
faint cry from below sent his heart int,
his throat.
He peered over the brink with almos
sightless eyes, and called again. Th,
rope streaked down, slackened ant
limp. He fancied he saw a dim blur
of bubbles soaring the smooth surfac,
of the distant water and his head reel
ed.
With trembling fingers he knottet
the rope firmly to the bar, and THROWN.
off his coat, swung himself over tn,
brink.
The sun climbed the sky and slit
down lazily behind the Witches Pillar
decking the sky with gold and the biz
eye of the far-off lighthouse started
dazzling through the gloom. The boats
came in one by one.
Long after the light in the west hat
melted into hazy gray, Kitty sat anG
mused in the cottage porch. When tht
shadows drew in the lighthouse unelos
ed it's ponderous eye and glared at hel
for moment like some huge beast al
it circle,1 round, cleaving the darkness
IL thiilk I'll just run down an SCI
Mrs Trewlove dad she said shaIily