The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-11
MATED ON LOVE ROCK

"That's the rock, sir" said the weather
benton old tar.
Ted Rivers looked up and laughed
little bitterly. /,
IA nice place to propose to lady, " said
he. at seems to me that 1t would not be
30 easy as you think to get up there"
The old fisherman looked shrewdly at
Ted and winked to himself
"welg sir, II you'd like to try for your
self''-
"I'm not thinking about myself at all, !"
burst out Ted with 80 much indignation
that his companion Immediately drew his
conclusion.
"Inever thoughtas you we're, sir. Twas
only my little bit Of joke. But yon's
the rock, and the gal as Is asked there Is
had for the asking. It's gospel truth,
what's moro. And It's there got my old
woman, which wouldn't so much as look
az me until ] caught her a-sittin on the
rim Of that there rock
"Says I, Betsy, I've come to esk you to
marry me, and she looked round sorter
scared like, and says, You'm a-slttin on
the love focl, Betsy, Ind it's here as I've
follored you, for you're the only gal what
/ wants. I've set my heart on marin
you, says !, and you're on the love rock
"Then she looks up as meek as lamb
and she says Yes and falls a-Gryin as
!. II her heart would break, for Betsy, she
always did admire that young scamp Pete.
But she knew as we'll as me that she'd got
to marry me, because asked on the rock
1--WE was so took up with what hap
pened that We was all caught by tho tide,
but we got off In time. The rocks niVer
quite covered, hut 'twould bo an ugly
place to pass night md next to unpossi-
bio to DO 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 rool.
He was not listening to tho garrulous old
man, and he certainly did not believe the
superstition about it; but, all the same,
he felt inclined to compass the difficulties
In the way and got Mile Lloyd there. 1t
would DO as good place as any he knew
for telling the secret which had been his
torment for months and which ho now
felt was impossible to keepto himself even
If tho telling Of 1t meant the ruin of his
hopes.
/ He could not endure to see her chatting
by tho hour with old Fielding, who evil
IDENTIFY 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 dof
"It's time to DO going back" said Ted,
l. t,k ,,,.t lin.
I've an idea that this would DO rather q
nice spot for picnic-not half bad
Old Jack Grico bent nearly double with
laughter the moment Ted's figure had dis
appeared around tho cliffs, and then he
went homo to tell Betsy tho joke. She
was shrewd old woman and gave it as
| her opinion that Ted was in love.
Meanwhile Ted hurried back to the hotel
in sort Of panic He felt uneasy sudden
ly because he had been absent for several
hours, and Fielding might be taking tho
opportunity.
A set of tennis was being played on the
asphalt court Mile was not there. He
went and leaned on the fence that guarded
the cliff and gave sweeping glance from
right to left, taking In tho long walk
from the top of the cliff to tho shore below,
both visible from this point. Neither
Mile nor Fielding was In view.
,So,he went in and looked for them in
all the public sitting rooms. There was
| not u sign Of either. Until the gong sum
moned oil the visitors down to the table
d'hote he was unable to find her, and then
he heard casually that she had been out
for drive with her mother.
WAC pbf, y,inn n
Ted who suggested the best spot for one.
"That's close to the love rock, isn't itp''
asked some one.
1.-The love rockp" said Ted, with the ut
most innocence whats thatf'
With the impatience of young folk the
picnic was fixed for the next day, weather
permitting or not. A storm had been pre-
| dicted, but tho objections of the elders
were talked down with many arguments
as unanswerable as they were Illogical.
otis not at all the weather for pionics,
growled Mr.. Fielding, following the group
of enthusiasts and looking sourly on Ted
and Mile, who happened to be talking
| together.
ave don't mind the weather." said
Mile. Her face was radiant, and she en-
| tered into tho plans with all her heart.
Ted saw her smile and stepped back aghast.
~ should much prefer quiet day on
the shore" said Mr. Fielding in lower
| tone.
Millie glanced ut Ted, and then she slip.
ped away. Somehow she now felt out Of
heart with the picnic. As for Ted, there
was nothing he would have liked better
thansto take Mr.. Fielding by the throat
and throttle him.
The next morning broke bright and
sunny. A brisk wind that afterward be-
came boisterous was blowing from the sea-
With baskets Of provisions and long sticks
which they called their alpenstocks-the
party started for the love rock.
They took their lunch in the shelter Of
the cliffs. The tide was out. and the love
rock stood up gaunt and Jagged in full
view. They intended to explore 1t that
afternoon.
| The tide had turned before the party
reached the rock, and now the wind was
80 strong that few less daring spirits
turned back Ted kept close to Mile,
who refused to give up the object of tho
picnic, though Mr.. Fielding advised and
almost commanded her to desist.
The rest were too intent upon the diff
culties of their way to notice that Ted and
Mile had struggled round to the other
side, and the return party were already
well on their way home. Clouds were
gathering In the horizon, and every mo-
msnt the wind was rising