The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-31


cts not at all the weather for pic
mics, - growled Mr.. Fielding, following
the group of enthusiasts and looking
sourly on Ted and Mile, who hap
pened to be talking together.
eve don't mind the weather. said
Mile. Her face was radiant, and she
entered into the plans with all her
heart. Just lately she had been feeling
dull and depressed, but that sensation
had vanished, and she was able to turn
with brilliant smile to answer Mr..
Fielding.
Ted saw her smile and stepped back
aghast.
81 should much prefer a quiet day
on the shore,' said Mr.. Fielding in a
lower tone.
Mile glanced at Ted, and then she
slipped away. Somehow she now felt
out of heart with the picnic. AS for
Ted, there was nothing he would have
liked better than to take Mr. Fielding
by the throat and throttle him.
The next morning broke bright and
sunny. A brisk wind that afterward
became 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. 1t was large party and a
merry one, Ted being the only one who
was not able to appear gay. Too much
depended upon this day for him to be
able to mask his anxiety.
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 it
that afternoon.
The tide had turned before the party
reached the rock, and now the wind
was SO strong that few less daring
spirits turned back. Ted kept close to
Mile, who refused to give up the OBJ
ject Of the picnic, though Mr.. Fielding
advised and almost commanded her to
desist.
"There is an easier ascent farther
round, !" said Ted, shouting into Mil
lies ear. "Will you come? I've been
here before and know it. :"
The rest were too intent upon the
difficulties 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 moment the wind was rising.
Ted was right in thinking that the
farther way was more sheltered; in
fact, so well sheltered was it that he
and Mile were easily able to ascend,
though it was much sleeper here They
meant to reach the top first, as Mile
said-Ted had other hopes-and take
the others by surprise. But he became
more and more nervous and her evident
Inconsistencies tied his tongue. Half
way up they stopped, and as they sat
in nook to rest they heard how fierce
the wind was now.
"Im tired" said Mile, leaning
back "and how very steep it is! 1 had
no idea we had climbed such preci-
pice. I'm sure l couldn't get down
that
She was frightened, but Ted reas-
sured her and promised an easy descent
on the other side. He dared not trust
himself to look at her sweet, pale face.
"How the wind is blowing" said
Mile. "And what is that boom? Don't
you hear it?''
81 expect it's the breakers somewhere
farther along the shore.
sit makes me nervous. Are you GER
tain that we shall get off all right be-
fore the tide surrounds us?''
''If we DON'T answered Ted, 1--WE
shall all have rather interesting ad-
venture. AT least ten of us are on this
rock. The sea never covers it. "
''It would be rather good fun" said
the girl little doubtfully.
When she was rested, they started
once more on the ascent. Ted did not
want to get to the top He had not yet
told her his secret and he was deter
mined to speak before they left. But a
fellow does not like to shout that sort
of thing at the top of his voice. Mo-
ment by moment he put off the SEN
tence, and, as so often happens, no lost
his opportunity, and they reached the
top before he had said the words Mil
lie had to cover down because she could
not stand against the wind, and it was
all he could do to keep his footing. His
hat blew off and was carried he knew
not where in moment. Miles dis
tress amused him until she lost her hat,
too, when his distress amused her.
Glow splendidly stupid we are!"
cried Mile, laughing gayly. Cant
you see the others, Mr.. Rivers?''
''No, they're not up yet. Ted shaded
his eyes with his hand 1t seemed to be
raining in gusts, for he was quite wet.
"There's a shower coming on" he
shouted. ave must find shelter''
He found a nook for her, and they
crouched down just as furious shower
of rain drove down upon them. Ted got
wet, for there was room to shelter only
one. When the shower was over, he
went to look for the rest again, entreat-
ing Mile not to follow, as the rock was
so slippery it was hardly safe for her.
But she insisted on following, and the
result was that she slipped and fell, with
cry of anguish. Ted was beside her in
moment, concerned beyond expression.
"Oh, my foot, my footp' cried Mil
lie. whatever shall do?''
''Let me look at it, " he entreated. "I
know lot about sprains, and won't