The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-01-14

VI luc oiotdht NdtcI anu us htau iccf
ed.
With trembling fingers he knotted
the rope firmly to the bar, and throwing
off his coat, swung himself over the
brink
The sun climbed the sky and slid
down lazily behind the Witches Pillar,
decking the sky with gold and the big
dazzling through the gloom. The boats
came In one by one.
Long after the light In the west had
melted into hazy gray, Kitty sat and
unused In the cottage porch. When the
shadows drew In the lighthouse unclos-
ed It's ponderous eye and glared at her
for n moment like some huge beast as
1t circie1 round, cleaving the darkness.
Il think III just run down an see
Mrs. Trewlowe, dad" she said, shakily,
looking through the open door.
Jem's little cottage. with its screen Of
tall fuchsias, stood silent and deserted.
The frenzled beat of her knuckles on
the door echoed back to her mockingly
through the two tiny rooms.
shawl thrown over her head, met her
half way down. Some instinct intangl-
BILE and underlined, seemed to tell each
what she wished, yet dreaded TO learn,
for no words were spoken, no questions
asked. Their hands met In unspoken
sympathy, and hand In hand they de-
scendcd the hill.
rhov rouuaI ON tho hluff cfroi nina
their eyes In hopes Of seeing n dark
speck crawl out under the shadow OF
the cliffs. A boat was moving outward
toward the deeps where the conger lay,
and the girls heart grew bitter against
It's occupant. and the tiny band OF gold
upon her wrist seemed to scorch her
flesh.
When they stood below the creaklne
sign of the Merry Mariners the woman
hung back, and looked ut her piteously
"I'll go in," said Kitty, touching the
woman on the arm.
There was sudden hush as the
whlte-faced girl tottered in and gave a
hurried glance around.
isis he herey" she gasped. II
mean"
An old bag, seated In the far corner
Of the room, barred her toothless gums
and uttered cracked laugh.
mo, he hain't. dearle. | seed him
goln' congerfishin' In his swell clothes
P'raps, II axed him prettily, he'd put
me in n pictur', tool Ell, deare? He
he"
IL mean Jem-Jem Holt-my Jem
ms she painted, catching her breath
Ted Trewlowe an him went nestin
on the Pillar this mornin'. Ted ain't
back, an my Jem amt back, an-Jem
and Ted Trewlowe-my Jem-is-is-'
She broke down, covering her face
with her hands. The men laid aside
their pipes and went out softly, whis
pering among themselves.
The sad-eyed woman was waiting fol-
her, and together they FASTENED to the
beach and launched old Andrews boat
The others were far across the bay al
ready.
The oars splashed sluggishly, and tn,
boat sped on through the creeping dusk
At last the girl peered over her shoulder
and stood up, covering her mouth will
her hands.
"Hallo."
An answering cry In n mans deer
tones echoed across the water, and sh,
bent to the oars once more. Then sh,
drew back her arm and tossed some
thing into the air-somethlng that glls
tened with n yellowish tinkle at tn,
artists feet.
II was a narrow chain of gold. EN-
bellished with heart-shaped pendant
his gift returned.
The nose of the boat veered rount
and they headed up the bay. The WON
an stlll rocked herself, sobbing softly
but Kitty's checks were dry, though
her breath came and went in uncertain
gasps.
A hoarse cheer sweled up through
the night and set their hearts singing
Kitty's head went down on her hands
and tears came at last, as the heav,
burden of agonlzed suspense fell from
her. One by one the boys toiled across
the light, and were soaked up by tn,
darkness under the Farcombe shore
Kitty reused herself and followed.
There was n chattering crowd of mel
and women outside the Merry Marin
ers, but they fell aside to let her pass
and they thronged the doorway curl
ously. The room inside was packed
and little Trewlowe. very pale an,
shaky. was jerkingly narrating the ad
venture between the sips of his brand,
; and water. But Kitty saw no one bu
Jem.
He sat In the middle of the room, tn,
ashen hue of his face. showing clearl,
= through the CRIME, his hands bruise,
and bleeding, and his clothes torn I,
! shreds. They had cut away the lef
? sleeve of his coat and the brawny vii
Z lage doctor was setting the splintere,
bone of his arm.
In moment she was kneeling besid
E him. Needless of them all, with he
p arms clasped round his neck and he
e cheek pressed to his.
20. Jem" she whispered. "Jem
Jemr'
BY and by they went down the roa
together in the darkness, Jem's unir
: iured arm circling the girls whist an