Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-06-22

"Who is this Mary Bethel?" Mrs. Ell
lerton repeated.
why" faltered Ruth, "she lives at
the cove, and"
"And If so, she had better return
there. How Often" continued Mrs. FL
lerton, pitilessly, show often have 1
warned you never to pick up acquaint-
ances! I am more than surprised,
Ruth; am"
But Mary Bethel heard no more.
With a sob she burst through the gate
way, and ran wildly down the road to-
ward her home.
1t was not much of home, this ref
uge of the Bethels; two-room hut,
with brown sods banked round it.
AS Mary reached the beach, her fa7
Their came from the hut and lifted her
up and kissed her.
Were off agin, little GAL" he said.
"I'll be away couple O. days, may
hap. Mind the home, and-why, what's
the matter?"
"'Tain't nuthin, dad" she sobbed.
There, there! Don't take on" said
her father, consolingly. we've bin
alone over night afore."
The motherless child went into the
lonely cabin, and, stationing herself by
the window, watched the schooner fade
into the distance.
Presently, down the hillside came her
acquaintance of the morning, dressed
in white and blue boating suits. She
envied them their pretty rowboat, and
turned a glance of contempt upon her
fathers numbering dory.
Time passed unheeded, until the sun
light was suddenly dimmed. She
glanced out; the sky was overcast,
with blacker clouds to the southwark,
while beyond the cove danced small
boat-could it be that of the two girls =?
What could have tempted them to ven
ture so far?
There came an impatient knocking,
and Mary opened the door. Before her
stood Mrs. Ellerton-not the naughty.
woman of few hours before, but q
mother, with drawn, scared face.
my girls!" she gasped. "Where is
your father?"
"To the f1shin' banks"
al thought-his boat there"
Mary shook her head: Father uses
that for near fshin'."
as there no one?" pleaded Mrs. FL
legton.
There's no man about; but dun
no." Mary said, obviously. 81 reckon
might row the dory that fur, but I'm
'fraid 1 couldn't bring both boats baclS
the tide is runnin' out now"
20 could you-could you row out to
them?"
"'Twould be a tug. I might have to
let the dory go-'nd don't know what
father d say"
Don't mind the boat-I'll pay for
that. But, o, hurry-do, do hurry!"
"Ill go, num-" Mary said, quietly.
81 will go with you," TREMENDOUSLY ex-
claimed Mrs. Eellerton.
"Not less n you kin row." Mary an
swered. Reckon I'll have my hands
full 'thout any extra ballast"
The tide carried the dory along at a
rate which quickly overhauled the tru-
ants. But the wind was swifter than
the tide. It came along in fierce pu1fs,
with short intervals of calm between
The black rim of the ocean broadened'
And the fsherman's daughter, familiar
with the sea, felt that 1t would be hard
race.
AS Mary neared the cedar boat, she
saw that the two girls were frightened
to the verge of tears.
"We've lost an oar" Ruth explained,
''and the tide is running away with us. "
"Climb in here, quick!" she command
I'd.
The girls obeyed, and Mary pushed
the empty boats from them.
30, why did you do that?" cried Ruth
"Cause," Mary answered, commenc'
lag to row, "'cause it'll be all we kin
do to fetch ashore without a-towin
nuthin'." ~
"Isn't this boat awful lottery askef
Ruth. M
"P'rhaps; but it's safe a."
'But you are not headed for tn
cove" .,
"I know it. Couldn't do nuthin' witt
this heavy boat 'gainst such tide.
we fetch the point we'll be dom vel
Put out that spare oar-no, not on tina
side; t'other. Now, don't say nuthln
but pull away for all you're with"
For some minutes they tugged at tn
heavy oars. Then Gertrude asked
TREMENDOUSLY. "Mary, isn't the tide tax
ing us out2"
ats touch an go," answered Mary
As she spoke she put the bow abouf
; and the Others uttered cry OF fea1
The. black line of wind-beaten waite
was sweeping toward them at race
horse speed.
"Down in the bottoml" shoute
Mary. "Don't lose that oarl Now, 8
down, fat down-so! All we kin d
now is to keep from gettin' broadsid
to; that 'ud be like to swamp us"
In moment the sky was changed
saffron, and the air was full of fyin
spray. There was no hope left of NAL
anG the point. and the ocean lay beyond