The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-07
BY MARIE AvARY

The fresh sea breeze gave Acton |
Davis n saucy good morning" as he |
out on the porch. II blew |
Betty Fagan's yellow curls auriole wise |
round her face. She looked up joy
ously.
"Iazybones. are you here at lastT' |
she cried merrily. Il have been wait |
ing for you for ever so long"
Davis sat down beside her on the |
step and looked at her with good hu-
mored tolerance as he said lightly,
what do you want this morning.
child?"
The girl detected the superiority in
his tone. A flush rose to her cheeks,
and her voice had 6 plaintive ring as
she said. children are so unreasonable
and want so many things. don't theyF
Then. with swift return TO her former
bantering: These are my commands;
so read. mark. learn and inwardly di-
gest. as the prayer book puts ii.
want you to promise 10 take me TO
Hazard rocks this afternoon"
A shade fell ON the mans face. She
went on hastily: 1--WE wanted to go all
over. You promised you would take
me II was very. very good. and. oh.
IT Will be so lovely TO scramble along
the shore and find long strands of
strange seaweed and come upon I'M
expected pools full Of jelly and star
fish. Please take me. / will be good"
Her eyes were shining and her checks
pink with excitement as she bent to-
ward him pleadingly.
The man hesitated as IL fearful of
paining her by refusal He seemed
solely intent in watching the white
caps in their mad race for the shore.
Then he said brusquely: mo. / won't
take you. l ought never to have prom
ised, and so | take II back. You are
quite too foolhardy to venture in so
dangerous a place. You would be sure
to fall on those treacherous, Shiny
rocks. and then there would be the
devil to pay. If the tide should catch
us. there would be no hope"
Betty's chin quivered like child's,
and the tears We're shining through her
long lashes.
Davis felt swift compunction for his
hasty words. Il honestly don't think
it's safe to take you. Betty. or / would.
Promise to forget about it, and we will
go for a sail on the Petrol or anywhere
else at your pleasure. Come, show me
that you can be n reasonable little
GIRL
Betty might not have resented his
fatherly tone II n gay voice had not
rung out behind her;
"What are you two fighting about. as
usual; Give me an explanation" And
| she laughed rather maliciously. 1t was
Mrs. Neville. the source of Betty's
heartaches for the last weeks.
| The girl rose impetuously. Il have
nothing to explain" she said icily.
i "Mr. Davis can tell you what he
/ pleases. 1t Is nothing TO me-"
Davis looked after her with a frown
of annoyance. II was really unpardon-
able for Betty to behave so rudely.
She was too old for such childishness
1t was quite true that they had quar-.
relied almost constantly for the last
weeks; he forgot that It was only since
Mrs. Neville had appeared at the hotel
The young widow sank back In q
rocking chair with little laugh. She
looked unusually pretty this morning
and as the man looked at her admiring
ly his frown faded. The full blown
rose was certainly more satisfying thar
the thorny bud.
| Mrs. Neville met his glance by a vel
executed droop OF her lashes. Tell me
all about it." she commanded play
fully.
Betty wanted me to take her t.
Hazard rocks" Davis explained. "Ant
would not take her because 1t is 9,
dangerous trip"
Mrs. Neville was all interest. Tn,
Hazard rocks, She had heard abou
them. Did people ever go there? An,
was II all very romantic and exciting
A Look of daring flashed across he
face. She bent forward and gaze'
straight into his eyes. "Will you tax
me there:" she asked softly.
Perhaps il was the glamour OF he
dark eyes. the in:oxicition of her warn
breath on his cheek. The man grew
white. His voice was low aud tens
as he answered. Yes: will take you.
Betty did not app,ar at lunch. Agai
Davis felt the strange pang of CON
junction as he missed her laughin
! chatter. He did not know that Mr.:
| Neville had met her I'm the hall and eA
planned that. though the Hazard rock
. | We're much too dang; rous place 10
children. it was quite permissible 70
. | grownups. and Acton had promised I
take her.
The girl had drawn herself up to a
the slim height of her eighteen year
and turned away without a word.
. Nor did he guess that when the tw
5 strolled away an hour later pair {
;. blue eyes watched them from benin
: the half shut blinds. while slow teal
e rolled down the pale checks.
e The rest of the guests shortly depar
ed for an afternoons sail. So presen
= ly Betty crept down, forlorn lit
figure. AS the afternoon waned. brin
Y Ing no signs OF the two. a vague fe:
e began to take possession of her. II
tide had begun to turn. Could It
e that they had failed to notice II? ~
/. recalled Acton's words with thrill
e fear. ''If the tide should catch us, the
would be no hope"
a
Mr.. Acton Davis was not enjoyiI
d his afternoon. The two had scramble
n along the foot of the cliffs until th'
l. reached the half submerged pile
rocks bearing the name Of HaZar