The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-24

tmpatiently, especially one that prob
ably will not come within miles of
here"
I'm afraid to start out with you
when that fellow is poking up his ugly
head" he said, "and, what's more, I'm
not afraid to say So"
"Oh, let's risk it," she said. I'm take
the consequences. That lifts the re-
sponsibility Off your shoulders"
We'll wait Bit" said he.
Il believe you're afraid on your own
account" she tainted.
Very possibly" he said quietly.
The girl bit her lips. She slid from
the rail and came close beside him.
"You're-a-cowardT' she said, with
slow distinctness
The young man did not lift his eyes.
She saw the blood rush into his face
and his jaw set grimly.
Perhaps" he said, with strange gen.
tleness.
The girl stood quite still for a mo-
ment, with flashing eyes and little
hands tightly clinched.
you are" she said, you areP
She stepped across the pier and be-
gan to unite the painter Of the canoe.
Don't do thatp' he said sharply,
springing up. But before he could re-
strain her she was in the canoe and
clear of the pier. She turned to wave
the paddle defantly.
I'm going down to the island" she
called. ''I'll tell them left you here
waiting for cloud to pass over.
Adieu, Sir Cautionr'
Little foolp he growled, and, hur-
rying across the pier, he united the
sailboat, stepped in and pushed of.
There was not enough breeze to give
him Roadway. The boat drifted idly,
with tapping sail Far away he heard
peal of derisive laughter. The girl,
padding sturdily, was just disappear
ing around the point
He looked anxiously at the south
west. The cloud had changed from
gray to black 1t was mounting the
sky like race horse. The dull boom
Of distant thunder shook the air. He
shortened sail down to the last reef
and waited.
Higher and higher came the cloud,
and as 1t crept up the sky its edges took
on livid green. The red afterglow Of
twilight was suddenly blotted out, and
the water became inky black. The first
flaws struck him. The boat careened
and went tearing down the lake. From
the woods across the lake came a deep,
steady roar that told him the wind
was coming in earnest He gripped
tiller and sheet and shut his teeth.
As he reached the point he saw the
canoe just ahead rolling madly and
threatening momentarily to upset He
could see the girl. CHASTITY spot Of
white against the bIackness Of sky and
water, padding frantically in her efforts
to reach the shore. He shot the boat
into the wind alongside, scrambled to
the rail and pulled her In With no
waste Of time he dropped her across
seat and sprang to the tiller just as tie
full fury Of the wind caught them. The
sail filed with noise like the crack of
heavy rifle, and the boat careened
dangerously, then righted heavily as
be let go the sheet
The girl, with white face and fright
ened eyes, chung to the rail.
"What-what have | done?" she gasp
ed between her chatterlng teeth.
"Donef" he cried bitterly. you've
nearly drowned yourself, and you may
drown us both yet. God knows"
She shrank as from physical blow,
but he had no time to notice 1t. He
pulled a knife from his pocket and
flung it to her.
open that and stand by the hal
yards. Cut them quickly If tell you
to-"
A binding shaft of light streamed
from the sky, accompanied simultane-
ously by deafening crash. Then the
rain came down in torrents, shutting
them in with gray wall. There was a
sharp report. The mainsheet had
parted.
''The halyards-quickp' he yelled.
She slashed with the knife, and the
sail came rafting down.
A moment later there was a shock
that set the boat quivering from stem
to stern, and this was followed by a
dull grating beneath the keel By good
luck they had struck on one of the
many islands In the lake. He caught
the girl in his arms and sprang ashore.
If she anticipated a torrent Of re-
proach from him, she was disappoint-
ed. He made fast the painter and then
stood looking at her with a grave
smile. They were both drenched and
disheveled, and she was shivering.
Are you coldY' he asked gently.
"No-o-o," she chartered, and then
sob caught in her throat Harry" she
faltered, ''scold me, accuse me yes,
even swear at me-but-but don't,
please Son't, be 80 good to ms beyond