The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-08-15

Lake Michigan is covetous of her
eastern shore. Year after year her
sands creep inland. Inch by inch, mile
by mile, now peach orchard is smoth-
cred, now a mellow wheatfield is
blotted orA, and In their stead scrub
pines thrive and sand burs sprawl in
the sun. Year by year the scrub
pines grow stouter and the sand burs
tangle thicker and thicker, and with
each year the desolation of the sand
dune country increases. Roads formed
one month are shifting dunes the next.
Inland lakes, once green and lovely.
slowly and mercIlessly are choked I'M
til only sand skirted pools remain.
And still the desolation grows.
Katherine and her Great Dane bud
died together under the scrub pine
and watched the gray Of the twilight
turn to purple.
well, we're lost Jacky," she said.
''just plain lost! The hunting lodge
ought to be over in that direction, but
it's not, and they have supper so late
they won't miss US for another hour.
How would 1t seem to spend the night
In the sand burs, do you suppose.
JackyT
Jacky whined and laid his great head
In the girls lap. She rubbed his ears
absentmindedly and started off over
the dunes. I'm not frightened" she
said. I'm just-just lonely. Well,
let's empty our shoes. Jacky, and start
on"
The low shoes once more securely
tied, Katherine picked up the bit of
fish rod with which as q staff she had
strolled from camp early in the after
noon and struggled to the top of the
dune. the dog trudging beside her, with
now and again a growl at the shadowy
pines. From the top of this heap Of
sand she saw another heap looming
through the dusk. Down she waded,
now leaning on her bit of bamboo, now
holding to Jacky's collar, until from
the top of this she discovered a third
bur crowned dune. On the top of the
third dune she dropped down to rest
while the dog crouched on her skirts,
with watchful ears pricked forward
Suddenly he gave little yelp and ran
into the dusk.
"Jackyw called the girl Then she
struggled after him through the heavy
sand
why" she said, '1t's another little
lake! Look out, Jacky; don't drink too
much. I'm not thirsty enough to drink
water can't see. Why, how soft this
sand is! Jacky-it-why-Im In way
above my anklesr'
She fioundered toward the dog as he
turned toward her with a whine, the
instructive desire in danger of the liv-
ing for the living
''Oh, Jacky. it's one of the quicksand
bars!''
Trembling and painting, the dog
threw himself against her knees, while
his whines changed to sharp yelps In
vain Katherine struggled to draw her
feet from the sand. 1t had closed
about each foot with the grip of giant
hands that insistently, silently drew
her down. She stopped and felt
Jacky's back Already the quivering
sands were half way up his legs. As
she felt of him his yelping ceased. He
reached up and licked the face bending
over him. Then he crouched low, while
Katherine felt his great muscles swell
and stiffen. Then suddenly he hurled
himself forward with all the strength
of his lean, magnificent body and In
three leaps had disappeared into the
dusk. Katherine gave low sob
tsOb Tookr hoxu aOf1l1 Won
meY' Again. summoning all her
strength, she strove to follow him
But the struggle was worse than use
less. And now the calm that had pos
sessed her left her. She stopped and
scooped at the sand about her ankles
with bare hands. digging frantically,
with low means not unlike Jacky's
Handful after handful, then a pause.
while she stared out into the darkness
with shrieks for help. The sand had
crept above her knees. With broken
nails she stopped to listen. Yes. far
out across the dunes she heard a
mans shout and Jacky's excited bark.
and again she raised her own hoarse
cry. Then she heard the crackle of
sand burs
Katherine, for heavens sake. where
are your" His voice!
go back, Hugh-go backI I'm in
the Quicksandr'
Silence from the shore, then: ''Stay
perfectly still. I'll be out there In
few minutes. I'm going to cut pine
boughs to walk on"
In utter thankfulness Katherine stood !
silent Then surprise swept over her |
Hughi That was Hugh, whom she |
had not seen or heard of for n year. |
not since she had tossed the ring-the |
wedding ring-back to him and said:
well, six months have shown us
what fiddle we have made of mar
riage. Let's have sense enough TO stop |
now. We evidently don't care enough |
to give In to each other"
Without word Hugh had taken the |
ring and left her And now to be
found this way. and by him! In ST.
lence she watched the path he made !
grow out toward her and in silence
heard Jaclzy's excited greetings to her
from the shore. Then. after what
seemed lifetime of battle with
creeping sand. the man lifted her In
his arms and silently carried her to
the shore. She lay quietly, while the
dog fawned about her and the man,
broad shouldered figure in the summer
darkness, brushed the sand from her
skirts and emptied her sodden shoes.
what am I to do with you. Rather !
tnef" he asked
81 got lost from camp" she an
swered. Il don't know. Show me the
way back, and I'll go when I'm rested. /
I don't want that coward Jacky, !
though"
II was driving out to Camp Minitka- |
didn't knaw Usrs fiAana IAhs .