Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-01-25
CHAPTER XIX.

wanted TO be alone a little longer,
She felt that she could not talk even
to her father just then. She wanted
TO be alone to think over all Yorke
had told her. She walked few
yards toward the quay, and saw that
Mr.. Isle was still painting; then she
turned and slowly paced in the direc-
tion of Ragged Point, which stretched
out dark and sullen in the sunlight.
AS she had said, not doubt Of
Yorke's truth ar honor cast a shadow
over her happiness. If he said that it
was necessary that they should be
married at once and secretly, it must
be so-it should be so. He was her
lover, her master, her king, She had
given herself to him absolutely; she
trusted him because she could not help
herself.
She had almost reached the point,
and would have gone on, but she re-
membered that the tide was coming
in end that the would not be time to
get around before the sea rose above
the narrow ledge OF rock at the foot Of
the cliffs, and she WIS turning back
when she caught sight of some dark
object above rock at the very foot
of the point
For moment she thought it was a
bind; then she saw that it was hat
wCman's hat. Some one YVES sit
ting there In an instant it struck
her that it ght be a stranger un
acquainted with the conformation of
the coast-line ard that If she sat there
for n few minutes longer she would be
unable to get back or to turn the
point.
Leslie looked 6! the tide and was
startled to find that it had run up
quicker than she had thought. There
would be barely time to reach the wo-
man behind the rock and W I'm her.
She ran forward as quickly as she
could and shouted at the top of her
voice; but the voice of the incoming
waves bree Eirg against the rocks
drowned hers.
She looked around, hoping to see a
boat or fisherman bat no boat was
in sight, and she and the unknown,
sitting there all unconscious of her
peril, We're alone in this grim place!
Most women would have paused and
thought of their owl safety; but Leslie
and selflshness had not yet made ac-
quaintance, acd she hurried on, run
ming where there was a bare bit of
sand, and scrambling over the rocks
that lay in her path. AT last she
reached the ore behind which the wo,
man had come to warn was sitting,
and stood before her breathlessly.
ooh, quick, qutck" she cried pant
ingly Then she stopped ard recoiled
little. It was a girl seated in an
attitude CT WEAKNESS and lassitude,
her elbows on her knees, her head
bowed Even iii the first moment
Leslie noticed the grave and s2rrowful
abandon of the figure but it was the
uplifted flee that made her recoil, for
it was that of the woman who had
sung the disreputable music hall ditty.
There was no reckless getty in the
face now but a misery and despair so
eloquent that, even as sho recoiled,
Leslie's heart ached with pity for
her.
The dark eyes locked at Leslie
vacantly for a moment, then flashed
with sudden anger.
who are you and what do you
want?" she asked, half sullenly, half
defiantly
Leslie flushed at the tone in which
the greeting was conveyed.
Il saw YOU sittin5 here" she said
quickly and little TREMENDOUSLY, for
the dark face disputed her and in
spired her with vague uneasiness. 81
saw you from the beach yonder, and
thought thai perhaps you were a
stranger"
Il am a stranger. What Of it,"
said the woman, as sullenly and sus-
riciously as before.
And you do not know that this is
Ragged Point, and that the tide is
coming up fast-very fast?' said
Leslie earnestly. When the tide
comes up here where you are sitting
you will not be able to go on or turn
back. You see how the point stretches
0ut?n
The dark eyes looked YEARLY to
right and left
Il see,' she said. NO; didn't
know it. don't know how long I've
been sitting here" She looked up at
the sky, The tide comes up here
does it?n
Yes, yes said Leslie, hurriedly.
Pray come away at once" for the
girl had made no attempt to rise.
I'VE have only just time to get around
the point even If we run. Come at
once" and in her eagerness she held
out her hand to help her get up.
II suppose | should have been
drowned If you had not seen me" she
remarked, listlessly.
20. | hope mott hope not" said
Leslie. But am very glad did