Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-10-09

from the sea. When they reached 1t, 1t
was the girl who spoke first.
"Well?' she said gamely, and then
beneath her breath, "If had had
sense enough to obeyW
"If had only jerked the tlller from
your he said In answer. But neither
of them spoke what was uppermOst In
their minds.
No hope to try for the shore, with
its steep cliffs where the water rolled
and eddied, and the rock on which they
stood was always covered at high tide.
Already the water oozed and gurgled
about its crevlces With every wave
1t rose fraction higher. The tide
was coming in.
"If only some one would see u.s."
whispered the girl, some passing boat
orr The words died In her throat.
The lonely expanse of water showed
no hopeful sail. Ashton was staring
at a speck that showed In the far dis
tance-Deerhave island. When he
spoke all the boyishness was gone from
his voice.
"There's only one way, Katherine
Would you rather tried for 1t, or
shall we stay here together"
I'D rather you tried for It," she
said bravely, seeing as well as he that
there was not moment to lose.
you can watch my coat and shoes
till come back" His voice rang
cheerfully. I'm In splendid practice;
swan couple of miles only the day
before yesterday" He did not add
that Captain Davy had followed with
a dory. keep up your heart. girlP'
he cried, with a touch of his old gay
ETY..
"And you She would have cheer
ed him on, but words failed her.
"Ill remember that it's for you Pm
swimming. The biggest breakers In
the world won't make me forget
that"
He waved her goodby as IL he We're
off for pleasure jaunt, and she
watched him as he struck out square
ly, making every stroke count.
The long swing Of the seas rolled
between them, widening the space I'M
til her stralning eyes could discover
him no longer. The water tapped and
gurgled about the rock on which she
stood, rising ever higher. There was
something hungry In the way the lit
tie waves crept up, reaching greedlly
She tried to think of other things, to
watch for sail. From far away
came the sound of surf breaking slow
ly against the reefs and now and
again the mournful, lonely note OF the
bell buoy.
Slowly the water rose. 1t touched
her ankles her knees. The lift of
each oncoming wave nearly took her
Off her feet At that new panic seized
her. II she were swept from the rock,
what thenl Groplngly and numb with
coiu she reached for the long growths
OF seaweed with which the rock was
covered. Heightened out they came
almost to her shoulders. She twisted
her hands In them and waited.
There came the moment when the
water reached her shoulders. ind each
new wave made her shut her eyes and
breathe gasplngly. She had long since
given up hope Of rescue. There re-
manned but one thought that what
ever came she must stay where they
would find her.
After all, drowning was not SO hard.
After the first deep strangllng breath
she felt herself slipping into uncon
seriousness. Snatches OF past events.
trivial and vivid, shonc before her for
moment; then all merged into the
blackness that closed her round.
When she opened her eyes she met
the anxious gaze OF Ashton bending
over her. She wondered dimly If he
belonged to the old life, aud then his
voice, perturbed and human. came to
her as from n great distance,
"a moment more" he was saying.
"and we would have been too late"
Then with n start II all came back
to her-alI that had occurred. She
raised her head Captain Davy was
sitting In the stern Of the resculng
boat looking both triumphant and con
cerned.
Guess your aunt will be pretty glad
to have you back" he beamed. "And
so Will that senator they say you're en-
gagged to-"
but I'm not engeged to him." she
protested family. She appealed TO Ash
ton. "Tell him." she commanded
"rell him
"rhat II isn't 80 and never will be"
katherine"
"You say that as II you thought !
was overwrought and speaking wildly.
But I'm not. | never was surer of
myself In my life than / am this min
ute. oh, Bobble. can't you see that In
that hour alone out there | learned
everything, the heights, the depths,
the things that don't count and the
things that do"
And then rs she saw the amazed de-
light IN his eyes deepen to the rapture
Of certainty she held out both her
hands to him For once n Willard
has changed her mind" she whispered.
And Captain Dayy, scanning the ho-
rlzon with tactful scrutiny, heaved
sympathetic sigh.
"IOoks as II we were In for spell
Of fair weather ahead" he muttered.
"Winds turned, clouds are llftln', and
ais wenw