The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-10-02

deeply observant gravity, as If she
would learn its meaning. But the
matter had evidently proved beyond
her powers of solution. for she soon
turned her glance seward to watch
coasting steamship humping its
smoky way westward to the deep
sheltered Firth, over whose narrow
rocky entrance the twin Sutors keep
watch and ward.
Far away to the northward, be-
yond the vessel, the horizon had sud
denly crinkled and darkened. The
sombreness grew and spread swiftly
all along the rocky coast line. A
white tossing line broke before it,
and in a moment the shore was
blotted out With incredible swift
ness the wind sQuall swept down
upon the boat Even as Jack Ethan
sprang to his feet at Baby Barron's
shrill cry to clutch at the tiller 1t
struck the boat as with giant hand,
Ringing sheer out its occupants.
Then. half buried in the trough of
the suddenly risen sea, the over
turned -cobble" surged slowly shore
ward.
When he rose to the surface and
had brushed the water from his eyes
Jack Ethan saw that the Firth had
almost regained its former calm. The
squall had swept away shoreward,
scarce a mile distant, leaving only
on the surface of the water the up
turned boat to tell of its swift, sudden
passage. His eyes searched eagerly
the slow heavilg swell. A sea
drenched golden head rose all at once
little to his right. He reached out,
caught and drew it to him. ere it
went down the second time.
Hold fast there, little one," he
said gently. putting Baby Barron's
arms around his neck. Stick tight
and don't be afraid"
An instant later, between him and
the upturned cobble Leslie Maynard's
face rose above the surface. her long.
wet hair wrapped about her in cling
ing strands. With half a dozen quick,
powerful strokes, he was beside her.
"Thank God, you are safe, DEAR"
he murmured, supporting her, tread
ing water the while. -Can you swim,
Leslie?"
"A little only" she returned. try
ing bravely to smile.
Then lay your hand on my shout
der-so. Once on the top OF. the boat
they must see US soon from the shore.
+. All, that's better. now." he
said. q minute later, as they gained
the narrow ridge Of keel. "They'll
have us soon; it's only a wetting.
after all. and we don't mind that, do
we, Baby Barron?" He talked on
to relieve the tension. looking down
at the pathetic little figure on his
knee.
All at once the smile left his eyes.
He stared again from the rounded
rise Of the "cobble" to the surface
Of the water. Yes; there was no
room left for doubt-the boat was
sinking under their united weight,
inch by inch. lower and lower.
Would 1t bear them up till the ex-
pected rescue came? was the quick
thought that flashed through his
mind. AS he glanced up their eyes
met, and in his look Leslie Maynard
read something of the truth. For a
long moment they regarded each
other silently. She was the first to
speak.
AThe boat is sinking. Is it not?"
she said in a low, strangely calm
tone. He could only nod in reply.
You will take Baby Barron, will
you not, dear, and bring her safe
home? She is all that is left to her
mother" She put up her hand to hi,
cheek with loving gesture and
looked back into his eyes.
Il cannot cannot leave you
thus, Leslie" he muttered hoarsely.
"Perhaps-perhaps they may yet see
us in time his eyes straining shore
ward.
Don't, dear" she said, quietly;
don't try to pretend-not about this.
I want to face it now, when l feel
strong to bear it And l want to tell
you'll want to tell you, dear, how
sweet has been the thought of your
love to me. Perhaps it is His way
of testing it. dear. But tiff you
only are left you will know l am with
you. l can't die SO long as you love
me. Kiss me, Jack, dear, and go
quickly"
With choking sob Ethan slid
down blindiy into the deep, placid
blue, and with one long, last look
turned shoreward, the clinging arms
of Baby Barron round his neck.
With a long, steady stroke, his
muscles braced hard and taut, and his
eyes fixed on the green cloud of pines
behind the town. he swan ever shore
ward with the incoming tide. For
long space-hours it seemed to him,
though it was, but minutes-he
pushed steadily, mechanically on
ward. Overhead the hot sun blazed
down upon him, throbbing with fierce
heat, and the little weight round his
neck minute by minute grew heavy
as lead. Slowly his head fell-lower
lower. till the briny water washed
against his half-closed lips. Its salt
sting brought him back with quick
shock from the dreamland whose bor-
der is death, into which he was fast
slipping. With quick, spasmodic
effort, he raised himself out of the
water and glanced shoreward. How