Smyrna times., 1908-09-09


'Well?' she said gamely, and then
beneath her breath. IF | had had |
sense enough to obey
"If 1 had only jerked the tiller 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 |
It's 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 crevices. With every wave
it rose a fraction higher. The tide
was coming in.
IF only some one would see us"
whispered the girl, 'sOme passing boat
or 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-Deerhaven island. When he
spoke all the boyishness was gone from
his voice
"There's only one way, Katherine.
Would you rather l tried for it. or
shall we stay here together?"
I'D rather you tried for it, she
said bravely, seeing as we'll 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 a couple of miles only the day
before yesterday" He did not add
that Captain Davy had followed with
a dOry. keep up your heart, girl
he cried. with a touch of his old gay
ETY..
"And you She would have cheer
ed him on, but words failed her.
"I'H remember that it's for you I'm
swimming The biggest breakers in
the world won't make me forget
that"
He waved her gOOdby as if he were
off for a 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 un-
til her straining eyes could discover
aim no longer The water Tapped anl
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 greedily.
She tried to think of other things to
watch for a 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. If she were swept from the rock
what then? Gropingly and numb with
cold she reached for the long grOwths
of seaweed with which the rock was
covered. Lengthened 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, and each
, new wave made her shut her eyes and
breathe gaspingly. She had long since
given up hope of rescue. There re-
mained 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 strangling breath
she felt herself slipping into uncOn-
, sciousness. Snatches of past events
trivial and vivid, shOne before her fol
, a 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 ht
:, belonged to the old life. and then hi,
voice, perturbed and human. came t
her as from a great distance.
"a moment more" he was saying
! "and we would have been too late"
Then with a start it all came bacl
/, to her-all that had occurred. Sh,
- raised her head. Captain Davy wa
y sitting in the stern of the rescuin'
9 boat looking both triumphant and con
cerned.
"Guess your aunt will be pretty gla'
, to have you back" he beamed. "Ant
so will that senator they say you're en-
gagged to-
= But I'm not engeged to him." ST.
ton. Tell him." she commanded.
"Tell him
!" "That it isn't so and never will he"
= "Katheriner
~ "YOu say that as if you thought
= was Overwrought and speaking wildly
But I'm not. 1 never was surer q
- myself in my life than 1 am this mi.
ute. Oh. Bobbie, can't you see that i
~ that hour alone out there 1 learne
" everything, the heights. the depth
the things that don't count and IT,
/ things that do?'
E" And then as she saw the amazed d
light in his eyes deepen to the raptur
," Of certainty she held out both he
hands to him. For once a MillIr
y has changed her mind" she whisperc.
q And Captain Davy, scanning the III
rizon with tactful scrutiny. heaved
-for