The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-10-01

! OO you love MIN, Leslie, THIS
MANI Answer me from your heart. /"
Jack Eltham's voice shook with the
earnestness of his appeal. In the
brave, truthful eyes she raised at
length to meet his gaze he read the
unspoken answer to his question:
and something more that set his
pulses throbbing wildly. He Ieant
forward suddenly and took both her
! hands in his own. Your love is
mine, Leslie; you cannot, dare not,
! longer deny it," he said in voice
that was at once strenuous and calm.
, Would you wreck the happiness of
two lives for the sake of a promise
your heart, which God gave you to
judge between right and wrong, cries
out against? Nay, you dare not wed
man you cannot, do not, love"
For moment she struggled
| )reathlessIy to release her hands from
his gently masterful grasp; then rec
ognizing the futility of the struggle.
| submitted to 1t passively. Her lips
trembled with words that were never
uttered-"Oh. look, such a queer,
funny fing,' Baby Barron's clear.
babyish treble broke in as she pointed
seaward
That small, forgotten parsonage
had at first watched the scene with
deeply observant gravity, as if she
would learn it's meaning. But the
matter had evidently proved beyond
her powers OF solution, for she soon
turned her glance seaward to watch
a 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 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 tilIer It
struck the boat as with q giant hand.
finging 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
IOr
turned boat to tell of its swift, sudden
passage. His eyes searched eagerly
the slow heaving 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 S
face rose above the surface, her long.
wet hair wrapped about her in cling
ing strands. With half dozen quick,
powerful strokes, he was beside her.
Thank God, you are safe, dear, 8"
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 shoul-
der-so. Once on the top OF the boat
they must see us soon from the shore
:. All, that's better, now" he
col MI, I,N1
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
i 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 it 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
long moment they regarded each
other silently. She was the first to
speak.
The boat is sinking, is it not?"
SIRE said in low, strangely calm
tone. He could only nod in reply.
You will take Eaby 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 his
cheek with a loving gesture and
looked back into his eyes.
f. %I cannot-I cannot leave YOU
thus, Leslie" he muttered hoarsely.
Perhaps-perhaps they may yet see
us In time" his eyes straining shore
wSrd