The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-31

company. We were soon pretty far
from the coast. the water had grown TO
n dark ground, and our petty ship be-
gan to dip and swagger like the big
ocean ones. so that at last ! had TO
stop Miss Holiness chatter with the re-
mark: I'VE should be getting back
now. for we have never been half SO
far before"
What lis the timer" she asked.
i looked at my watch and gave vent
to vexed sound.
what is 1t later than you thoughtE
she asked
TT is five minutes past Q. saiu'
IT miss my train"
"Oh." she said. ruefully.
Il must only take the midnight tram
now" l said.
"cuite So" saws she-"the midnight
train. meanwhile, there is no need now
for us TO hurry back, and the deep
sea has such a fascination for me. Juss
let me take the paddles little'
little vexed. l got into her place
and gave her mine, and l can see net
again. my good fellow, as she sat
there pulling, silent now. her lips rig
idly fixed together. a few of her brown
hairs blown about by the rising breeze.
spray beating against my face, as our
boat, winged like gull by her strong
strokes, few over the oceans hoor,
out and still. out. TIL some raindrops
turned my admiration of her TO dis
may, and, looking forth. saw storm
wrack rolling up over the horizons
edge.
This / pointed out to her, saying.
"The very best thing that we can do
now Is to hurry back as fast as we
can"
Something in the tone of her answer
struck me cold, .Now?' says she.
What, already? Very well. then-now."
In that same instant the deed was
done, my dear fellow. With a little
outpush on each side she cast our oars
into the pillows. and I, looking back
wards, saw them bobbing on the world
of waters thirty yards astern.
or that nights griefs, for her aud for
me, l Will give you each item when we.
meet; all | need inform you of at pres
ent Is that she braved 1t like the great
grille that she Is: rain and brawling
squall and frothing breaker. and never
one sigh from her!
AT first, declare, l thought the girl
stark crazy-till all the meaning of her
grim act was made clear to me, this. of
course. being her only possible plan to
prevent the meeting between Blanche
and me at ST. Pancras the next morn
ing and the row of the winds could
not drown the harsh, trenchant i'm
parchment in which she charged me
with deceiving her, with meaning to
deceive her Blanche!
How coldly she regimented her facts
before me, proof on proof, / covering.
under her lash. my face turned away
from her, unable to clear myself, the
secret being yours and not mine! Only
once, when I wished to throw my jack
ct about her, and she haughtily for
babe my approach. then. for her sake,
almost betrayed you. but remembering
that you Were still unacquainted
held my tongue.
|. Several times during the night we
were quite nigh to drowning, partic-
ularly when. about two hours before
the dawn, a current brought us close
upon the half-round of rocks that they
call Hawtry Rocks. Ill describe to you
when we meet the feat of luck by
which we cheated death. Near three
in,the morning it became bitterly cold,
and some swels broke over the boat
that nearly swamped us. then caught
Miss Holiness hands in order, to warm
them, and. would you believe? even
then, though only falf-conscious. she
would have none iof me. However,, I
had her garnered in my armsN when
at half-past 4 an outgoing smack over
| hauled and picked us up, all signs or
life at that hour having left her.
Now, however. the worst is over; and
Though during two days the doctors
shook very grave heads. and though
she remains unconscious, her condi-
ton is no longer said to be danger
GUS"
So far. then, has our affair brought
us. Ais we'll, however. that ends
we'll, and since letter from Blanche,
found on Miss Holmes. had in 1t the
address Of London hotel l have thus
been able to find the poor child, whom
horror at not meeting me at the sta
ton threw into dangerous state; but
she, too. appears to be doing we'll, and
meantime am speeding daily between
4 the two, haunting the railway, my
heart drawing me to my darling in
London, and all my sense of respect
back to the bedside at st Arvens.
(: Everything now depends upon thell
i getting better, and upon your speedy
temperance; and, given these have
/ nothing but good outlooks for our
i future and theirs. 800.
! l44 McOnnmS In Ynkea.