The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-04

stood was always covered at high ude
Already the water oozed and gurgled
about its crevices With every wave
lit rose fraction higher The tie
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- -Deerhaven island When he
spoke all the boyishness was gone from
his voice.
There's only one way, Katherine
Would you rather tried for it. 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 l come back" His voice rang
cheerfully. "I'm in splendid practice;
swa1u 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'll 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
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 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
of ber 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 gaspingfy. She had long since
given up hope Of rescue. There re
mained but one thought-that what
would find her.
After all, drowning was not 50 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
hlackness that closed her round.
When she opened her eyes she mel
the anxious gaze of Ashton bending
over her. She wondered dimly if he
belonged to the old life, and then his
voice, perturbed and human, came tf
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. She
raised her head. Captain Davy wa:
sitting in the stern Of the rescuin:
boat looking both triumphant and con
cerned.
"Guess your aunt viii 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." sh;
protested family. She appealed to Ash
ton. TELL him." she commanded.
"Tell him.
"That it isn't 50 and never will be-"
"Katherine?'
"You say that as II you thought
was operwrought and speaking wildly
But I'm not I never was surer o
myself IN my life than I am this min
ute. Oh, Bobbie, can't you see that I!
that hour alone out there learne,
everything, the heights, the depths
the things that don't count and tls
things that dor
And then as she saw the amazed de
light In his eyes deepen to the raptur
of certainty she held out both he
hands to him. For once a Millar,
has changed her mind" she Whispered
And Captain Davy, scanning the ho
rizon with tactful scrutiny, heaved
sympathetic sigh
Looks as if we were In for a spei
OF fair weather ahead" he muttered
winds turned, clouds are fiftin', an;
airs. weny
nx,nn.cl,sy