The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-10-01

Iuuuy nnBt DdDJ DoiAoh >Ao~'
babyish treble broke In as she pointed
seaward.
That small, forgotten personage
had at FIRST watched the scene with
deeply observant gravity. as II 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
q 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 1t,
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 Barrons
shrill cry to clutch at the tiller It
struck the boat as with giant hand,
fiinging 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 heaHng 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 g
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,
. he murmured, supporting her, tread
: ing water the while. ~Can you swim,
Leslle?"
"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
said, a minute later, as they gained
3 the narrow ridge of keel. "They'll
} have US soon; it's only a wetting
0 after all, and we don't mind that, dc
3 we, Baby Barron?" He talked or
Y to relieve the tension, looking dowr
:, at the pathetic little figure on his
t knee.
Q All at once the smile left his eyes
t He stared again from the rounded
: rise of the "cobble" to the surfac'
of the water. Yes; there was nj
t room left for doubt-the boat wa
e sinking under their united weight
!, inch by inch. lower and lower
Would 1t bear them up till the ex
! pected rescue came? was the quicl
= thought that flashed through hi
Q mind. AS he glanced up their eye
:, met, and in his look Leslie Maynard
t read something of the truth. For {
e long moment they regarded eacl
r other silently. She was the first u
d speak.
e "The boat is sinking, is 1t not?
J. she said in low, strangely cain
IS tone. He could only nod in reply.
"You will take Baby Barron, will
" you not, dear, and bring her SAT-
g home? She is all that is left to he
# mother" She put up her hand to hi
e cheek with loving gesture ant
II looked back into his eyes.
y Il cannot--I cannot leave yo'
d thus, Leslie" he muttered hoarsely
IS Perhaps-perhaps they may yet Sc
I us in time" his eyes straining shore
j ward.
T. Don't. dear" she said, quietly
don't try to pretend-not about this
x want to face it now, when I fee
Is strong to bear it. And l want to tel
you-I want to tell you, dear. hoy
is sweet has been the thought of you
is love to me. Perhaps 1t is His wa
d of testing it, dear. But if-if yo
k only are left you will know am wit
d you. l can't die so long as you Low
me. Kiss me, Jack. dear. and go
ct quickly"
?. With a choking sob Ethan sill
down blindly into the deep, placl
ct blue, and with one long, last loo
al turned shoreward, the clinging arm
OF Baby Barron round his neck.
= With a long, steady stroke. hi
of muscles braced hard and taut, and al
ID eyes ixed on the green cloud OF pine
st behind the town. he swan ever shore
= ward with the incoming tide. For
long space-hours it seemed to hin
y, though II was but minutes-h
t. pushed steadily. mechanically OF
ward Overhead the hot sun blaze
Is down upon him, throbbing with fie-c
e, heat, and the little weight round hi
lie neck minute by minute grew heav
as lead. Slowly his head fell-lowe
as lower, till the brlny water washe
ut against his half-closed lips. Its sa
sting brought him back with quic
III shock from the dreamland whose boz
es der is death. into which he was fal
slipping. With a quick, spasmodi