The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-04

fraud Miss Jane Harding. Their relations. 1
naturally. are somewhat strained
---.---
Then Aunt jane clutched at Mr.
Shaw's coat lapel ais he went by, and
he stopped long enough to explain pa
tiently that vessels of the freighter's
size could not enter the bay, and that
there really was mo- danger, and that
Aunt Jane might wait if she liked till
the last boat, as 1t would take several
trips to transfer MS and our baggage.
I supposed of course that this would
include me. and stood leaning on the
rail, watching the first boat fade to a
dark speck on the water, when Mr..
Vane appeared at my elbow.
Ready, Miss Harding? You are
to go in the next boat with me.
asked especially"
"Oh, thanks ~ cried fervently. He
would be much nicer than Mr.. Tubbs
to cling to as / went down--indeed, he
was SO tall that lie it were at all a
shallow place I might use him as a
stepping stone and survive. | hoped
drowning men didn't gurgle very much
meanwhile Mr. Vane had disap-
peared over the side, and a sailor was
lifting me and setting my reluctant
feet on the strands of the ladder.
"Good-by. auntiel" cried, as / be-
gan the descent Don't blame your
self too much. Everybody has got to
90 some time, you know, and they say
drowning's easy"
With stif1ed CRY Aunt Jane for
sock Mr.. Tubbs and flew TO the rail. /
was already out of reach.
"Oh, Virginia p she walled. "Oh,
my dear child Ii it should be the
last partingi''
Give my jewelry and things to
Bess' babyi' I found strength to call
back Then the arms of the Honor
able Mr. Vane received me. The
strong rowers bent their backs and
the boat shot out over the mile or two
of bright water between US and the
island. Great slow swells lifted us.
We dipped with soothing, cradle
like motion. / forgot to be afraid, in
the delight of the warm wind that
famed our cheeks, OF the moonbeams
that on the crest OF every ripple were
splintered TO a thousand dancing
lights forgot fear. forgot Miss Hig-
glesby- Browne. forgot the harshness
of the Scotch character.
"Oh, glorious. gloriousr' cried to
Cuthbert Vane.
Not so dusty, eh?' he came back
In their ridiculous English slang. Now
an American would have said: Some
little old moon that" We certainly
have our points OF superiority.
All around the island white charg-
ing lines of breakers foamed on rag
ged half-seen reefs. Now our boat
felt the lift of the great shoreWard
rollers, and sprang forward like liv-
Ing thing. The other boat, empty OF
all but the rowers and returning from
a hail We were in the little bay un.
der the shadow Of the frowning cliffs
At the head OF the bay, a quarter
of a mile away, lay broad white
beach shining Under the moon. Al
the edge of dark woods beyond fire
burned redly 1t threw into relief the
black moving shapes of men upon the
sand.
Straight for the sand the sailors
drove the boat She struck 1t with {
Jar, grinding forward heavily. Th'
men sprang overheard, wading half
way to the waist And the arms o.
the Honorable Cuthbert Vane hat
snatched me up and were bearing ms
safe and dry to shore.
Mr.. Shaw approached and the tw,
men greeted each other in their off
hand British way. AS we couldn'
well, under the circumstances. main
tain a fiction OF mutual inyisibility
Mr.. Shaw, with certain obvious hes
itation, turned TO me-
"0nly lady passenger, ehf Hop
you're not wet through. Cookies max
ing coffee over yonder.p
Il say, Shaw" cried the beautiful
youth enthusiastically, Miss Hard
ings the most ripping sport, yo
know Not the least nervous abou
the trip, I assure you
II was" / announced, moved to de
6ance by the neighborhood of Nj
Shaw Before we started / was 5
afraid that If you had listened 20
might have heard my teeth ehatterins
But I had at least the comfortin
thought that If / did go to my end
would not be simply in pursuit of so
did gainl''
And indeed that was almost
waste of noble sentiment under Il
4 circumstances. answered the do
Scot, with tho fleeting shadow OF
enraging smile.
/ promised myself. as Went WI
Mr.. Vane toward the fire. that sor
day would find the weapon tn
would penetrate the ScOtchman's ar
or and would use it mercilessly.
10alSie reedsived rs With nnctuo