NELLIE'S DILEMMA

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1414, 21 December 1887, Page 5

NELLIE'S DILEMMA

WON BT THE MAlf aHB DESERTED.

Bayside is one of those numberless salt-water summer refuges with which the shore of Long Island aud Sound is studded. It was a quiet sort o? a place, and the neighbourhood .w;is good ; but the most remarkable feature of Bayside that summer was the presence of Nellie Martin.

Her two admirers were Jack Loutrel and Murray NVabitt.

Jack aud Murray gallantly maintained an outward semblance of goodwill through all their doubtful rivalry ; but who shall' blame Jack if he experienced a keeu sensation of triumph at finding Nellie Martin actually in bin boat one splendid July morning ?

' There* that desolate-looking little isbind at the mouth of the cove,' said .N3t')l»«» ' l)i/i yotf Hi'fir go ashore then* ?"

' \ es. It'f dry now, at low water, but the waves go clean over it when the tide's up. Shall wo land and fake possession, and make believe thorn's a chance of finding aoujothiua ?'

' I don't care,' said Nellie, and in a few minutes more they were seated cosily on the low edge in the centre, and Jack was silent as be looked dreamily out to sea.

When he turned again at Nellie he had a look that almost frightened her, and she wished herself in the boat again.

' What is the matter, Jack ?' she asked, witb an attempt at banter. ' Are you '

' Hush, Nellie ; don't laugh at me just now,' interrupted Jack, in a voice that was deep, even for him, but very low and sweet ; ' I've something I want to say to you.'

And so he had, and he aaid it all before Nellie could muster courage to atop him. When her eloquent companion pleaded for an immediate answer she sprang to her feet with a laugh which expressed a world of wilful meaning,

'Do you mean to mock tne, Nellie Martin ? Do you not know — can you not feel that 1 atn in eameefc ? It is a matter of lite and death with me ! Answer me? — oh, Nellie !'

' Mr Jack Loulrel, will you have the goodneas to pull me ashore, or L shall take the boat and go alone ?'

' I want to be your oarsman for life, Nellie, but oot just now.'

Nellie was already standing by the boat, as it rocked gently at the edge of the little islet.

'Shall I wait for you?' sbe said, and there was half a tremor in her voice.

Jack Loutrel could not have spoken at that moment to have 3aved his life, and she sank down with his back towards the boat. A moment more Nellie waited. She would have given something for an answer; but none came, and her proud will carried her into the boat and seated her at the oars. She pulled very slowly, and it was half a mile to the beach in front of the Bayside Hotel, but a curve in the land at last hid the rock from her sight without her constant gaze discerning the slightest cbaace ia posture in the figure she had left sitting on the ledge.

It was a tremendous experience for Nellie, although unlike any she had ever had before ; and it may have been the tumult and excitement of her feelings even more tban carelessness that led her to accept so eagerly the offer of a drive with Murray Nesbitt, which waited for her acceptance as she stepped on shore.

Meanwhile Jack Loutrel bad remained iv almost sullen fixedness of musing for a long time ; he bad risked much on one cast and he had failed to win.

' Hullo !' he exclaimed, ' the tide coming in ? Of course it is ; and what am 1 to do now Nellie has carried off the boat ?'

Jack Loutrel was a man of action, and his outer clothing was quickly enough rolled, into a neat, compact bundle and fastened at the back of his neck. Then he dashed gallantly into the fast roughening water, and in due time, though pale and dripping and exhausted, he dragged himself up on dry land.

That had been an eventful morning for Nellie Martin. It was a ( long drive that Murray Nesbitt had planned for her. not without a purpose of his own. How could he have given up so good anil so hopeful an opportunity ? At all events be did not, and Nellie heard him to the end in such a halfbumble quietude that Murray's heart throbbed quick , and fast with a glow of coming triumph. They were not driving very fast just then, but were coming out upon the seaward slope of " The View." Nelly's face had been half -averted, and there was a dreamy look in her eyes that her companion did not see. Suddenly she exclaimed, with a sort of half- electric start — -

' Where is the rock ? Why, it is nothing but foam ; and, how the wind is blowing!' Murray Nesbitt looked with puzzled f amazement in the direction in which Nellie pointed.

' Oh,, that rock, 1 he said coolly. ' Why, that's nothing. The, water has been over it this bajf-hour.' ' Home I. home ! Drive back, to the hotel instantly !' gasped Nellje.. ' Ob, if anything has happened to him ! I left him on the rock without a boat!'

It was a short (drive long as it seemed tq Nellie's conscience-stricken haste; and she ran breathless from the/carriage to the beach, Careful hands had hauled the boats up high and dry, for the waves were chasing one another in a rough and tumble that was momentarily becoming more boisterous. No one seemed at hand to help, an<] Nellie's owu fair bands

"were quidklv tugging vainly at one of the gaily painted- whewieß. ' Wait a moment, miss r shouted behind her the rough voice of the boatI keeper. ' Why, yer in the water yerj self. You don't want to row out in i all tht sea?'

' Oh ' but we must save him. T left him on the rock !'

| Murray Nesbitt by l ; iis time comprehended the situation, aud insisted on doing his uttermost lv get boats into the water, to row all over the cove in search of his unfortunate rival, while poor Nellie, after a few momeuts, turned back towards the hotel without a word of explanation. On she walked, like one in a dream ; but at the fur ther end, toward the road, a tall form, clad in garments that hung closely to their wearer, passed stiffly by her, as if it bad been one who knew her not.

'Oh, Jack!' exclaimed Nellie, and she grasped him bard by the arm as she spoke. ' Jack Loutrel' i« it you-?' Ja.uk had turned upon her a pale, reproachful, almost stormy face ; but Nellie's blue eyes were streaming with tpurs. and her lips, that had been so wilful, were quivering as they never hud before.

' Eh, Jack ! if you had not come ashore I should have died.' 1 Nellie— Nellie Martin !' • Yes, Jack ; I found it out all at once, when I saw tbere was nobody on the rock. And then — oh ! please forgive me, dear Jack.'

Alas for Murray Nesbitt ! The glory of his new team has departed, for Jack Loutrel got his anwer.