Muriel Halsie

" AVhat an inextricable mass of confusion all around , yet such perfect uniformity here !" Seating herself on a broad slab of rock that lay conveniently near , she gazed out over the waters , sparkling in the noonday

sun . " That is the sea Christie will cross , " so ran her thoughts ; " oh , may it be calm and smooth as noAv , Avhen the shi p that bears her to me sails on its broad bosom ! Imagine a ship on these rocks ! HOAV they Avould batter and rend her wooden sides !

Imagine the CI-CAV tossed on these sharp , jagged rocks ! No , no , I will not think of such horrors—I Avill think only of Christie and Percy . Oh , Christie , my darling , Avhat Avill you say when you receive the neAvs ? I shall have four Aveeks more of joyful horjing than you -will . "

Thus she alloAved her thoughts to ramble on in happy musing ; the monotonous music of the sea aided her dreaming , lulled her to forgetfulness , and then to sleep .

" 1 Avas dreaming of the sea ! " The voice Avas Muriel ' s—a IOAV , sleepy voicebut no one was near to hear it ; and her eyes unclosed as she sprang to her feet . " AVhy , how near the sea seems ! How shall I get back again ? " How indeed ! The only point of egress

was covered by the Avaves . She was shut aAvay from help by sixty feet of unscalable rock . In another quarter of an hour her feet were Avet . Something she must do ; she could not stand there to Avait for death .

Mounting on some of the larger blocks of stone , she . succeeded , after several unsuccessful attempts , in climbing to the top of the leaning arch . It gave her foothold , that was all ; and she felt that it AVOUICI be impossible to stand there any length of time ; besides she was not hopeful

that it Avas beyond the tide mark . Looking around , she discovered a projection above her in the cliff . There , at least , was a chance of safety , but how to reach the ledge ? She turned away in despair ; it Avas impossible . Sick and giddy Avith

horror , she stood Avaiting , Avatching the Avaves dash against the rough pillars of the arch , Avreathing them round Avith shiny seaAveed , and then glide away , only to return Avith reneAVed force . Muriel covered her Avhite face with her hand .

"If only he were here ! " fell from her terror-blanched lips . " It must—it shall he reached ! " she cried , presently , rousing herself hy a violent effort , and fixing her eyes on the ledge above her head . " I cannot die like this , Avithout an effort to saA'e myself !"

The ledge Avas reached ; how , Muriel could never explain . AA ith death staring her in the face , she had acted desperately . *******

"AVhat haA'e you done with your 'dear SAveet ? ' " The questioner Avas Mr . Eric Forbes ; the questioned one his niece , Miss Ceci , who Avas busily engaged in burying - a discarded doll deep in the sands . The little lady took no notice , so the question Avas repeatedin another form .

, " AVhere is Miss Halsie , Ceci 1 " " Gone for a Avalk , Eric . And now please go ; people never talk at buryings . " Much amused , he sauntered away to another part of the sands . Mr . Forbes came hurrying toAvards him , Gustavus and

Agnes clinging to either hand . " Eric , " said Mr . Forbes , draAving his son aside , " nurse tells me that Miss Halsie left her this morning , to explore the' Mermaid ' s Arclnvay , ' a dangerous point round the rock yonder . There is but one way of access to it , and that only at low tide . Nurse Avarned her of the danger , but

" HOAV long has she been gone ? " asked his son , growing Avhite to the'li ps . " It Avas about eleven when she started ; now they can do nothing till the tide is out again . I never Avas so horrified as Avhen they told me . " She may be " but

, the old gentleman broke off suddenly . " And they never thought of her before this ! " cried Eric , passionately . " She may be dead ! " Turning from his father Avith a wild exclamation , he darted off across the sands in the direction of the village .

Does time ever play the traitor , and stand still ? It seemed so to Mr . Forbes , as , after consigning the children to the care of their nurse , he paced up and down , awaiting the return of his son . Half an hour had barely elapsed when he returned ,

accompanied by an old boatman and his two sons , provided Avith ropes . " Have you found a Avay to get to the bay ? " asked Mr . Forbes . " I tell the gent there ' s nought for ' t but to Avait out the tide , " said the boatman .