The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-10-09
By the Sad Sea W;0UeS,
BY o. S. ADAMS.

"Yes, Alt, the waves have always
to me sad, uncertain sound"
"Don't be soft, Tom"
hBut 1 tell you it is true. Just lis
ten, now, to the murmur of the surf.
1t rushes and recedes like the coming
and going Of memories which one
would"
"Bosh I"
"There is no bosh about it. I am ia
earnest. The restless sea always
breathes In my ears tale in which
bitter disappointment is mingled with
longing regret forsomething swallow
ed up in the irrevccable past J"
"Oh, come now, Tom, you sicken
me. You'd better turn poet, andpour
out the surgings of your soul on pa
per. l am sure you would be sue
cess, at least in the eyes of love-sick
girls"
"No, no, ALI, you are sarcastic.
You misunderstood me. could tell
you sad tale that would cause you to
listen indulgently to such rhapsodiz-
ings as you now profess to be disgust
ed with"
'Indeej !"
"Yes; and if you should hear it, you
would then understand why it is that
the sound OF the waves always has
such melancholy effect on me-"
'Oh, tell it, by all means !"
"Will you listen attepeively ?"
'"Yes'f
"And not interrupt me with any of
your discordant, unfeeling COM
meDts 2"
"No.D
"All right; I'll tell it then"
And thereupon Tom Blanchard re-
lated to my curious ears the following
account of hitherto unrevealed cpl
sode in his life:
sit was two years ago. / was So
journing for the summer by the sea-
side, and occupied comfortable quar-
ters in the Spray House The sea-
son was gay. Beautiful girls, re-
splendent in all the decorations of the
fasbion-artists; watchful, wary, gor-
bucks, like myself, with a sprinkling
of fathers, who oscillated between the
attractions of the place and the stern
demands of business Athese were the
principal elements of the throhg that
made glad the landlord of the Spray
House.
"You can readily imagine that 1
was not backward in participating in
the pleasures of the place. 1 had
plenty of money, and went on my
nerve as the boys say. Oh, it was
grand carnival of flirting Hearts
were toyed with, smiles were flung
about, and glanees shot at willing
targets with a luxurious looseness.
The mad frolIcs of those in whom
nonsense held prime sway made
lively work for the anxious matrons,
whose grip on the reins was only too
infantile it its weakness.
zone day there was a new arrival.
A woman with eyes like the refiec-
ton of midnight moon in still water,
hair spun from gathered darkness, a
round, soft, perfectly-shaped face,
complexion of alahaster whiteness,
with cheeks of wsrmest crimson-an
indescribable air which was irresistt-
bly, fascinating. All, words can con-
vey but O faint, tame, insufficient pic
ture of Irene Vance
"She at once created a sensation,
and there was q regular stampede of
young fellows seeking introduction
TO her. She received the homage that
was showered upon her very quietly
and coolly, treating all with an easy
grace that, to those who wished to ap-
proach her beyond certain point of
polite cordiality, was fairly madden
ing. She was an orphan, so it came to
be understood, and rumor said was
possessor of snug fortune in her own
right. She was accompanied by an
aunt, an elderly, respectable, matron.
| lxrSlnntysnnr rr-ho cof1 I,r,N
tie, but who, more than once noticed,
had very sharp: observant eye. This,
however, was as it should be, 1
thought, for Irene was Desieged with
attentions, and it was well for her to
be under the guardianship of one
versed in the ways of the world.
81 fell in love with her, as was to be
expected, and did not attempt to con-
ceal my admiration. But she treated
in provokingly cool and unconscious
manner the bestowal of any marked
attention, which conduct only stimu-
lated my desires.
"She had her carriage, horses and
coachman, and it was not long before
/ discovered the particular drive she
took each morning. Thenceforward
l made it my business to walk to a
point on the beach which knew she
would pass, and soon it became a part
of each forenoon's programme for me
to station myself on a certain rocky
perch, and look from my book to
greet her as she passed. These morn
ing greetings actually grew to be a
part OF my existence. For her smiles
grew more free and cordial day by
day, and threw me into an extaey
that is always felt by one who i'm
agines himself on a smooth course OF
true love.
"One morning 1 occupied my aecus-
toned position, and at the usual time
discovered Irene's carriage approach
ing. Something, however seemed to
be wrong. The horses were coming at
an unusual rate of speed and the coach
man was standing up in front of his
seat, apparently doing his utmost to
control them.
"After moments anxious watch
ing, l saw, with q thrill of horror,
that the fiery steeds were running
away. Irene was in danger!
"Full of fright and distress, on heI
account, l rushed to the roadside. The
horses came flying along at a mad
speed, needing not the energetic pull.
ing on the reins by the driver, nor his
frantic shouts at them.
"My course was determined upon
in an instant. 1 brsced my nerves
for desperate struggle, and awaited
the approach of the running team
They were soon close upon me, and ]
sprang forward and seized the reins
close to the bits. 1 cIung with an iron.
like grip, and lifted myself from tbs
ground 70 avoid being trampled upon
as well as to bring q dead weight VI
the horses heads. Fortunately, my
grasp was a sure one, and was abl.
to retain my hold firmly. The ami
mails were obliged to succumb, anC
soon stopped, painting and reekinl
with perspiration.
"The driver, as soon as he could
sprang from his seat, and came to my
relief. He began to pour out profusl
lfhanka bI1f I nof haadfnO him rar