The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-14
THE RIVALS.

-vuIS0 T.. fS. D09T, 20 ~ N6chOEGe.
THE RIVALS.
A Seaside Romance:
There ave gayer and more fashionable
watering places than 1ltracombe, but
there are none that offer such attractions
to the lover of the beautiful. Nowhere
does the sea break on such bold rocks:
nowhere are there such deep, clear pools,
such lovely seaweed, such treasures of
sea-foWers and anemones; nowhere such
a shore to ramble on and climb over. In
point of drives and excursions inland and
along the coast, there are few places like
it; but it's great glory is it's seas and its
rocks, it's pools and its seaweeds. Such.
too, was Gerald Mayfeld's opinion; and
he appreciated it the more because he en-
joyed the beauties and hunted for the
seaweeds and anemones with Maud Hene-
age. They were not old acquaintance.
It was but fortnight since they arrived
upon the outside of the coach from Barn
staple together. So pleasant had been
the journey to the young man that he
had at once decided to stay at the Grand
Hotel, where Mand and her mother were
going to stop, instead Of going into lodg-
ings IS he had before intended.
Gerald Mayfeld was Junior partner in
the firm OF Mayfeld Il Harper, Austria
liam and Cape merchants. His father had
been the head Of the firm, and at his
death Gerald, who had just left college,
came into the business. He was now
thirty, tall, strongly built man, with q
So%
but with good deal Of character and re-
solution in his face. Until he saw Maud
Eeneage he had never been really in love,
He had always supposed that he should
marry sometime, but had gone on lead
ing q quiet club life, and had been but
little in the society OF women. During
this fortnight he had been almost contin-
ually with Maud Heneage, sometimes
with her mother as a companion, some
times with party of three or four from
the hotel, occasionally by themselves, OF
rather chaperoned only by her mother,
sitting on the rocks in the distance read
ing. BY the end of that time he loved
her with all his heart, but as yet he had
not even begun to wonder whether she
would i'm time come to love him.
Before breakfast Gerald always wen,
for his swim, walking round to the cove
and coming back by the row-boat across
to the pier. He was strong swimmer
and his custom was to swim out through
the mouth Of the little inlet into thu
rougher water water outside. One morn
ing bather went out just before him
and swan steadily seward. "That fel
low will be getting into a mess Ger
aid said to himself. 1.-THE tide is run
ming up, and he will find difficulty il
getting back again. Keeping hun
dred yards or 90 out, as was his custom
for about ten minutes, Gerald turned to
ward the mouth OF the cove, not having
given second thought to the sw1mme
who had preceded him. Just as he wa
opposite to the great rocks at the en-
trance, he heard a shout far behind him
lie stopped to listen, and again tn
shout for "help'' came distinctly to hi
ears.
II thought that fool would get int
trouble" he muttered, turning round ant
making Off with a long,. steady, eve1
streke in the direction of the man
whose head he could see nearly three hun
dred yards out, giving loud shout q
he started, to encourage him with th
knowledge that help was coming. II
arrived just in time; the swimmer wa
utterly exhausted, and hsd lost bot
pluck and presence OF mind. Once b
disappeared altogether, and Gerald, VIII
was still nearly thirty yards of, though
that he would arrive too late. However
he came up again, and splashed AM
struggled wildly for moment Or two
but was just sinking when Gerald arriv
ed. The latter caught him by the arm
and the man stroye desperately to throy
his arm round him.
'sKeep quiet,'' said George, sternlJ
"If you struggle, will let you go.''
There was no mistaking the frmnes
of the tone, or that the threat would b
carried out. The man ceased to struggl
at once.
"That's right" Gerald said. "No,
lie on your back; TN take you by th
hair and tow you in as easily az pc!
sihe.''
AS he spoke, he looked round an
saw the boat coming out from the GOV
with it's load of bathers. He shouted {
once, and an answering shout came bacl
and the boats head was turned towar
them.
"That's all right he said cheerful,
to the other. ''Now I'll tread water an
you can put your hand on my shouldt
and keep your mouth above water CON
fortably till the boat comes up"
With the prospect of help SO close .
hand the man regained his courage, an
was soon able to dispense with Gerald
help, and to support himself till the 90.
came up, and he was taken on boart
Gerald swan slowly back, and by Il
time he reached the cove, the man ha
already begun to dress. Gerald cloth'
lay close to where he was sitting, for |
Itracombe al iresc0 dressing is the rul
the two 0, three little wooden boxes {
wheels being insufficient for 1.-THE Of Il
bathsrs.
AS he approached, the man stood I
and held out his hand.
II owe you my life, = he said. IA te