Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-16
NO. 219.
Gales ano Skettbes.
rHE RIVALS.
A ROMANCE OF ILrRACoMBE.

There are gayer and more fashionable
watering.placeS than Iliracombe, 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 love.
| ly seaweed, such treasures of sea-flowers
and anemones; nowhere such 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
its great glory is its sea and its rocks, its
pools and its Seaweeds.
Such. too, was Gerald Mayiield's opin-
ion; and he appreciated it the more be-
cause he enjoyed the beauties and hunted
for the seaweeds and anemones with Maud
lleneagc. They We're not old acquain
tances. Ii was but a fortnight since they
had arrived upon the outside of the coach
from Barnstaple together. So pleasant
had been that journey TO the young man,
that he had at once decided 10 stay at the
Grand Hotel. where Maud and her moth
er We're gong to stop, instead of going in
TO lodgings, rs he had before intended.
Gerald Mayfield was junior partner in
the house of Mayiield Il Harper. Austria
lian and Cape merchants. His father had
been the head OF the firm, and Mt his death
Gerald. who had Just left college, came
into the business. lie was now thirty,
tall strongly-built man. Not a hand
some man, but with a good deal of char
acter and resolution in his face. Until he
saw Maud Heneage he had never really
been in love. He had always supposed
that he should marry some day or other,
but had gone on leading quiet club lite,
and had been but little in the society OF
women.
During this fortnight he had been al
most continually with Maud Heneage,
sometimes with n party of three or four
others from the hotel, occasionally by
themselves, or rather chaperoned only by
Mrs. Ileneage. sitting on the rocks in the
distance reading. BY the end of that time
he loved her with all his heart, hut rs yet
he had hardly even begun to wonder
whether she would in time come to love
him.
Before breakfast Gerald always went for
his swim, walking round to the cove. and
coming back by the row.boats across TO
the pier. He was a strong swimmer, and
his custom was TO swim out through the
mouth of the little inlet into the regular
water outside. One morning bather
went out Just before him. and swan stead
ilv seaward. That fellow will be get
ting iuto mess,n Gerald said to himself.
The tide is running up. and he will find
difficulty in getting back again" Keep
ing hundred yards or so out, as was his
custom, for about ten minutes, Gerald
turned toward the mouth of the cove, not
having given II second thought to the
swimmer who had preceded him. Jsut rs
he was opposite to the great rocks at the
entrance he heard shout far behind him.
He stopped to listen, and again the shout
for help came distinctly to his ears
81 thought that fool would get into
scrape." he muttered, turning round and
making off with long, steady, even
stroke in the direction of the man, whose
head re could see nearly three hundred
yards ont, giving loud shout as he start
ed to encourage him with the knowledge
that hell was coming. He arrived Just in
time the,swimmer was utterly exhausted,
and had lost both pluck and presence of
mind. Once he disappeared altogether,
and Gerald, who was still nearly thirty
yards off, thought that he would arrive
too late. However, he came up again,
and splashed and struggled wildly for
moment or two, but was Just sinking when
Gerald arrived. The latter caught him by
the arm, and the man strove desperately
to throw his arm around him.
keep quiet Gerald said sternly. "If
you struggle I'll let you 60"
There was no mistaking the firmness of
tie tone. or that the threat would be car
ried out. The man ceased to struggle at
once.
That's right Gerald said. Now lie
on your back; I'll take you by the hair
and tow you in as easily as possible"
As he spoke he turned round and saw
the boat coming out from the cove with its
load of bathers. He shouted at once, and
an answering shout came back. and the
boats head was turned toward them.
That's all right" he said cheerfully to
the other. Now I'll tread water. and
you can put your hand on my shoulder
and keep your mouth comfortably till the
boat comes up"
With the prospect of help close at hand
the man regained his courage, and was
soon able to dispense with Gerald's help
and to support himself until the boat came
up, and he was taken on board. Gerald
swan gently back, and by the time he
reached the cove the man had already be-
gan to dress. Gerald's clothes lay close
to whers he was sitting, for at Ilfracombe
al fresco dressing is the rule. the two or
three little wooden boxes on wheels being
insufficient for a 1.-THE Of the bathers.
As he approached, the man stood up
and held out his hand
II owe you my life,'' he said "another
few seconds and should have gone nn-
der.''
''Yes; it was near shave for yOu,"
Gerald answered. "But there was no
difficulty in saving you; it was not like
jumping off bridge tor shrieking
woman, or into the sea when ship is
running before gale. I saved your life
certainly, but it was with no more trouble
and risk than as if had been standing on
shore. and had thrown You a rope
II was fool to swim out 80 far, the
man said; 'but have been out as far be-
fore. l suppose there was some sort Of a
tide, for after turned did not seem to
to make any way toward shore.'
ITO tell you the TRUTH" Gerald sid !;
II thought you fool when l saw you
swimming out. One ought never 90 far
from shore at any of these watering places
till one has found all about the set OF the