Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-01-09
ON TIE TIDE ROCK.

They call me " Dot" My real nam
is Dorothea, but that being such
mouthful, l am generally known a
dot" am the youngest of three
and having had my own way from m
cradle, it was not refused me last Nc
vember when my sister and her hus
band offered TO take me abroad wit
them for tho winter months.
They had not long come from India
and, being sensible people, and detest
ing our changcable climate, and like
wise being in mortal terror of thci
lives, had decided on bidding adieu {,
the English coast until such time rs th,
sun should condescend to shine ther,
once more.
AS far as | am concerned ] am Away
ready for change and excitement o
any descriptions; so when dear ole
Jack" my brother-in-law, said
Come, Dot, pack up your traps ant
join u.s." was nothing 10th, and The
last week in November found us com
fortably installed in the Hotel Angle
terre, at Biarritz, with the glorious sur
pouring in at our windows, and the
bluest of blue seas dashing about on the
rocks below.
| have heard some people say there
is nothing to see at Biarritz. All,
blind and miserable creatures! Where
are your senses-where your eyesP Did
you ever look elsewhere upon such a
sea--such rocksp Have YOU stood by
the Rocher de la Verge and heard the
magnificent boom of the waves as they
came plunging into that cavern near,
and, being repulsed, dash Indignantly
fifty feet above it.
But | am getting romantic, and that
is not my style-not mine, certainly
little DOTS" No, indeed, the idea
makes me die with laughing.
My sister Geraldine (or &" jerry" as
l persist in calling her, which makes
her very mad) goes in for being deli
cate, so Jack and used to take long
walks and rides together; he is dear,
good old fellow, and we are tremen-
dous friends; but, somehow, notwith-
standing, after had been couple of
weeks or 50 at Biarritz began to feel
the time hang little heavily on my
hands.
The fact was Il acknowledge nv
weakness), there were no men worth
speaking to now, but collection of
lleye usually frequent these places, and
make life burden TO one by perpetu-
ally recounting their several ills, all
ments. etc. Preserve me from them
all
Well, rs | said before, it was getting
little slow for poor me, and / was be-
ginning to wish had not left dear old
much-abused England, when had an
adventure. Being hard put TO it for
amusement, would sometimes take q
book and saunter down upon the rocks,
there remaining for hours at time.
am desperate tom-boy, and can
climb and scramble splendidly, much
to the annoyance of Geraldine, who de-
cJares get as brown as berry, and
my hands are not fit to be seen. How
ever that may be true, scramble do,
and one auspicious day (never to be
torgotten) l got q good way out among
some dear old craggy bits of rock, and,
hnding snug little corner in which |
Just fitted, settled myself down easily
and began to read. The book had
chosen was real sensation novel, and
read on engrossed, utterly regardless
of time or tide. Suddenly, however,
the pangs of hunger seized me q may
add my appetite never fails mel, and,
glanclng Mt my miniature watch,
discovered it was long past lunch
con time. Alas, Miss Brough.
ton! what have you to answer forp
| seized my shawl and proceeded to
make my way back with expedition,
when 10! to my intense dismay | per-
ceiyed that the tide had risen and en-
urely divided tho rock upon which
was standing from the shore. Still
worse, the horrid waves were creeping
nearer and nearer, and not soul could
sec to help me in my distress. I'm
aglne my feelings-me, poor little mis-
cradle Dot, y alone in the middle of
the ocean.
shouted, but the noise of the waves
drowned my feeble cries, like thew
would soon drown me. o, would any
one be sorryP o, why had l ever come
TO this hateful Biarritz, 10 be drowned
all alone like thisP / wonder would
they put it in the papers?
All these thoughts crowded upon me
as the waves approached, and | had
begun TO lose all hope, when, oh, ioy!
j saw figure in the distance. Once
again i shouted and waved my shawl
vehemently. The figure stopped, wait. !
cd one instant, and then | could see Il !
plunge into the water and approach me
gradually, q, the intense relief of that
moment!
by the time the figure (Which WAS
that OF MANI reached me | was near |
ly surrounded by water, and five min |
utes more would have decided nv fate.
Before that five minutes passed | was
caught by a pair of strong arms, and
was being supported through the water
safely and surely to the beach, where
soon afterward was deposited, a drin-
ping, blue little "Dot," feeling very
much smaller than usual.
MY deliVerer had scarcely looked at;
only felt that he was big and strong,
and that was like doll in his arms.
Notwithstanding my remonstrances,
ne persisted In carrying me on 10 the |
motel, at the entrance of which he gent |
~ put me down. / turned and gave |
him my two little blue hands, with
what few expressions Of thanks | could |
muster. He took them (the hands, / |
mean) IN his warm, big brown ones. |
and said in deep, sweet voice:
=" How thankful / am that was in
time! A few minutes later, and
them
! shuddered; he left the sentence un-
finished, and was taking his leave.
when murmured something about NV
sister and brother, and how pleased
they would be If he would call, but he
interrupted me with:
g should have been delighted, but
leave Biarritz early to-
morrow "