Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-28
BETWEEN THE TIDES.
An Idyl of the San francisco Hsrbor.


[San Francisco Argunaut.l
A fawless day was the twenty-third of
April in the year of our Lord 1879. The
regulation morning breezes had been
lured into the poppy fields of Angel
Island, and put to sleep by the narcotic
kisses of Gree. And even the zephyrs-
gentle pages to the erstwhile brawlers-
had been shut up in the Weather
Clerks signal-box until three O'Clock in
the afternoon. Then the yachts came
out, and the zephyrs were released. 1t
was not very good weather for sailing the
zephyrs made, though they blew till their
rosy cheeks were like soap-bubbles, and
the white sails were filled with scented
breath The numbering schooners stag
gered in their zig-zag pathways, as If
they meant to slice away the island
noses with their dull prows; and, indeed,
the Yachts scarcely sailed faster, only the
little plungers made unchecked Roadway,
running at their own sweet will, 1t
seemed The north harbor was dotted
with sails. Everybody and everybody's
wife and children and friends were out
So there was nothing strange about the
mere presence of young man and
Young woman in small row-boat amid
the scene of lazy commerce and busy
gaiety. Certainly it was not strange, Tor
there were hundred people out that
afternoon in row. boats, to say nothing OF
the professional boatmen, the men with
souls, and the rowing-clubs. II the
people on the yachts which they met
noticed them, they doubtless viewed
them with pity mingled with contempt,
or else looked at them artistically, and
thanked God for poverty and the plctur-
esque.
As for the couple in the boat, they did
not notice ANYTHING but each other--at
least except as the young man found it
necessary to change his direction in row.
ing to avoid being run down. After
awhile even this became unnecessary.
They were rowing with the ebb-tide, and
after they had passed the newly-finished
bit of sea- wall, east OF the old Meiggs
wharf, the channel was comparatively
clear. 1t was then about half-past
three.
sLet us fioat,' said the young man;
"pretty soon the tide will turn, then we
will turn
Every well, Tom,'' said the young
woman.
Really she was asyet girl. She could
not have been more than nineteen. Her
figure was slight, but indicative OF rare
gracefulness Her face was not pretty
that is, most would not consider it pretty.
Her mouth and nose were large. HeI
ewes were blue, and held an odd look
half earnest, half careless difficult to
define, yet impossible to disregard. 1t
was a striking face, almost fascinating,
withal good face-a face in which heart
showed first and intellect afterward
The man was, eXteriorly, commonplace.
You might take description at random
from YOUR scrap book of conventional
current fiction, and it would be likely to
do him more than Justice But what OF
that? She was ''Laura," and ne was
"Tom''
They had been talking gaily ever since
they left the landing at the foot of Wash
ington Street When Tom spoke they
had apparently reached some common
and very satisfactory conclusion, for they
looked very happy, and she said, tender
". for she had sweet, low voice, tun-
able as a perfect bell, Or wave sob,
ssYou will ask her tomorrow, Tom?'
eyes, Laura; or tonight, if you like. %
'sShe will look at you wild-eyed, and
perhaps Scold you bit.
go, Im not afraid! How could l be
with such prize to gain?''
They had passed the point, the swim
ming beach, the Preside; they were near
ing the fort at the gate. A sudden swirl
in the current twisted the bow OF the
boat sharply around. Tom had been
leaning forward, the better to talk to
Laura, the more easily to hold her hand
perhaps AS the boat shifted its dlrec-
ton, he instinctively reached for the oars
His hands touched the empty row-locks
The oars were gone. He looked around
but they were nowhere to be seen a
CRY of horror rose to his lips. Luckily he
stilled it there. He looked quickly and
furtively at his companion She haC
seen and understood He forced a laugh
and his companion was deceived by it.
aThen it is not so very bad!'' and the
color came back into her cheeks.
"No, it is good joke" he replied
"Only we will be out rather late. When
the tide turns we will go back to shore
booming
Really he had very little hope. His
judgement told him that the tide had moi
vet turned, and unless it did turn almost
instantly, the swift current would carry
them out into the offing, and amid the
breakers at the bar, where their frai
boat would not live an instant. Aho
then--he could not swim stroke. If he
could the distance to the shore was toe
far to make that of any use. If only they
had rudder they might run the boat
ashore; but unfortunately, they had been
in time to secure only the very last rud-
derless skiff ''Thank the Fates, it does
not leak" Does not leak? He looked
down and saw that the bottom of the
boat was covered with water to a depth
of almost half foot. When they had
started away from the pier landing, Tom
had braced his feet against broad cross
elect, and Laura's stout boots rested on
the same dry foothold. Until then Meth
er of them had noticed the water.
Tom searched the boat for bailing
can, but he could not find one. Laura
moved so as to look into the little locker
under the stern seat. There was no car
here.
"What shall we do?' she said.
~ must bail with my hat" he replied
slowly, as if thinking it out; "the water
must come in very slowly; it is long
time since we left Washington Street
wharf He looked at his watch; it was
then past four, and they were nearly OPP
,,oe;+o Fort POINT So far &c thew coIlld