Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-08-24
From the Argonaut.]
BETWEEN THE TIDES,

A Aawless day was the Esd of April in
the year Of our Lord 1879. The regrla-
ton morning breezes had been lured in
to the poppy fields Of Angel Island, AID
put to sleep by the narcotic kisses of
Gree. And even the zephyrs-gentle
pages to the erst-while brawlers had
been shut up in the weather clerks sig
nal-box until o'clock in the afternoon.
Then the yachts came out, and the
zephyrs were released. It was not very
good weather for sailing that the zeph-
yrs 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 zigzag pathways, as if they
meant to slice away the island noses with
their dull prows and, indeed the yachts
sailed scarcely any faster, only the little
plungers made unchecked Roadway, run
ming at their own sweet will, it 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 il a small rowboat amid the scene
Of lazy commerce and busy gayety.
Certainly it was not strange, for there
were hundred other people out that af-
ternoon in rowboats, to say nothing of the
profe ssional boatmen, the men with
SOULS and the rowing clubs. If the PEG.
pie of 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 picturesque.
AS for the couple in the boat, thay 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 a
while 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 Mciggs
wharf the channel was compare lively
clear. It WAS about $3.50.
''Let us foat," said the young man:
"pretty soon the tide will turn; then VIC
will turn"
every well, Tom," said the young
woman.
Really she was yet girl. She could
not have been more than nineteen. Her
figure was slight, but indicative of rare
rare gracefulness. Her face was not
pretty-that is, most would not think it
pretty. Her mouth and nose were both
large. Her eyes were blue and held an
odd look-half earnest, half careless
difficult to define, yet impossible to dis
regard. It was a striking face, almost
fascinating, withal good face-a face in
which heart showed first and intellect
afterward.
The man was, exteriorly, common
place. You might take q description ut
random from your scrap.book Of convcn-
tional current fiction, and it would be
likely to do him more Justice. But what
of that. She WAS Laura" and he was
"Tom."
They had been talking gayly ever
since they left the Ian ding at the foot Of
Washington Street. When Tom spoke
they had apparently reached some very
satisfactory conclusion, for she looked
very happy, and she said tenlerly-for
she had q sweet, low voice, tunable as a
perfect bell or wave so5:
"You will ask her tomorrow, Tom 2"
eyes, Laura, or tonight, if you
like"
"She will look at you wild-eyed and
perhaps scold you Bit"
"Oh, I am not afraid. How could I
be with such prize to gain %
They had passed the point, the SWIM
ming beach, the Presidio; they we're
nearing the fort at the gate. A sudden
swirl in the gate twisted the boat sharp
ly around. Tom had been leaning for
ward, the better to talk to Laura. the
more easily to hold her hand perhaps.
As the boat shifted it's direction, he in
stinctively reached for the oars. His
hand touched the empty rowlocks. 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, fur
lively at his companion. She had seen
and understood. Heforced laugh, and
his companion was deceived by it.
"Then it was not so very bad?" she
said, and the color came back to her
cheeks.
Ono, it is a good JOKE" he replied.
"Only we will be out rather late. When
the tide turns we will go back BOOM
ing"
Really he had very little hope. His
Judgment told him that the tide had not
yet turned, and unless it did turn almost
instantly, the swift current would carry
them out in the ofing, and amid the
breakers at the bar, where their frail
boat would not live an instant. And
then. He could not swim stroke.