The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-08-11
BEsrV7 EEN THE TIDES.
All Idyl OF san francisco Harbor

/ it!II III the year Oh our I40fa iSla. I1e
regulation morning Breezes had been lured
into the poppy fields Of Angel Island, and
put to sleep by thenarcotic kisses of Gree.
And even the Zephyrs gentle pages to
the elstwhile DraWiers--lla63 been shut up
III the Weather Clerk signal-bo1 until B
o'clock III the afternoon. Then the yachts
came out, and the ZepIyrs were released.
It was not very good weather for sailing
that the Zeniiyrs made, though they blew
till their rosy CHECKS were like soap bnl1-
bles, and the white sails were filled with
scented breath. The numbering scl1ooners
staggered in ziszig pathways, as if they
meant to slice away the islane: noses with
their dull prows; and, indeed, the yachts
sailed scarcely any fastcr-on}y the little
pluugers made unchecked lleadway, run
ming at their own sweet will, it seemed,
The north harbor was dotted with sails.
Every body and eyefybody,s wife aud chill
dren and friends we're out. So there WAS
nothing strange about the tnHre presence OF
q young man and young woman in u
small row amid the scene Of lazy COM
nereo and busy garety. Certainly it was
not strange, for there were ahnndres3 other
people out that afternoon ir row boats, to
say nothing Of the professional boatmen,
| the men with sculis. and the rowing clubs.
IF the people GA the yachts which they
met noticed them, they doubtless viewed
them with contempt, or else looked at
them arti5ticalIy, and thanked Cod for
poverty and the picturesque.
As for theseoupIe in the boat, they did
not notice anything but each othor-at
least except as tlla young man found il
necessary to change his direction in row-
ling to avoid being run down. After awhile
even this became unnecessary. They were
rowing with the ehb tide, and after they
/ had passed the newly finished bit Of sea-
wall east Of the old Meiggs wharf, the
channel was comparatively clear. It was
then about half-past three.
'sJzet us float" said the young man
.'p1etty soon the tide will turn, then we
VIII turn"
"Very well, Tom, said the gouag wo=
man.
Really she was y girl She could
not have been nt2:e .9sa all nineteen. LEI
figure was slight, but Indicative Of rare
giacefulnees. Her face was not pretty
that is, most would not think it pretty
Her mouth and nese were large. Her eyes
were blue, and held Al odd Iook-halt
earnest, half careiess-tii!lfeult to define
yet impossible to disregard. 1t was :
striking tace, almost fascinating, withal :
good face--a face in which heart showed
first and Intellect aftcrward.
The man was, ezteriorlg, commonplace
1-otl might take Il description at random
from your serap-book o. conventional cur
rent fiction, and Il would be likely to dc
him more than justice. But what Of that
She was laura and he was Tom
They had been talking gaily ever sine,
they left the landing at the foot of Wash
ingEon street. When Tom spoke they ifa(
I Iappurently reached some common and very
satisfactory conclusion, for they looket
very happy, and she said telderly-for sht
had !. sweet, low voice, tunable as a neifec
bell or a wave sob:
stYou will ask her tomorrow, Tom ~
eyes, Laura; or tonight IL you like. =
.sshe will look at you wild-eyed, ant
perhaps scold you a Bit
\ s.OI1, Pm not afraid How could | b
with such prize to gain p
4 They had passed the point, the swim
ming beach, the Preside; they were near
ing the fort at the gate. 4 sudden swil
in the current twisted the bow of the boa
Sharply around. Tom had been leanin!
forward, the better to talk to Laura, tn
more easily to hold her hand, perhaps. A
tile boat shifted its direction, he instinc
T tiyely reached for the oars. His hand
touched the empty rowlocks. The oar
were gone. lie looked around, bnt the
were nowhere to be seen. A cry OF horro
rose to his lips. Luckily he stilled It there
He looked quickly, furtiye1y at his com
panion. She had seen, and understood
He forced q laugh, and his companion wa
deceived bY II.
ssThen it is not SO very bad?" she sale
and the color came back to her checks.
; mo, It Il q good joke he replied
, ssOnly we will be ont rather. late. Whe
; the tide turns we viii SO back booming I
Really he had very little hope. Ell
Judgment told him that the tide had NJ
vet turned, and unless it did turn almos
{ instantly, the swift current would carr
them out into the offing. and amid til
E breakers at the bar, Wheir their frail bo;
~ would not live All instant. And then
e He could not swim a stroke. # he =eoule
t 1.-the distance to the shore was too far
! make that Of any use. If only they ha
T a 1udder they might run the boat ashore
e but, unfortunately, they had benin tin
. / to secure only the very last, rudderle.
skiff. THANK the Fates itdoes net leak.
Does not 1eak?" He looked down, al
saw that the irregular bottom Of the DO;
was covered with water TO the depth of 4
most half 4 foot. When they had starte
9 away from the pier landing Tom he
q braced his feet sgainst a broad cross-elee
g and Laur.a's. stout boots rested on the san
!; 5trr foothoid. Until then neither had IL
e tieea the water,
s9sz 35 . Il. -