Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-08-24
From the Argonaut.l
BETWEEN THE TIDES.

A aawless day was the 23d of April in
the year of our Lord 1879. The regula-
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-
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 filed with scented
breath. The numbering schooners stag
gered in zigzag pathways, as if ,they
meant to slice away the island noses with
their duh 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 a young man and a 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 peo-
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-fnished
bit of sea-wan east of the old Meiggs
wharf the channel was compare lively
clear. 1t was about $50.
s'Let us float" said the Young man:
"pretty soon the tide will turn; then we
will turn
every well, Tom," said the young
woman.
Really she was yet a girl. She could
not have been merS than nineteen. Her
figure was slight, but Indicative of rare
pretty-that is, most would not think it
pretty. Her mouth and nose were both
large. Her eyes we're blue and held an
odd look-half earnest, half careless
difficult to define, yet impossible to dis
regard. It was 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 description at
random from your scrap-book of conven-
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 landing 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 tenderly-f for
she had sweet, low voice, unable as a
perfect bell or wave sob:
"You will ask her tomorrow, Tom ?''
eyes, Laura, or tonight, if you
like"
"She will look at you wild-eyed and
perhaps scold you bit"