The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-09-09
Selecl Story.
BETWEEN THE TIDES.

A faw!css day was the twenty-thrd
of April i'll the year Of our Lord cigh,
teen hundred and seventy-nine. Tie
regulation morning breezes ha, been
lured into the poppy fields of Angel Is
land, and put to sleep by the narcotic
kisses of Gree. And even the zephyrs
gentle pages to the erst-while brawl-
ers-had been shut up in the weather
clerks SIGNAL box until 8 o'clock in the
aft ernoon. Then the yachts came, out
and the zephyrs were released. 1t was
not very good weather for sailing that
the zephyrs made, though they blew till
their rosy cheeks were like soap bubbles
and the white sails were filed with
scented breath The numbering schoon-
ers staggered in zigzag pathways, as if
they meant to slice away the island
noses with their dull prows and, in
deed, the yachts sailed scarcely any fas
ter, only the little plungers made un-
checked headway, running at their own
sweet will, it seemed. The north harbor
was dotted with sails. Everybody and
everybodys wife and children and friends
were out So there was nothing strange
about the mere presence of a young man
and young woman in small rowboat
amid the scene of lazy commerce and
busy gayety. Certainly it was not
strange, for there were a hundred other
people out that afternoon in rowboats,
to say nothing of the professional boat
men, the men with sculls and the rowing
clubs. If the people on the yachts which
they met noticed them, they doubtless
viewed them with contempt, or else
looked at them artistically, and thanked
God for poverty and the picturesque.
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
rowing 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 $3.50
'Let us float, said the young man
''pietty soon the tide will turn then we
will turn"
"Very well, Tom," said the young
woman.
Really, she was as yet a 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 think
it pretty. Both mouth and nose were
large. Her eyes were blue and held an
odd look-half earnest, half careless
difficult to define, yet impossible to dis
regard. 1t was striking face, almost
fascinating, withai 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 il would be likely to
do him more than 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 com
mon and very satisfactory conclusion, for
she looked very happy, and she said ten
derly-for she had sweet, low voice,
tunable as perfect bell or wave sob
"You will ask her to morrow, Tom 7"
eyes, Laura, or tonight, if you like"
"She will look at you wild-eyed and
perhaps scold you Bit"
'sOh, l am not afraid. How could 4
be with such n prize To gain =
They had passed the point, the swim