The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-28
BETWEEN THE TIDES.
An Idyl Of the Harbor.
From the San Francisco Argonaut.

An 1dyl Of the Harb0r.
From the San Francisco Argonaut.
A fawless day was the twenty third Of
April in the year Of our Lord eighteen
hundred and seventy mine. The regula-
ton 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
that the zerhyrs made, though they blew
I'LL their rosy cheeks were like soap bubbles,
and the white sails were filed with scented
breath. The numbering schooners stagger-
ca In zlgzag pathways, as if they meant to
slice away the island noses with their dull
prows: and, III coed, the yachts saileG scarce
" any faster; only the little plunges made
unchecked Roadway, running at their own
sweet will, it seemed. The north harbo r
was dotted with sails. Everybody and
everybodys wife and children and friends
we're out. So there was nothing strange
about the mere presence of young man
ana young woman in small rowboat
amidst the scene of lazy commerce and
busy gaiety. Certainly it vas not strange
for there were hundred other people out
that afternoon in row boats, to say nothing
OF the professional boatmen, the men with
SOULS, and the rowing clubs. If the peo-
pie on the yachts which they met noticed
them, they doubtless viewed them with
mingled pity and contempt. or else looked
at them artistically and thanked God for
poverty and the picturesque.
AS for the couple in the boat, thew 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 beng run down. After while
even this became unnecessary, They were
rowing with the ebb tide and after thew
had passed the newly finished bit of sea-
wall east of the old MeiRgs wharf, the chan
mel was comparatively clear, 1t vas then
about hiatt past three.
"Letus float, said the young man; "pret.
ty soon the tide will turn, then we will
turn" $751;. ~
Every well, Tom," said the young wo-
Really she was as yet girl. She could
not have been moro 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
we're blue, and held an odd look-halt
earnest, half careless difficult to define.
yet impossible to disregard. It was strik
ing face, almost fascinating, withal good
face-.a face in which heart showed first and
intellect afterwards.
The man was, exteriorly, commonplace.
You might take description at random
from your scrap book, of conventional cur
rent fiction, and it would be likely to do
him more than justice. But what Of that?
woo = h.
They had been talking gaily ever since
they left the landing at the foot Of Wash
ington street. When Tom spoke thew
had apparently reached some common and
very satisfactory conclusion, for they
looked very happy, and she said tenderly-
Tor She had sweet, low voice, tunable as
perfect bell or wave sob:
You Will ask her tomorrow, TOMB"
Yes, Laura; or to-night if you like"
She will look at you wild-eyed,. aud
perhaps scold bit"
ooh, I'm not afraid! How could I be
with such prize to gain?'' g.
They had passed the point, the SWIM
ming beach, the Presidio; they were near
ing the fort at the gate. Tom had been
leaning forward, the better to talk to Laura.
the more easily to hold her hand, perhaps.
AS the boal shifted its direction, he IN
stinctively reached for the oars. His hands
touched the empty rowlocks. The oars
were gone. ie looked around, but they
were nowhere to BE SEEN a cry Of horror
rose to his lips. Luckily he stiiled it there.
He looked quickly, furtively at his COM
panion. She had seen, and understood.
He forced laugh, and his companion was
deceived by it. @.. :. -
Then it is not so very bad?" she said.
and the color came back to her cheeks.
mo, it is good JOKE" he replied.
"Only we will be out rather late. When
the tide turns we will go back booming.
Really he had very little hope. His iudp-
ment told him that the tide had not Vet
turned, and unless it did turn almost in.
stantly, the swift current would carry them
out into the ofing. and amidst the breakers
at the bar, where their frail boat would not
live an instant. And them. He could not
swim stroke. If he could the distance to the
shore wss too far to make that of any use.
II only they had rudder they might run
the boat ashore; but, unfortunately. thew
had been in time to secure onlv tSe vary
last, rudderless skiff Thank the Fatas =
does not leak" ''Does not leakan Ha
looked down, and saw that the irregular
bottom OF the boat was covered with water
to the depth of almost half foot. When
they had started away from the pier land
ing, Tom had braced his feet against q
broad ross-cleet, and Laura's stout boots
rested on the same dry foothold. Until
then neither had noticed the water. =
Tom searched in the bottom of the boat
for bailing- can. He could not find one.
Laura moved so as to look into the little
locker under the stern seat. There was no
can there.
what shall we do?" she said.
II 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 opposite Fort
Point. So far as they could see there was
not a single sail in the citing. They looked
back at the city; there were mo- outcoming
tugs or steamers, or schooners even. Then
they Looked through the gate, and won
dered
There is an untranslatable poetic some
thing about our Golden Gate that the sym
pathetic beholder, Incoming, orout-going,
or gazing upon it from any standpoint,
never fails to realize. Something which,
perhaps he acknowledges, yet never put in
to fitting phrases. Perhaps it is because it
seems so to hold the keys Of our California
"a hot - "a