The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-09-01
Between the Tides.

eMS and seventy nine. The regula
ton morning breezes had beel
lured into the poppy fields of An
gel Island, and put to sleep by tht
narcotic kisses of Circe. And ever
the zephyrs-gentle pages to ttt
erstwhile brawlers-had been shu
up in the weather clerks signal
box until 3 o'clock in the afternoon
Then the yachts came out and the
zephyrs we're 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
we're filed with scented breath.
The numbering schQoners stag
gered in zigzag pathways, as if
they meant to slice away the island
noses with their dull proRs; and,
indeed, the yachts sailed scarcely
any faster, only the little plungers
made unchecked headway, running
at their own sweet will, it seemed.
The north harbor was dotted with
calls. Every body and everybody's
wife and children ahd friends were
out. So there was nothing strange
about the mere presence of young
man and a young woman in a
small rowboat amid the scene of
lazy commerce and busy gayety.
Certainly i vas not strange, for
there we're a hundred other people
out that afternoon in rowbOats, to
say nothing of the professional
boatmen, the men with SOULS, and
the rowing clubs. If the people in
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,
they did not notice anything but
each other-st least except as the
young man found it necessary to
change his direction in rowing to
avoid being run down. After
while even this became unnecessa-
~. They were rowing with the
ebb tide, and after they had passed
the newly finished bit of sea wall
east of the old Meiggs warf. the
channel was comparatively clear.
1t was then about half past three
O'Clock.
LET us fioat," said the young
man; "pretty soon the tide will
turn; then we will turn"
"Very we'll, 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 i'm
possible to disregard. 1t was a
face, almost fascinating,
withal good face-a face in which
heart showed first, and intellect
afterward.
The man was, eXteriorly, COM
mon place. You might take de
scription az random from your
scrap book of conventional current
fiction, and it would be likely to do
him more than justice. 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 common and very
satisfactory conclusion, for she
looked very happy, and she said,
tenderly-for she had a sweet, low
voice, tunable as perfect bell or a
wave sob.
"You will ask her tomorrow.
Tom?"
yes, Laura; or to night, if you
like"
"She will look at you wild-eyed,
and perhaps scold you a bit"
"Oh, I'm not afraid. How could
/ be with such prize to gain?'
They had passed the Point. the
swimming beach, the Preside;
they were nearing the fort at the
gate. A sudden tWirl in the cur
rent twisted the bow of the boat
sharply around. Tom has been
leaning forward the better to talk
to Laura, the more easily to hold
her hand, perhaps. As the boat
shifted ITS direction, he instructive
~ reached for the oars. His hands
touched the empty row-lacks. The
0ars were gone. He looked around,
tut they were nowhere to be seen.
cry of horror rose to his lips.
Luckily be stuffed it there. He
ooked quickly, furtively at his
She had seen and un-
ierstood. He forced a laugh, and
ais companion was deceived by it.
"Then it is not so very bad2"
Ihe said, and the color came back
% her cheeks.
mo, it is a good joke" he re-
,lied. Only we will be out rather
ate. When the tide turns we will
70 back booming"
Really he had very little hope.
His judgment told him that the
ide had not yet turned, and unless
t did turn almost instantly, the
wifi current would carry them out
nto the Offing, and amid the break
rs at the bar, where their frail boat
would not live an instant. And
hen He could not swim q
troke. Ii he could, the distance
o the shore was too tar to make
hat of any use. Ii only they had
rudder they might run the boat
shore; but unfortunately, they had
cen in time TO secsre only the
cry last rudderless skiff. Thank
be fates, it does not leak. Does
OF leakf" He looked down, and
sw that the irregular bottom of
be boat was covered with water TO
he depth of almost half a foot. I
When they had started away from
he pier landing Tom had braced !
Is feet against s broad crosscleet,
nd Lsura's stout boots rested on I
he same dry foothold. Until then
either had noticed the water.
a Z