Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-09-08
BETWEEN THE TIDES.

DH L w HLlV l1L llULS.
A flawess day was tho twenty. third of
April 10 tho year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and seventy nine. The regulation
morning breczes had been lurcd into tho
poppy fields Of Angel islund and put to
sleep by the narcotic kisses Of Circe. And
even the zephyrs-gentle pages to tho
crst-whilo brawo:s had beon shut up in
tho weather clerks signal-box until 8
O'clock in tho afternoon. Then tho yachts
camo out and the zcphyrs wore released. It
was not very good weather for sailing that
the zcphyrs made, though they blew till
their rosy checks we're like soap bubbles and
tho white sails wcro filled with scented
breath. Tho numbering schoouers stag
gerod in zlgz'g pathways as if they meant
to slice away the island noses with their
dull prows; and, indeed, tho yachts sailed
scarcely any faster, only the little plupge,s
made unchecked headway, running at their
own sweet will, it seemed. Th, North
harbor was dotted with sails Everybody
aud everybody's wife and children aud
friends wcro out. So there was nothing
strange about the nero presence of young
man and young woman in small rowboat
amid tho scenes of lusy commerce and busy
gnyety. Certainly it was not strange, for
there were hundred other people out that
afternoon in rowboats, to say nothing Of the
professional boatmen, the men with sculIs
and tho rowing clubs. If the people on
the yachts which they met noticed them,
they doubtlcssly viewed thom with pity min
gled with contempt, or esa looked at them
ortistically and thanked God for poverty
and tho picturesque.
AS for tho couple in the boat, they did
not notice anything but each othcr-at
least except as the young man found it
necessary to change his direction in rowing
to avoid being run down. After while
even this was unnecessary. They were row
ing with tho cbb tide, and after thew had
passed the newly finished Bit of sea- wall
East Of the old NIeisgs wharf, the channel
was comparatively clear. 1t was then about
half-past three.
"l4et us tloat," said tile young man:
pretty soon the tide will turn; then we
will turn"
"Vcry we'll, Tom,' said the young wo-
man.
Really, she was as yet girl She oosld
not have been moro than nineteen. Her
figure was slight, but indicative of rare
gracefulness. Her faco was not prctty---
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 de-.
line, yet impossible to disregard. It was
striking face, almost fascinating, withal
good facc-a faco in which heart showed
first and intellect aftcrward.
The man was, exteriory, commonplace
You might take description at random
from your scrap book of conventional fe
tlon, and it would tc likely to do him more
than justice. But what of that? She was
"Laura" and he was "Tom."
They had been talking gayly cver.s;ooc
they left tho landing at the foot of Wash.
ington street. When Tom spoke they had
apparently reached some common and salts,
factory conclusion, for she looked yery
happy, and she said, tepderly-for she had
sweet, low voice, tunablc as perfect bell,
or wave sob:
"You will ask her tomorrow, Tom?"
"Ycs, Laura; or tonight, if you like?"
"Shc will look at you wild-oycd and per.
hars scold youa Bit"
ooh, I'm not afraid. How could I be
with such prize to gain?"
They had passed tho point, tho swim
ming boacl,, tho Presldio; thoy were near
ing the fort at the gate A sudden swirl in
the current twisted tho bow of the boat
sharply around. Tom had been leaGipe
forward, the botter to talk to Laura, tho
more easily to hold her hand, perhaps. AS
the boat shifted its direction, he instino.
tively reached for the oars. The oars wcro
gone. He looked around, but they were
nowhere to bo seen. A cry Of horror
rose TO his lips. Luckily he stiled it there.
lie looked quickly, furitively at his com.
panion. She had seen and understood. He
forced laugh and his companion was de-
ceived by It.
"Then it is not so worry bad?" she said !,
and tho color camo back to her chock.
"No, it is good joke" he replied
'tOnly wo will be out rather late. Whom
the tide turns wc will 60 back booming"
Really he had very little hope. His
judgment told him that the tide had not
turned, and unless it did turn. almost
Instantly tho swift current would carry them
out into the ofing, and amid the breakers
at the bar, wliero their frail boat would not
live an instant. And then. I]e could
not swim stroke. IF no could tho dis.
tarce to the elioro WAS too far to mako that