The Dickinson press., 1883-10-27
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.

somewhat Hashily attired young man
shielded himself with an umbrella, and
watched the more active specimens of
humanity disporting themselves in the
brine, which was tossed rather tumultu-
ously by a strong southerly breeze.
"By gracious!" he muttered at length,
''That girl in the blue bathing suit had
better be a little more careful; she'll get
beyond her depth"
And he took a few steps nearer to the
Enthusiastically females, one of whom,
a little distance from the rest, seemed
decidedly venturesome. the receding
waves forming a dangerous undertow.
"There!-I thought sol" he cried fling
ing away hisumbrella and dashing across
the narrow strip of sand, as a cry of
alarm rose up from the water and a blue
clad form disappeared from sight, drawn
under by the backward rush of the
waves.
He met the next incoming wave, but
succeeded in getting beyond it, as a
white lace appeared in sight and a pair
OF plump arms were held despairingly
toward him.
He was q strong swimmer, and, spite
ofhis clothing. whichimpeded him some
what, managed to reach and grasped the
imDeriled maiden ere the saline waters
closed over her again.
His Heart throbbed, as her arms
clutched about his neck, and it seemed
altogether probable that they would
perish together; but he broke from her
clinging grasp, in a measure, and bat.
tied manfully with the Acknowledgement
80 successfully that the next ureak-
er landed them, breathless and ex
hausted, upon the beach-in a safe DO.
sition, If not a graceful one.
"You should keep within the pro-
a lection of the life-lines." enjoined the
rescuer, as he assisted the haff.strangled
'damsel to her feet.
And a moment after she disappeared
ina bathing house, leaving him to cast
rueful glances at his ruined clothing, and
wonder who the pretty girl was whom
he had saved.
And then he realizedthat he was bare
headed, his hat having disappeared in
the hungry of the waters, that
rolled and tumbled, as though seeking
more substantial victims.
In an incredibly short space of time
the door of the little box opened again,
and a bewildering vision of lovliness
burst upon him, and i'll place of the fran
tic, terror-stricken girl of few moments
before, he beheld a stylishly-dressed
young lady, her amber-brown ave
shining with mirth and her face rimp-
ling with smiles, tripping daintily toward
him.
II am exceedingly grateful" she said,
in a clear, low voice, land feel that /
must apologize for being the source of so
much inconvenience to you. I had no
thought that the water had such power"
and she drew her pretty shoulders
with a slight shiv er, as she gazed sea-
ward at the incoming waves.
"Oh-I-please don't mention it."
stammered the young man, who was
little used to ladies' society, bowling his
hatless head and fumbling in his breast
pocket, from which he drew a piece of
drenched pasteboard, upon which she
could decipher:
"P. Fillmore,
IT am from the Club" myself" she
said, laughingly, her white teeth gleam-
ing between her ripe-red lips: and her
shapely hand drew forth a tiny card
case, from which she distracted a dainty
bit of enameled bristol-board bearing
the legend:
MISS Olive O%rrington,
ellington Avenue, Boston,"
The heart beneath Peter Filmors satu.
ated vest gave a quick throb as he glanced
at the card and recognized the aristo.
cratic locality in which she lived.
II hope, Miss Orrington, you will re-
ceive no ill effects from your INNER
sion."
And then he stopped, confusedly, as
a silver laugh rippled from her full lips.
Excuse, but there is little danger of
that, US 1 was already in the water; but
1 fear most dis astrous consequences
would have ensued but for your timely
assistance. You are the one who have
suffered" and she looked commisera-
lively at his drenched attire and un-
covered head.
\ "Never mind that" he said, picking
up his umbrella, which had been rolling
bout on the sand. 81 can shelter my
defen ,eless head with this, and I have
other hats at the house where I am
stopping. Have you friends here?"
MOT any, she returned; ~ am
"And I am boarding at a private
house just owe the hill" he answered,
as she stopped and looked inquiringly at
him. land I consider myself very for
tunate in making your acquaintance,
even under such adverse circum-
Stances"
1t was the most grandiloquent speech
he had ever MADE, hut he felt amply
repaid by the bright smile with which
she rewarded him, and as he sat in his
clearinghouse that evening a nameless
thrill pervaded his being to which he
bad heretofore been q stranger. 1t had
Reen the custom of Peter Fillmore
6r a number of years to throw aside the
duties OF lite once in the IL months, and
for a few weeks at least to be a gentle
man OF leisure. His occupation was the
hard aud rather unrolnantic one of
blacksmith and carriage.ironer; but he
possessed a soul above that of the com
nor Vulcan, and when the summer
days grew warm and balmy, the leath-
Aern apron was cast aside, and behold
he grub was a butterfly. The savings ola
year were generally consumed in these
annual lecreations, and when they ter
minated he would go pc niless back to
the shop and patiently smite the glow
ing iron and await the next respite from
slavery.
But this night a new impulse was
CT eping into his brain, and another
more commendable had found lodge
ment in his heart. The latter feeling
was admiration for the fair young girl
whom he had rescued, and it warmed
and glowed and lighted up his honest,
not unhanisome face, as he thought Of
her smiling graciousness and apparent
o%bliviousness to the fact that he was
only q hard-handed sen of toll. And
this thought only helped to augmentthe
other, for something seemed to be whis-
pering to him that if he could win the
heart of this contiding maiden, he might