Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-11
An Affair of Honor.


down with uncomfortable intensity
upon the glaring white sands of the
beach, as somewhat flashily 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 tumultuously by a
strong southerly breeze.
"By gracious y he muttered at
length: "That girl in the blue bath
ing-suit had better be more careful !;
she'll get beyond her depth
And he took step nearer to the
bathers = mostly females, one of
whom, little distance from the 9TH
ers seemed decidedly venturesome,
the receding waves forming a dan
gerOus undertow.
"There II thought So" he cried
fiinging away his umbrella and dash
ing across the narrow strip of sand,
as cry of alarm rose up from the
water and blue-clad form disap-
peared from sight, drawn under by
the backward rush of the waves.
He met the next incoming wave,
but succeeded in getting beyond it.,
as white face appeared in sight and
a pair of plump arms were held de-
spairingly toward him.
He was strong swimmer, and in
spite of his clothing which impeded
him somewhat, managed to reach
and grasp the imperiled maiden ere
the saline waters closed over her
again.
His heart throbbed as her arms
clutched about his neck, and it seem
ed altogether probable that they
would perish together; but he broke
from her clinging grasp, in meas
ure, and battled manfully with the
turbulent element so successfully
that the next breaker landed them
breathless and exhausted upon the
beach-in safe position, if not a
graceful one.
"You should keep within the pio-
lection of the life-lines," enjoined
the rescuer, as he assisted the half
strangled damsel to her feet.
And moment after she appeared
in 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 realized that he was
bareheaded, his hat having disap-
peared in the hungry maw of the
waters, that rolled and tumbled as
though seeking more substantial VIC
tins.
In an incredibly short space of
time the door of the little box open
ed again, and bewildering vision
of loveliness burst upon him, and in
place of the frantic, terror stricken
girl of few moments before, he be-
held a stylishly dressed young lady,
her amber brown eyes shining with
mirth and her face dimpled with
smiles, tripping daintily toward him.
81 am exceedingly grateful" she
said, in a clear, low voice, "and feel
that must apologize for being the
source of so much inconvenience to
you. had no thought that the wa
ter had such power'-and she drew
up her pretty shoulders with slight
shiver, as she gazed 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
vest pocket, from which he drew a
piece of drenched pasteboard, upon
which she could just decipher:
''P. Fillmore,
Boston, Mass"
81 am from the Hub myself" !"
she said, laughingly, her white teeth
cleaning between her ripe-red lips !;
and her shapely hand drew forth a
tiny card case, from which she ab-
stracted a dainty bit of enameled
bristol-board, bearing the legend:
"Miss Olive Orrington,
Ellington avenue, Boston. 4"
The heart beneath Peter Filmore's
saturated vest gave quick throb as
he glanced at the card and recognlz-
ed the arlstocratic locality in which
she lived.
81 hope, Miss Orrington, you will
receive no i'll effects from your inn
mersion."
And then he stopped confusedly,
as silver laugh rippled from her
full lips.
ssExcuse me, but there is little
danger of that, as / was already in
the water; but / fear most disas-
trous consequences would have en-
sued but for your timely assistance.
You are the one who has suffered, =
and she looked commiseratively at
his drenched attire and uncovered
! head.
"Never mind that he said, pick
ing up his umbrella, which had been
rolling about on the sand. 81 can
shelter my defenceless head with this,
and I have other hats at the house
J where | am stopping. Have you
friends here?'
''Not any, she returned, 81 am
stopping at the hotel yonder."
"And I am boarding at a private