The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-05-24

sailing DER the summer sea, careless
where it drifted, was so happy.
Each day / looked in the little
square glass that hung on the wall of
our room and saw myself growing
more blooming and radient. Mr..
Brent called him Hartley in my
thouehts-said l reminded him of
crimson carnation, with my bright
color and the spicy scent of my fan.
"And. Millie." he added, turning
to her with kindly smile, as though
she might feel sighted, with her
golden hair and white dress, is a
water lily"
1t was our last day at Beachpoint.
The season was nearly over and
mamma was already home with the
boys and had written to me to come
and bring Millie. Mamma informed
me that she had described her case
to a celebrated physician, and he
thought she could be cured beyond a
dOubt.
In the morning we went with a
merry bathing party over the bay to
the surf. MiIlie waved her hand to
us from her seat on the porch, where
Hartly, with brotherly Kindness. had
brought her and crowned her with
moist pond lilies. which he must
have walked a long distance to
gather.
After taking my bath. I donned
my walking dress again, and getting
tired CT watching the others in their
picturesque costumes, sporting in the
breakers, wandered down the beach
to a point where the hulls of two
staunch vessels. with crushed tim
bers half sunk in the sand, eloquentiy
told the story of storm and ship.
wreck.
Seating myself on a projecting
beam, gave myself up to pleasant
recOllectiOns of the eventful week
which had just passed. l pictured
my fairy boat sailing over friendly
seas and under cloudless skies. until
life being done, it was anchored in
heaven. / had no fear for the future
if one dear hand was to guide me one
thrilling voice | had come to know
so we'll was to cheer me.
How good and noble he is! l
thought with swelling heart how
altogether superior to all men | had
known how worthy the love and
respect of any woman ! | had meyer
been in love before. | had seen
great deal of society, and received
several offers, but none were eligible
aud when mamma said No." | had
without pang seen father turn them
away.
There was step behind me, and
my heart told me who it was.
"How did you find me >" L asked,
as Mr.. Brent puShed aside my dress
and sat down on the same beam.
Don't you suppose have follow
ed those little footprints until | know
the slender tracks 20 he smiingly
answered. pointing to the impression
in the damp sand, of my high-heel
walking boots. "ISn't this scene
grand? One never tires of looking at
the ocean, tor..it is never twice alike'
He was silent moment, and SEEM
ed more thoughtful than usual. gath.
ering a handful of the white sand
and watching it sift slowly through
his fingers. At length recovering
he said:
"Sing something, please you
know / always like to hear you sing,
lin season and out of season. The
sea will be bass and accompaniment"
l began the old, old ballad, "Three
Fishers Went Sailing Out Into the
West"
AS my voice rose loud and full.
swelling over the water with the
and dying away to the sound
ing monotone of the waves. / looked
at my companion. His face was
turned seward, and over it was
soft, ned expression, and in his eyes
a tender light had never seen there
before, though my heart ceased heat
ing. MY voice was too we'll trained to
falter, and the music walled on.
For men must work and women must weep
Though the harbor bar be moaning.
The sad chord did not touch him
Joy. and faith and hope held possess
sion of his soul. How his thoughts
irradiated his somewhat stern featur.
es. 1t was the face of the one man
in the world for me, but 1 did not
know it could look so handsome.
When the last echo of the song was
lost in retreating biIlow, he turned,
and taking my hand, he said in the
courtly manner that never forso0k
him:
"Thank you. 1 did not know
there was SO much music in that