Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-11-11
TIE BELLE OF THE OCEl N.

An autumn afternoon; the sky a
mellow opal, melting into gorgeous
gold and crimson in the west, and deep
ening into night-like gloom toward the
south, where the great pine ridge
lOOmed up, tossing out its ghostly
fringes, and moaning and signing with
all nagony that seemed almost human.
Westward, few scattering hillocks ::
and nesting in their midst, an old
style farmhouse, its one window all
sfame with the reflection of the sunset
then, sweeping out in long, monotonous
stretches, the low salt marshes and the
bleak white beach and the sea. That
was the headiand Nothing handsome
or attractive about the place-no forest
or mountains; but the sea was there,
and that more than compensated for all
the other deficiencies. Nature is won
drously just in her apportionments-
what she denies on one hand she makes
up on the other.
On the extreme point of the head
lands was ragged boulder, standing
ss it were at anchor, for the salt waves
beat in circle round its base; and on
it summit, swinging out with daring
appalling to timid inland folk, sturdy
youth, wearing the rude garb of a fish
srmsn. Rather an ordinary specimen,
Judging from first glance, but closer
observation brought out finer points.
A perfect head rising in leonine gran
deur above square, burly shoulders;
heavy figure with muscles like iron !;
and homely, good-natured face, lit
by a pair of blue-gray eyes that
swept the sea with the glance of an
sagle-that was Harry Melvill.
As the twilight deepened and the sun
dipped lower, he seemed wrapped in
kind of ecstasy; the fire that had
kindled in his eyes melted into dreamy
softness, and keeping time with his
foot, as he swung from his lofty perch
be broke out into song-a rude nau-
teal thing; but the old-time air was
sweet, and the voice that sung it won
dreus clear and resonant, ringing out
like trumpet peal above the dash of
the waves, yet sweet and tender as the
note of a wood thrush. Over and
over again he trilled the quaint ditty,
until every echo caught up the strain,
and the whole place, and the great sea
itself, seemed thrilling with melody.
Just then the door of the old farm
house swung open, letting out a broad
food of lamplight and slender girls
figure; and an instant later this self
same figure, quaint and prim in its
gown Of gray, stood just behind the
singer. He sang on utterly unconsci-
Gus. Her lily fair face twinkled with
little mischievous laugh, and climb
ing up the boulder with rare agility,
she put her rosy mouth to his ear.
Harry"
He was near loosing his balance,
and his song came to sharp and
sudden end, leaving the closing night
In silence. The girl broke into a
merry laugh. Recovering his senses
and his foothold, he laughed too, and
catching her in his arms, climbed
down. She struggled from his en-
brace the instant his feet touched the
sand, and then they stood face to face
Harry spoke first.
"Well, Syria?'' he asked.
"Nothing-only supper is waiting,
and Aunt Sarah is growing impatient"
abe replied.
ooh that's ALL" The eager light
dying out of his eyes, and leaving
them gloomy and distracted. Il do
not want any supper: I've made up
my mind, SYRIA
She gave quick, gasping breath.
but face and voice were quiet.
"Well, Harry?'
'Im going!"
"When?"
cat daybreak."
her very lips paled, and her slender
Hhgers shook and trembled, but her
'yes remained true and steady.
"Well," she answered slowly, "God
Bless you, Harry!"
Ihe boy stood silent, his eyes fixed
~ the far coast line, where the red
inset fires were slowly burning out,
thoughts busy with the past. One
@nt especially, stood out clear and