Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-16

water she shrieked, let go her rope, and
throwing up her arms, behaved as though
she was making an effort to get drowned.
cannot swim, but was near her, so I
plunged her way, and, gripping her by the
hair, 1 tugged her to her feet. As she was
too frightened to stand firmly the next in
coming wave knocked her down for the Sec
ond time. She dragged me over, too. and
and as I was screaming at her when I fell,
1 swallowed quart ofsalt water and peck
of sand.
Melanie's long, lean arm clutched me
round the neck like wise. Handicapped
thus I could not regain my footing The re-
treating wave sucked the shIngle from be-
meath us-we were drawn out Melanie's
panic was infectious, my shrieks Joined hers,
and were only silenced by a dashing column
of water, which broke upon US, and then
lifting US on its breast, as though we were
globules instead of women, rushed off with
us inland. This time clung to Melanie' 5
plaits and struggled violently.
Well, we were not drowned, but we were
washed beneath the wheels of the bathing
machine, from whence the bathing-woman
e1tricated us more dead than alive. As
soon as could speak 1 attacked Melanie,
who lay on the shingle, gasping and deadly
pale.
'.It was all your fault" I sputtered, my
teeth chattering ''You lost your head as
well as your footing Just like you.''
Her lips were blue, and she could hardly
articuIate, but Masters is only silent in
the grave.
"Why did you pull my hair?" she re-
torted raising herself upon her elbow.
hat made you tug like that? The pain
made me scream. There was no danger" :,
mo danger, of course" I snapped; "no
danger for fishes at the bottom of the sea,
and so no danger for oysters and the other
idiots"
snow, now, young ladies' said the
bathing woman, 'don't you stay catching
your death of cold to argufy. There is a
long day when you are dry and in your
clothes to spend in nrgufying" ..
She had reason on her side. We dried
and dressed and argued. too. My sisters
sided with Melanie, and pitied her pale
face. No one considered the gallon of salt
water which she had compelled me to swal-
low. Injustice OF any sort annoys me-
righteously and violently annoys me. Our
argument lasted throug gh the breakfast
hour, at the end of which lost all that re-
mained to me of my temper, and, after
throwing the tea cosy at Muriel, broke
out of the room in a passion, and flew up,
three steps at time, to our bedroom, turn
lug TIC hCy III tuC lOCk UeHluu lie.
In due course Of time Millicent followed
me thither. I knew she would. lay on
the bed, grinniDg with malice, not at the
new novel in my hand. Her lover,
Maurice Mitchell, was momentarily ex-
pected. She was to meet him at the sta
tion, and she had neither hat, nor coat, nor
curling tongs She beseeched. prayed,
cajoled me to unlock the door. made no
response. I listened to her means, her
whimpers, her humility, her threars-they
were sweet in my ears.
''Mill, dear Mill; you cannot be so cruel.
If do not meet Maurice he will be mad:
he won't come here; he will 20 back by the
next train; he has such temper"
Silence.
81 will never forgive you, Mill"
Still silence.
"Let me in, Mildred. I have only a
moment TO spare, you may carry joke tco
far"
1 laughed. 1t was my joke; should
carry it SO lar as could.
mill, if you won't let me in, at least
throw me my coat and hat from the win.
dow"
laughed again.
mill, you little beast, have nothing to
wear"
Borrow I suggested. grinning sardon.
ically. I was in a position to grin. sIf
you are so fond of Melanie, wear her
clothes"
At this suggestion sho pummeled on the
door pane viciously for a moment, and then,
rs time flew and l was incxoraby firm, /
heard her gathering down the stairs and
calling to the girls Presently had the
satisfaction OF seeing her hurry out toward
the station clad Ia Melanie's pilot coat
(which WAS Of no shape In parlicular) with
Muricl's old garden hat Topping In the |
wind, on her dishsvelsd head. Ny sisters
never lent their best clothes 70 snyona