Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-01-10
BEACHHAVEN ROMANCE

u. 9rookesl
BEACHHAYEN ROMA. NGE
Beachhayen is so far out of the world
that one cannot find it ON any map. Its
dwellers are few, and its men for the
greater part go down to the sea in ships.
a stretch of dazzling white sand on
which the blue Atlantic breaks, few
houses huddled all together, a small
chapel. the hfe-saving station ON the
bluff and that is Beachhaven proper.
Further away some city people. on
whom Beechhaven looks askance, have
built some handsome cottages. AS mi
gratory as the winds. they come in
spring and go away in fall. Long before
the storms OF winter break upon the
coast and the men of the life-saving sta
tion go up and down the bleak sands
they are back in the luxury of their town
houses. They only see Benchhayen at
its best.
These people have made the discovery
that nowhere else is the sky so blue and
the air so like tonic. Soon others, too,
will follow in their steps. and the tele-
graphs and railroads will make sad in
roads upon the quiet of the place.
Such change would be quite pity.
Helen Raymond Thought, as she walked
slowly on, that August day. She was at
one of the cottages with her parents, and
itswas for her mothers sake that they
had come
Fate. or call it what you will, led her
on that day past the little chapel where
SO many q prayer had gone up for those
at sea. The doors were open. and the
low, solemn tones of the organ filed the
air. Inyoluntarily she paused upon the
threshold. and as she listened it seemed to
her that sadder music she had never
heard
Thrilled to her very soul. she went
noiselessly up the aisle. A man was
seated at the organ, and while his fin.
gers wandered over the keys his eyes
were dreamily upraised, The hair about
his temples was tinged with gray, and
on his face there was tho shadow OF
some lasting sadness. 1t was face that
would excite interest and she felt drawn
to it at once.
Suddenly he heard her soft football,
and, turning, saw. her. The last chord
died upon the air like troubled sigh.
'fOh. pray go on, she said eagerly,
You are the organist, are you notfI
No." he said, and his dark, grave
eyes We're turned away. only come
sometimes to play"
- Win you tell me whit you were
tif1i.'
al do not know myself" he said.
flushing as he arose. was merely
INN 1.oJpiSiTer- that 10 all - el,.,
You must pardon me for having
disturbed you, she said. 81 really
could not keep from coming in"
'' 1t was not an intrusion, believe me, :"
he said, 'I had quite finished and was
about to go.''
They were at the door, and, raising
his hat, he left her For moment she
stood looking at his retreat;ng figure
her way.
81 must ask old Hannah who he is, =
she said to herself.
Old Hannah, who had been pressed
into the family service for the summer,
had passed all her life in Beachhaven,
and, consequently, knew everybody.
When questioned by her young mistress
she said at once:
why, it must be Mr.. Delmore yon
mean, Miss Helen. at least that's the
name he goes by; whether it's his right
one or not, who can tell2 He came hero
five years ago. and he's never gone since.
Who he is or where he came from no
body knows. Perhaps he's done some
horrible thing and he's hiding here.
Anyhow, it looks that way to me"
Nonsensel' r. said Helen. with just q
shade of irritability in her tone. You
should not speak so, Hannah"
She caught herself thinking several
times that day of the sorrowful looking
man she had met, and at night, in her
room. she said rather nervously:
1t is strange that cannot get him
ont of my thoughts. I suppose this is
what might be called mild form of
hypno otism.
Several days later fishers child lay
very i'll, and Helen, who had begun to
know the villagers, went down with
some delicacies that she had prepared.
In the squa1id room she met Delmore
face to face. He evidently had some
knowledge of medicine, forhe was giving
the mother his advice and help.
They had some words together, and
whenshe left she asked.
DO you think the child viii get
81. hope so, said Delmore, in his
gentle voice. and then added impulsively
I" God bless You. You are very good
and kind. =
She went away very happy, and thess
words of his fingered In her memory all
that day.
It happened that they met severa,
times in the next few weeks, once in tht
little chapel, where he played for her
1t seemed to her that with his touch tn,
organ had soul. All the bitter grief
the sorrow that can come with life
found voice in those low, tender tones
When they ceased her eyes were flIec
with tears
Forgive me what I ask, y she said
agitatedly, '' but you have known sad
ness, have You notf'
Yes, was his low response, /" / havl
known sadness. But more he woult
not say.
And SO the summer drifted by, anf
still they met. 1t was not by prear
rangement, hut by chance, and she hun
\ gered for those meetings. For she haf
4 grown TO love him. how well she did
not dare ask herself. It was utter folly,
she thought, and II her friends knew
they would look on her as mad.
There had never been word OF love
TO pass Delmore,s lips. He was alwayl
| cold and reserved, and IL anything