The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-11-09
And tho verscs-"Dear Eyes," they

Earnest and tender, and eyes that smfiA
o.. dark without hope, and all the Wills |
think OF you who hare gone away.
81 long SO to look In your eyes, dear,
Your eyes that speak to my soul until
The cry OF earth's loneliness grows stu
As draw you so near,-so near"
She had never known Jack could |
make a rhyme till these verses had
come to her. Dear, honest Jack! how
sorry he would be If he knew all the
trouble he had brought about. No,
she could scarcely hold him response
BILE for her present di.comfort-it was
all her own carelessnessi and the next
time she INDUCED in tho exchange OF
literature she would shake the volume
to its foundations to exercise all Turk.
ing imps that might do her i'll. One is
so apt to tuck things away in book
and then forget all about them. Yet,
after all, he might have given her a
chance to explain.
She was aroused from her reverie
by the soft rush OF waters parted by
the even stroke of strong arms. Marie
turned her head shoreward; a man was
rapidly swimming toward her. The
head looked very familiar, but he had
written her he was going on the eight
ten. A few more strokes and there
was no doubt of his identity; She
turned her gaze again out to sea. He
clambered up ON the rock beside her.
He was superb creature, with limbs
bronze and shining as one Of Gerome's
Arabs He looked like some radiant
river god with dash Of water on his
chestnut hair, his eyes as blue as the
morning sea, and with that beauty In
his face that comes from conscious
strength and kindliness and the glory
of youth and vigorous, overlooking life.
''Good-morning, Marie"
She had not yet looked ut him, but
she met his gaze now with half smile.
81 thought you were going on the
eight ten"
VI started" he answered, crossed
| the ferry, went to the station, and
| came back. Why did you come out
here alone2 You should have known
] better, the tide Is running out now,
and the swim back will be hard pull
all the way"
II am quite capable OF taking care
| of myself" she answered, somewhat
stifiy, land IL you are afraid OF the
tide you would better go in at once"
He was astonished to ind her adopt
| ing an injured tone; if anyone had q
right to be hurt, he surely was the one
to enjoy the privilege of that position.
He looked at her despairingly; the lit
tie eurls, dried BY the sun and wind,
beckoned maddingly. he forgot his
grievance for a moment
"When Venus came ashore on the
waves" he said, keeping his eyes on
the curls, 'Zephyrus blew her there,
] and before he left her he lowered about
and kissed her until her hair, which
the sea had wet, was dry and shining
like silk; but it always kept the crinkle
the motion of the waves had given IT.
and all true daughters of Venus have
inherited that ripple of the waves evel
| since. That is the story always think
Of" he finished, seeking now her cleal
gray eyes, when / see your hair in the
sun, Marie"
She laughed gayly. 'It seems to ms
some one else is dipping into poetry
besides poor Jack"
His brow darkened. Don't make ;
Joke of it." he said; ''the blood ha
been boiling In my veins ever since
read it. / don't blame Jack for loving
you, nor for writing it to you. ough
not to have read it; but tho thought o
his having his arm about you, as
clearly implies, and that you hav
cared for him, perhaps care for hin
still, has driven me almost beside my
self. If you have any pity for me tel
me the truth, or let me 60"
"You may CO." she spoke coldly; .
will not keep YOU"
'See; we arc here" he said, ''unde
the free sky, with the pure clear water
all about US, close to honest nature
I. and life would be so good to me If
, | there always to be an if?-if only
knew the truth and that 1t is not whs
thought-that you do not care Il
. | him."
81 am very fond indeed of Jack; an
as for the verses, l think they al
. charming, and that any girl should
!, happy to inspire q man like that"
. Darrell groaned. 'You are MOI
y frivolous than believed, and you ha'
: not been true to either Of u.s."
9 II think I will swim in" she sal
!. She slipped off the rock and struck Of
= for the shore. He followed her siien
ly, keeping his eyes upon her, for Il
: tide was making hard out to sea.
!. Don't try and buck against Il
~ tide" he called; "let 1t carry "
. down. Just swim for the shore; "
70 waste your strength that way
y was swimming close beside her now.
- IF needed it." she asked, "wou
y you be strong enough to tow me in?''
~ He laughed grimly. "TrJ me-"
y answered.
- He took both her hands in his, swi
!" ming easily on his back; to this healt
~ young giant her added weight w
a nothing. They went rushing throu
:, the water at what seemed terri
. rate of speed to the girl whose end'
- ance had already been taxed by t
:, swimming, and the sense of securi
9 and strength it gave her was a de
cious relief.
" At last they reached the float;
,. little boys were tearing up and do
~ the sand doing jumping ''stents-'
- let go of his hands and he hfteA
pc easily to the float. She was quite pa
4 = ~~~x<