The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-09-21
And the vcrses-"Dear Eyes," they

so U1any eyes meet mtae each day
Earnest and tender, and eyes that snfls.
Or dark without hops, and all the while
think OF you who have gone away.
"Ilong so 10 looE In your eyes, dear,
Your eyes that speak to my soul until
The cry Of earth's loneliness grows still
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
bic for ner present discomfort-it was
all her own carelcssness; and the next
time she INDUCED in the exchange of
literature she would shake the volume
to its foundations to exercise all lurk-
ing imps that might do her i'll. One is
SO apt TO tuck things away in Z book
and then forget all about them. Yet,
after all, he might have given her a
chance to explain.
She wa aroused from her reyeric
by the soft rush OF waters parted by
the even stroke OF strong arms. Marie
turned her head shoreward; q 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 mor strokes and there
was no doubt OF his identity; she
turned her gaze again out to sea. He
claIabered up on the rock beside her.
lie was 4 superb creature, with limbs
bronze and shining as one of Gerome's
Arabs. he looked like some radiant
river god with 4 dash of water on his
chestnut hair, his eyes as blue as the
morning sea-, and with that beauty in
his face that cones from conscious
strength and kindness and the glory
of youth and vigorous, OVERLOOKING life.
"Gooi-morniug, Marie"
She had not yet looked at him, but
she met his gaze now with a half smile.
Il thought you were going on the
eight ten"
Il started" he answered, CROSSED
the ferry, ven to the station, and
came back. Why did you come out
here alone? You should have known
better, the tide is running out now.
and the swim back will be a hard pull
all the way"
II am quite capable of taking care
of myself" she answered, somewhat
stifiy, and if you are afraid of the
tide you would better go in at once"
He was astonished to find her adopt
ing an injured tone; if anyone had a
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 1t,
and all true daughters of Venus have
inherited that ripple of the waves ever
since. That is the story l always think
of" he finished, seeking now her clear
gray eyes, when / see your hair in the
sun. Marie"
She laughed gayly. 1T seems to me
some one else is dipping into poetry
besides poor Jack"
His brow darkened. Don't make q
joke of it," he said; "the blood has
been boiling in my veins ever since l
read it. l don't blame Jack for loving
you, nor for writing it to you. l ought
o to have read it; but the thought of
his having his arm about you, as it
clearly implies, and that you have
cared for him, perhaps care for hin
still, has driven me almost beside my
self. If you have any pity for me tell
me the truth, or let me 60"
You may CO." she spoke coldly; II
will not keep you"
See; we are here" he said, under
the free sky, with the pure clear water,
all about US, close to honest nature,
and life would be SO good to me ifs
there always to be an if?-if only l
knew the truth and that it is not what
l thought-that you do not care for
him"
Il am very fond indeed of Jack; and
as for the verses, l think they are
charming, and that any girl should be
happy to inspire a man like that"
Darrell groaned. You are more
frivolous than l believed, and you have
not been true to either of u.s."
81 think l will swim in" she said.
She slipped off the rock and struck out
for the shore. He followed her silent
ly, keeping his eyes upon her, for the
tide was making hard out to sea.
Don't try and buck against the
tide" he called; '.let it carry you
down. Just swim for the shore; you
waste your strength that way" He
was swimming close beside her now.
IF l needed it." she asked, would
you be strong enough to tow me IMP"
He laughed grimly. "TrJ me-" he
answered.
lie took both her hands in his, swim
ming easily on his back; to this healthy
young giant her added weight was
nothing. They went rushing through
the water at what seemed a terrific
rate of speed to the girl whose endur-
ancc had already been taxed by the
swimming, and the sense of security
and strength it gave her was a deli
cious relief.
At last they reached the float; the
little boys we're tearing up and down
the sand doing jumping "stents-' She
let go of his hands and he lifted her
n e - 4I4 a.