Smyrna times., 1896-02-19


and, tying on my big sun-hat, fly down
to the beach-my usual place of frefuge.
Here my little boat ismoOred; l spring
in, and push off upon the broad bosom
of Lake POntehartrain. Before 1 have
gone far l am seized with another in
spiration. There isn't living soul in
in sight. | find a retired nook, and, |
landing my boat, draw it upon the |
white sandy beach for safety. Then l
seat myself upon the sand and delibe-
rately pull off my shoes and stockings.
am going to wade for the tide is out,
and the water is cool and delightful.
I have not gone far, however, holding
the skirts of my gray linen dress up
rather high, and thoroughly enjoying
! the situation, when | catch the sound
| of faint groan. l drop my skirts in
voluntarily, and putting my hands to
my mouth, as | have seen Fred do
upon similar occasions, shout Justify:
"Halloa!"
! The answer comes at once, and so
close to my side that l cry aloud i'll
alarm. l turn quickly, and then |
understand. Just around little bend
which forms a sort of cove, catch
glimpse of man lying at full length
upon the sand. Even from that dis
tance 1 can distinguish the pallor of
his face, and understand intuitively
that some accident has overtaken him.
l glance down at my bare feet. No
time for shoes and stockings nOw-I
dart through the water and soon reach
his side. The very handsOmest man l
ever met He raises his dark eyes to
my face and says, quickly:
81 beg you pardon, miss, but l have
sprained my ankle, and-is there any
place in the neighborhood where l can
remain until am able to travel? My
name is Compton-W Walter Compton
from st. Louis, and"-
He hesitates, and spasm of pain
contracts his face for moment.
''Yes," I cried Immediately; you
can go home with mel"
So run to get my discarded articles
of wearing apparel, and then springing
into my boat, row to the spot With
difficulty l succeed in helping the
stranger into the boat, and then pull
slowly homeward l find papa quite
willing to receive the stranger, who,
after all, proves to be no stranger, but
the son of one of papa's old friends
We make him as comfortable as posi-
BILE, and the follows days and weeks of
pleasant cOmpaniOnship.
Six weeks from the day upon which
: I brought Walter Compton home in
my boat he asks me to be his wife l
burst into tears. For love him with
all my heart-yet there is that hateful
Mr.. COmyn He has never re-
visited our town since the letter was
written in which he asks for the heart
and hand of Freda Lowell; but we may
reasonably look for him now at any
time. I sob out my story to Walter,
my head upon his shoulder. He smiles,
! ANU bbOOplIS3 hloSCb Lu6.
Don't cry, sweetheart" he says
sOOthingly. you shall never marry
Mr.. COmyn-Or any other man but
myself, if you really love me. We will
explain the whole affair to him and to
your father; and Mr.. Lowell will not
: object to me on the score of poverty,
: for am a rich man, Freda"
And then some one raps at the door,
> and the servant announces:
''Miss Freda, your father says please
come to the library. Mr.. COmyr
wishes to see you"
At last! So it has come and 1 must
face the music. And my eyes are rec
with crying, my hair is awfully tousled
1 am a sight to make lover weep
Nevertheless, 1 go just as am; if ]
make him hate me, so much the better
. So l leave Walters side and march
7 straight into the library, with white
: cheeks, my head defantly upraised.
Mr.. Comyn arises to greet me-i
, fine-looking man, but not one-half al
- handsome as my Walter. He hesitatei
and draws back with intense surpris,
- on his face.
. ''Mr. LOwell!'' he calculates in be
, wilderment, addressing nay father
: ''there is some mistake. This is no
: ! the young ladyY
- " clap my hands gleefully, regard
less of papa's severest frown. So, it i
:, Rita, after ALL I'm not two minute
= in getting her into the library; then
close the door and fly back to Walter
side
yes, it is really Rita. Mr.. COMFY
:, has only mistaken the name; but it i
"a Rita whom he loves and wishes t
marry Aud, best of all, Rita love
him in return, and has been grievin.
, secret all the time.
: So there is a double wedding, an,
, papa smiles serenely and never frown
~ now, for he has two rich sons-in-law
and poor little Freda, the bride O
wealthy Mr.. Compton, becomes Al
u envied parsonage, and there is n
!. longer any "black sheep in the family.