Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-01-25
My dear he interrupted, II was

Iusll! GU muSu nOG interrupt.
Then one day we took a boat-a clumsy
boat-and sailed ont, despite the warn
ings of the fishermen. 1 didn t care, you
didn't care--.what happened. We had
r1arrcled, or, rather, I, at lunch, said
harsh things
My DEAR" he interrupted, "there
were faults on both sides. They render
cd life intolerable and love impossible,
butt
''Hush We rowed out. You had the
SOULS and l steered-at least | lay in
the stern and splashed the waves with
my hands-the hands you used to kiss
so often.
She paused and looked at the hands
firm, plump and white and decked with
lovely rings of curious workmanship.
He, too, looked at them and sighed. She
sighed.
But out we went Then the skies
became dark, the water darkened, too,
and grew rough, and you tried to turn.
We were far, far away from shore. You
must have been looking at me instead
of the land or you would have seen that
Nc NtIO hodtiliS lttob Ill % Jul w iiL
an effort you brought the boat round
and pulled for safety. Oh, you looked
splendid! Your thin jersey showed the
lines of your strong supple body, the
muscles of your arms and chest rose
superb]y, and your manly face, flushed
ard firm, fascinated me" "
The man smiled, half scornfully.
"You pulled hard, and l don't think
was frightened. l didn't care what
happened. Then the rotten oar cracked,
and you bound it round with our hand
kerchiefs, but it still was weak, so you
tore off long strip of my petticoat to
bind it with, and we drifted, drifted
ont. When at last You tried again, it
snapped, and the blade fell into the sea.
Then you came to me, to the stern, and
took the tiller from my hands. You put
your arm round my waist and said,
Don t be afraid, dear wife!' l knew we
were drifting out to open sea, storm and
death and was aware that you knew it.
Don't be afraid, little wife, you said,
and suddenly put your arm round my
neck"
Il remember -
eyes, l know. Let me go on. You
brought my face to yours and laid your
lips on mine. Oh, that kiss-that kiss
1t still stings on my lips. In it l felt
the depth of your love. l felt that l
loved you-felt that we were man and
wife, and the only beings alive on land
or sea. That kiss is what regret-that
kiss, the one moment of rapture i'll my
life
She paused.
81 remember
"Why did that foolish steamer savo
us? could have died there, happy i'll
your arms--quite happy
'Quito happy"
eyes, quite. To think that we quar-
relied within week-at least 1 did
and things went worse than ever after
ward! What are we women made of?
The old song is wrong-we are made of
gall and wormwood and marble. To
think that we are here, and that paper
lies there! You've acted very handsome
ly, allowing me more than half your in
come and letting me keep the flat. "
"Do you think could live in it after
You have gomez he answered, with
break in his voice. "Theres nothing in
it that does not speak of you. It's a
graveyard of memories.
She locked at him over the fan and
saw tears in his eyes. Then she rose
and walked across the room.
Herbert, she said in timid voice,
after a long pause, cit is 4 o'clock.
He'll be here i'll five minutes to see the
deed executed"
The man bowed his head and hid his
face i'll his hands
She took out her handkerchief, q ri
diculous bit of lace and lawn, and touch
ed her eyes.
"Hcrbert, tomorrow is just a year
after that day. The night train starts at
o'clock. If we went to Etaples, we
might fnd-might find-that kiss
again"
He jumped up, tears in his eyes and
a smile on his lips. "You mean to
say He caught her in his arms and
pressed his lips long and passionately
Oh her mouth.
81 don't think we really need go to
Lt"Pico, sIc naIu, Win Il nlhlle, al'cl
long pause, 'but it will be a pleasant
little--little honeymoon.
He rang the bell, told the servant to
tell Mr.. Hawkins that no one was at
home, and she bado the girl pack her
things instantly. When the girl left the
room, they both took hold of the deed
and slowly, gravely tore it into two
pieces
1t is a new way" he observed, "of
executing deeds of separation. -
Slyatch