The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-02-07
A SUAsIDE ROMANCE,

heightened. The man bowed his rough head
as one aaashed, and twitched his cap nerv-
ousiy. Then Lasse Baxter laughed long and
loud, and at the sound a spasm OF pain
crossed his honest face.
She was the acknowledged belle of the
little fishing village and she knew it. But
she loved the rough fisherman at her side,
even though she would not confess it to him
He was her ideal, and while others, some
of them, more eligible from the social stand
point were suitors for her hand and heart,
she intended in time to dismiss them all
and marry the lover at her side. But the
time Tor this was not yet. Her reign in the
village was too pleasant to sacrifice it as yet,
and while she waited what harm was there
in deriving all the pleasure possible from
tormenting her suitors. Little did the girl
dream of the anguish in the mans heart.
Little did she realize how almost his life
hung upon the idle words she was speaking.
Had she done so this story would never have
been written, the village fisherfolks would
have had the events in chronicles to tall;
about, but in the end she could have been
no happier.
Don't you be fool, Harry" said the
little beauty. Pm too young to marry yet"
The man shook his head doggedly
seThere's summun else" he said slowly.
Maybe there is; maybe there isn't
What's it got to do with you?"
A wave of passion shook the strong frame,
and with a sob he threw himself on the turf
at her feet.
"Don't be hard on me, Lassie!" he cried,
imploringly. Il know you're far, far toe
good for the like O me, but tell me | can
hope little. I'd work my fingers to the
bone for you! God knows | love you dear
ly-ah, don't turn away from me-"
She looked again at the man dehased be-
fore her. her bosom heaving and falling with
pleasurable excitement, and if for one in.
slant the shadow of fear crossed her face
it speedily disappeared.
Get up, man. she said.
He rose and regarded her little shame
fully. But she said no more ana there was
a silence, the girl exulting in the delicious
sense Of her power over this patient soul.
Then Harry began to speak, slowly and
painfully. 81 saw you yesterday" he said
walking with your doctor. IL know he'd
be better for you than me- So only say the
word, lass, and won't trouble you again .
eyes; l love him." said she, falsely
cruelty.
Harry turned abruptly, thrust on his hat
and disappeared over the slope of the cliffs
The gayety died out of the girls eyes, and
she ran forward and glanced down the hill
Harry" she cried. "Harry!"
But he had gone too far, and did not
hear.
With a cry she threw herself onto the
ground. "Wha., oh, what have / done,
she moaned. For some minutes she lay
there thinking of the bright future she had
planned for herself as Harry wife, and now
she had ruined her life and his by an idle
word which she did not mean. But after
a time her youth asserted itself, and she
walked homeward feeling that he would
come back to her. What a reception she
would give him when he came, with what
words of love she would greet him.
AS the twilight deepened the sky became
one huge mass of black inly clouds. Ava,
out at sea the white horses began Their
ghostly play, and half a dozen fishing YES
sells, their brown sails bellying before the
furious gale till their mainlnasts creaked anG
shuddered, few at terrific speed toward the
shore before the coming storm.
On the beach was gathered an an3iou.
group from the village, peering across the
angry waters. The women beat their hands
nervously and walked to and fro in agita
ton. Some of the men made speaking
trumpets of their hands and shouted en-
enlargement to their mates.
| The smacks drew nearer. Almost in
line they mounted the crest of one gigantic
! wave and were shot into the Swallows annie
indescribable confusion. Half score o
| brave fellows rushed waist deep into The
sea; the women hauled sturdily at the line:
that were thrown out, and inch by inch
Errh{
half water-logged craft were at last drawn
up the shingle to safety.
All the escaped ones were wet to the skin
many were bruised; jests and laughter be
| gan to pass around.
Suddenly cry rose from one of the girls
20, look! There's rowboat out there!
Eyes were strained out in the darkness
and sure enough tiny shadow was seen
tossing helplessly in the mighty element.
MY God!" calculated an old fisherman
"It's the young doctor! He took jim
Croby's boat this afternoon"
Then, clear above the turmoil, rose tn
sound Of keel grating on the stones, and
man pushed his way to the waters edge.
| A dozen hands were stretched to stay him
Come back, you fool" roared 20 voices.
| Harry shook them off fercely, gave hi
DOaU vigorous push, ana jumped III. In
undertow sucked it down like straw, ant
it mounted clear to the crest of an incom
ing wave, and there hung for an instant shiv
ering like live thing, the occupant cling
ing to seat. The next instant both had dis
| appeared.
| Then the rain descended, and blacknes
covered the face of the ocean like funera
pail. Lassie Baxter lay prone on the shin
gle, her pretty head bowed on her arms
| and her frame shaken with sobs.
Half an hour passed. Then men wake,
up and down like Gagged beasts. There wa
nothing to do, nothing to be seen.
Presently an object was hurled from tn
darkness like cork. 1t was Harry's boa
bottom upwards.
God rest him." said one.
"Poor lass" said another.
AT that moment shout came from sea
wards. They sprung in as far as they dared
shouting back. The crowd pressed forward
| then a loud, continued cheer burst out, an,
Harry was helped on shore, the young doc
tor insensible, but still clinging to his belt
Harry's eyes were bloodshot, his vein
were starting out like cords upon his face
and his breath came in gasps.
"Upset-few yards away" he suffered