El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-19
The Coral Button.
He Won His Bet, but Lost His Love.

keenest bathing suit Of any woman
down here
"How do you know"
"AhI L have exceptional opportuni-
ties. My wife bathes with her. It's
black corded silk, low necked, no
sleeves, doesn't come to the knees, fits
like a glove and has coral buttons"
"H'ml Sounds rather fetching.
must have a look at it myself"
Don't you wish you might, my boy
Why, Di is very dragon of prudery.
Never goes beyond the ladies' bathing
place. squint through telescope
is all you'll ever see of it"
"a woman doesn't wear a bathing
suit like that for the sake Of other
women. L bet you a flyer I'll have
closer look at it,
MY dear Tom, 1 don't want to alb
solutely rob you of your money"
81 bet you a fiver-ten, if you like
and to prove that I've won your mon
ey fairly I'll bring you one Of those
buttons,'
Take him on, dear boy" said the
third man who was sitting in the
smoking room of the Seaside club.
Never lose a chance of turning an
honest penny when you can"
Every weIl,'' said the married man..
who knew so much. Ten if you like.
but we must have a time limit"
Certainly" said Tom Bolton; with
In a week"
1T will come in very handy to buy
q present for the wife's birthday next
week." said the married man, making
a note in his pocketbook. And it
will teach you a lesson you want, my
boy
But Tom only smiled serenely as he
settled his tie in front Of the glass.
whichever way it goes, one Of you
fellows will have to stand me a bottle
of fizz over it," said the other man.
Diana was bathing. She plunged,
dived, rose, swan. fioated, trod water.
splashed and kicked like a veritable
mermaid, only the pure blood ran more
joyousIy in her veins than did ever
cold bIooded sea maiden's, and a pair
of slim, white feet are a much prettier
conclusion to a beautiful body than a
tail, and golden tresses, in the opinion
of humans, are preferable to the ortho-
dox sea green.
1t was rough, for a smart south
wester was coming up, and the rest Of
the women bathers bobbed timidly up
and down at the life line, but Diana
rose up on the comb of a wave like a
south sea islander and laughed aloud
with pure physical joy as she shook
the drops from her eyes and drew in
q full breath.
At the end of the pier a man was
bathing. She could see his dark head
at times above the crests of the waves.
Why, what was he doing, splashing
about like that? He had gone under
and rose again, striking out wildly
Help! help"' rang frantically over
the water.
A thrill ran through her. She an
swered to the call like a high melted
horse to the touch of a whip.
"An right; I'm coming" she cried
and cleft the water with swift, power
full strokes. She lost sight of him once
or twice, for the spray was flying high,
and out toward the pier it was ticklish
work. lest the current should carry
her against the piles, but she swan
on CALAMITY.
All. there he was, almost spent,
foundering and gasping wildly.
Here, rest on my shoulders; I'll get
you to the steps," she ordered; but
danger seemed to have bereft him of
his senses, for he clutched frantically
at her, gripping her gown.
you'll drown us both if you do
that" she said imperiously, and man.
aged to relax his grasp.
She got him to the steps more easily |
than she expected, and he hauled him
self up, gasping for breath and look |
ing at her with grateful eyes as she |
stood beside him, the water dripping |
from her black gown and running in |
little streams over her noble shoulders |
and strong white arms, the closely |
stuff showing every outline of |
her splendid shape
You are not hurt anywhereY' she |
queried, quite forgetful of sex.
NO, no. 1t was only cramp,' he !
Il can get to the beach |
now. / don't know how to thank you
enough"
"Oh, that's all right" said Diana
easily. Here's a boatman coming
He'll get you some brandy-that's
about the best thing you can have"
She turned about and plunged again
into the sea. her golden head growing
less as she neared the shore.
Tom Bolton Enclosed his left hand,
and looked with smile at a red coral
button.
'WeI, I've won my bet. 1 thought
that would fetch her. and it was worth
a great deal more risk than that. How
superb she looked as she stood there
painting, as unconscious of her costume
as was eyer Eve"
81 can't quite believe it, Diana. 1t
seems too good to be true"
"Why" said Diana. She was wear