New-York tribune., 1902-02-16
THILTGH T.


The summer day was drawing to close and
il was time for the tomboy to go home She
was very loath 10 do SO, bat meals and mothers
pcrGmptory when is young and given
"Goodby," she said to her companions; Il
must hurry. or il will be dark before | reach
East Wharf And with that she started off at
brisk trudge through the pebbles on the
shore
1t had been a fair day. merry day, and
many important things had happened in 1t. 4
new cave had been discovered ana "A new
haunt Of the fiddler crabs. a large rent in the
skirt of the toTnboy showed she had not been
thing was hushed The tomboy. when she
reached the rocks whose sides gray with
harnacIts' stood stli moment. looking back at
the golden sea.
All quiet. not a sound from the lazy hazy
water or the stretch Of sand. only a pungcut
smell of fish from the black rocks and "A whim
from the salt meadow where the rosemary
grew, not even a little wind but the great un-
blinking sun dropping slowly slowly The tom
boy felt a litIle tired. and became conscious OF
large bruiSe on her knee. besides a general
muscular WcdrineSs. She wished but tea was
ready. And that long way.
She bounded from the rocks like a goaded
charger and sped along the beach There lay
the old Nevada still at anchor. but there was
no time to peer into her cabin. The ffshcrmen's
under foot were changed to hard, wet sand
the course lay smooth and red between the ebb-
ing tide and the rank green meadow grass
with not an obstacle save some small creek,
some tuHet OF wet bogsy weeds. some tender
little smell. The soul OF the tOmbOy spoke TO
her strength as a warrior urges his horse She
broke into a gallop such a only she could use.
and the footprints of those rubber soled shoes
a yard apart The hirchcs in the distance
became one long white streak, the meadows dis
appeared. She cleared the tuffets and the
streams with long, raptuTOUS bounds. and the
pools the tide had left were Shvered into spray
as she dashed through them. ON and on and
never stopping, the set and with it went
the peace of evening. The WildneSS Of the night
was coming on. Far out AZ sea the ships were
ScuddlnG faster, and the ScabirdS wheeled and
screamed in cXhilaration. The waves began To
mutter and to brawl upon the shore. while over
all the wind, a great salt wind went singing
ana rushing and stirring up all nature for a
lcNeL 1t made the meadows and the birchrs
sway. II touched the waves with anger. II roared
IN the ears of the tomboy she ran.
The tomboy doubled her pace and fled before
the advancing dusk Her tawuy locks strcancd
away on the wind, her torn skirt happcd behind
her. Into her tanned checks came glow into
htr eyes came Il JOY, into her heart came a
glorious madness, such madness as the young
ccntaurs might have felt when they dashed
IN the shadows Of the sea. when the world was
young. She and the rising waves, she and the
WhstlInS wind, she and the calling birds all
were one all were alike Strength ana swift
ness. JOY and freedom were theirs ana they
Elorled in it.
The course run. The cottage roofs ap-
Pearcd. The sound of teahclis tinkIed IN me
distance. gentle star looked down upon the
toMhoy as she s!ackencd uaCc And as the
were left behind. SIC felt very tired With a
hanging head she went along the street con
c'aIh& with SUM urnt hand the large rent
Ia her skirt.