The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-10-09
A Cure For
Ennui ..

small talk, OF blaso mon or tho world
and onvlous women, of "hnnnoled
fools at tho wicket and muddicd OATS
at tho goal" She had drunk of tho
pleasures of society to tho drcgs. Her
wealth and beauty had insured her a
high place in tho "Four Hundred"
which her talent and wit adorned.
At first, Of course, she enjoyed it,
but after tho novelty wore off and sho
SAW oil tho hollOwness and hoartlcss-
ness, tho Hypocrisy and sham beneath
the bespanglod surface sho sckcnod
and tired of it. And 80 she had como
down to this remote village on tho sea-
shore, far from the fashionable resorts
to rest from the crowds of Vanity Fair,
and TO commune with nature and live
among simple folk who rounded out
their lives in hard toll and simple
pleasures. Still she WAS restless.
There was something unsatislicd in her
naturo--a longing for something, she
hardly knew what.
She sat in the window of The little
cottage ]istlessly reading n novel. The
wind was blowing too strong TO render |
tho porch comfortable. Presently she |
throw down the book lmpaticntly and |
eXclaimed:
Why don't wo sec men like this in |
real lifo? What's tho use of reading
about them in books when they don't
exist? Authors arc drcamols, and
they writc their dreams. lie sm is
dead. The heroes arc all between the
covers Of the histories and romances.
lwould like to scc real man, lust
oncc-not q shallow, lnsinccro, selfish
Of hnt >f
sacrifice and Of absolute honesty of
purpose"
She glanced out at tho grcat waves
dashing madly upon tho shore and
noted that tho gallo had increased in
fury. llor eyes sparkled.
How l love the ocean when it ls
aroused. 1t is 30 grand, 80 powerful.
If l Woro 4 man would want 10 be
like tho ocean and conquer all things
that camo in my way"
a bell changed furiously and people
camo running past the cottage and on
to tho littlo government life saving
station. She opened the door and
called TO ono of tho runners:
WHAT'S tho mattor2''
Vcssol goin' to pieces on the rccf,''
camo back tho painting answer.
She caught up her hat and capo and
joined the hurrying throng. Horc n,
last was something real and thrilling
There, sure enough, were tho outlines
OF steamer rocking violently on tho
great white limo that marked The break
ers. Over tho waters came the hoarse
alarm Of the whistle.
Tho lifc-savlng crew, eight in num-
ber, wero dressed for tho coming bat.
tic with tho sen and stood about the
great, clumsy boat, oars in hand. They
looked like grim giants, but as Win
nifrcd looked at the angry sea. they
bocamo as pigmies with a paper boat.
Whoro's Capt. WHIP" asked one of
the crowd.
"Ovor to his fathcr's," cried one Of
tho crew. He'll DO comm runnin'
in q jiffy."
aye can't live in that SEQ minuto," |
remarked wcatherbcatcn fisherman, |
shaking his head. "Bc yc agoin' to
try it2" tY,
What arc VIC horo for?" laconical-
ly responded ono of the crow. L" Here
he COmos."
A tall, athletic figure bounded
through tho group, Knocking people
right and loft in his haste, and in an
lnstant WAS IN his sea tOgs.
What do you mako lt?" ho asked |
ono Of tho crew, who was gazing earn
estly through glass.
Small steamer an sho's gon' to |
pieces fast" was tho reply. "Scems
to 30 seven or oight people aboard
ono WOman's near as l can mako out"
The captain solzcd the glass and took
a quick look. Winnifrcd surveyed
him curiously. IIo was perfect
specimen of physical manhood; tall,
snowy, compactly built and abort His 8
blue eye was steady and piercing. The
polse OF his head was confident and COM
mandlng. His checks wero bronZed
with exposure and clear with per- r
feet health. He dropped tho glass and 7
gave quick word of command. The =
men sprang to their places. y
"Ie can't git through that sea, Cap" r
remarked tho wcathcrbcaton fisherman. {
" Wen try" replied the captain
cheerily, and IN an instant tho boat r
shot into The angry waves. An instant T.
latlor 1t was thrown violently upon the n
shorc. n fow moments sutliced to +
pace 1t IN position again. 1t was q
evident Tho captain was going to try 1
again. Tho crew look a trine dubious !,
~ aI tho mountainous waves. Eycry :
iacc among the onlookers was grave. I a
many voices woro raised in protest u
against this counting Of certain death. T
inns is not fair weather service.n y
ispl lsplled the captain, sturdily. (" We h
"."w our pay the yoar around to be >,
VII mana at just such time as this.
sea.' "oiSc p
AN ola man with white hair and fa,- 81
ter1ng limbs, who had followed tho com. II II
tain to tho shore as fast as hc c coniI nT D
pushed through tho crowd and droppcd =
:" VIII, lad, don't 60; don't po,nhc n
cried, wringlng his hands. " Mammy,s
so slck--and ye're all we've got. DON,
throw yourself away. Nobody kin live
in them waves. 1 have been On tho f
coast for sixty years, an I never saw
such a gea'' =