Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-05-15


of meaningless compliments and inane
small talk, of blase men of the world
and envious women, of 'f1anneled fools
at the wicket and muddied OATS at the
goal" She had drunk of the pleasures
of society to the dregs. Her wealth
and beauty had insured her high
place in the -Four Hundred" which
her talent and wit adorned.
At first, of course, she enjoyed it,
but after the novelty wore off and she
saw all the hollowness and heartless-
ness, the hypocrisy and sham beneath
the bespangled surface she sickened
and tired of it. And so she had come
down to this remote village on the sea
shore, far from the fashionable re-
sorts to rest from the crowds of Van
ity Fair, and to commune with nature
and live among simple folk who
rounded out their lives in hard toll
and simple pleasures.
She sat in the window of the little
cottage listlessly reading a novel.
The wind was blowing too strong to
render the porch comfortable. Pres
emily she threw down the book impa-
tiently and exclaimed:
why don't we see men like this in
real life? What's the use of reading
about them in books when they don't
exist? Authors are dreamers, and
they write their dreams. Heroism is
dead. The heroes are all between
the covers of the histories and ro-
mances. l would like to see real
man, Just once-not a shallow, insin-
cere, selfish sensualist, but man
capable of great sacrifice and of abso-
lutte honesty of purpose.
She glanced out at the great waves
dashing madly upon the shore and
noted that the gale had increased in
fury. Her eyes sparkled.
How l love the ocean when it is
aroused. 1t is so grand, so powerful.
If 1 were a man 1 would want to be
like the ocean and conquer all things
that came in my way"
A bell changed furlously and people
came running past the cottage and on
to the little government life saving
station. She opened the door and
called to one of the runners:
Whats the matter?"
Vessel goin' to pieces on the reef"
came back the painting answer.
She caught up her hat and cape and
joined the hurrying throng. Here at
last was something real and thrilling.
The life-saving crew, eight in num-
Der, were dressed for the coming bat
tie with the sea and stood about the
great, clumsy boat, oars in hand. They
looked like grim giants, but as Winni-
fred looked at the angry sea, they
became as pigmies with a paper boat.
where's Captain WIFI" asked one
of.the crowd.
"Over to his fathers" replied one
of the crew. He'll be comm runnin'
in jiffy."
A tall, athletic figure bounded
through the group. knocking people
right and left in his haste. and in an
instant was in his sea toys.
What do you Lake it?" he asked
one of the crew, who was gazing earn
estly through glass.
Small steamer an she's goin' to
pieces fast" was the reply. Seems
to be seven or eight people aboard
one woman s near as 1 can make out
The captain seized the glass and
took quick look. Winnifred sur
veyed him curiously. He was a per-
feet specimen of physical manhood;
tall, sinewy, compactly built and alert.
His blue eye was steady and piercing.
The poise of his head was confident
and commanding. His cheeks were
bronzed with exposure and clear with
perfect health. He dropped the glass
and gave a quick word of command
The men sprang to their places.
Eye can't git through that sea, Cap"
remarked the weatherbeaten fisher
man.
We'll try" replied the captain.
cheerily, and in an instant the boat
shot into the angry waves. An in
slant later it was thrown violently
upon the shore. A few moments suf-
feed to place it in position again. 1t
was evident the captain was going to
try again. The crew looked a trife
obviously at the mountainous waves.
Every face among the onlookers was
grave. Many voices were raised in
protest against this counting of GER
tain death.
An old man with white hair and
faltering limbs, who had followed the
captain to the shore as fast as he
could, pushed through the crowd and
dropped on his knees.
will, lad, don't go; don't CO." he
cried, wringing his hands. "Mammy's
SO sick-and ye're all we've got. Don't
throw yerself away. Nobody kin live
in them waves. l have been on the
ers on the shore as the boat pitched
from wave to wave under the iron
muscles of the oarsmen and the skill
full guidance of the captain. At every