The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-05
Our Daily Short Story

and pleasant.
The three, in Clark Morgan's sail
boat. anchored just OF the Point,
flshed and laughed. and were jolly. And
Morgan was the merriest of them all
The others were kept laughing at his
witticisms.
He had his kodak with him. and he
took several shots at the rocks, the
gently swelling waves. and at the only
boat that passed during the afternoon.
When the tide began rising Morgan
was the first to note the slowly upward
creeping of the sea upon the rocks.
A smile trembled upon hfs lips and a
strange fire burned in his eyes.
From the locker Of the boat he pro-
duced a bottle of champagne, and
pouring out three glasses, handed one
each to his wife and Bernard. Then
raising his own, he said:
Here's to Love that is true.
Here is to Horror that's real.
Love and Honor and you
A trinity stamped with Gods seal
He touched the glass to his lips. but
the Others, astounded. hesitated.
why don't you drink" he cried
| why don't you drink to love and hon
or-the twin stars in life's diadem
No other virtues are so blessed or SO
rnre as love and honor"
The words were spoken as though In
pleasantly Not the suspicion of a
sreer accompanied them; not spark
from the fire that was consuming his
SOUL was visible.
So, together, they drank the toast
and when they had finished. Morgan
broke his glass upon the boats rail
and watched the pieces sink into the
sea.
The tide was now rising rapidly. AL
ready the lowest crevices on Fisher
mans Point were under water.
Suddenly Clark Morgan glanced at
his wife. my dear" he said, Il was
thinking what a beautiful picture !
could take If you and Bernard would
pose for me a moment on the rocks
you, kneeling in your white gown, my
dear. and Bernard, in this robe, hold
ing this crucifix in his hand, with the
waves all but kissing your feet, and
the broad sea in the background.
As he spoke. he unrolled package
he had taken, with the champaign,
from the locker, and now held up a
priests robe and beads.
"Bravo! cried Bernard. enthusiastic
ally you are a thorough artist, Clark;
1t is a splendid conception"
See. my DEAR" he said, the tide is
nearly to where we stand. Now kneel
right here, your hands clasped so, and
your eyes turned upward, SO; that's
right. Now, Bernard, hold the cruel
fix there. that's right; ah, that's per-
feet. Throw your head back a little
more, Gertrude, SO your hair will fall
ov er your shoulders, more. there. Now,
I'll sail away from the rock a few rods,
so as to get a better focus All, this
is going to be one of the triumphs of
my life. ="
Talking cheerily as he clambered
over the rocks. Morgan descended to
the boat and hoisted sail Twenty
yards from the Point he put the helm
about, and the boat turned its bow
gracefully towards the far-away shore.
A slight breeze was blowing land
ward. and before this he slowly sailed
making no pretense to check his
course.
After fifteen minutes or so, he glanc-
ed back at the man and woman on the
rocks. His wife had risen to her feet
and stood with her face towards him.
He could see the startled look in. her
eyes.
He waved his hand at them. BE
hold!' he cried. purity and goodness
A half hour passed before he again
looked back. Gertrude and Bernard
were standing upon the topmost point
OF rock, and the tide was nearly at
their feet. With the aid of his glass
he could see the look of horror on the
woman's face and the desperation in
the eyes of the man.
His wifes hair was shining wet with
the dashing spray, and tears glistened
uron her cheeks.
Then the twilight deepened. deep
ened. and finally Fisherman's Point
was but an indistinct dot upon the
horizon, with miles OF foaming sea on
every side.
But, in his drifting boat Clark Nor
gan sat and watched Fisherman
Point through his glass He saw the
man clasp the woman in his arms; he
saw the woman put her hands to her
eyes as though to shut out the sight
of death creeping nearer. nearer; ne
watched the tide rise to their knees.
to their waists. to their shoulders
then the darkness became so heavy he
could not longer distinguish them from
the spray.
From the locker he took another bot
tie Of champagne Filling n glass with
the sparkling liquid he extended 1t to-
ward the dense gloom that enshrouded
the Point. and cried:
Here's to Love that IS true.
Hcre is to Honor that's real.
Love and Honor and you-
trinity
4.