Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-16
DAILY STORY
SHABBY GENTEEL.
tOriginai.l


When I went to the seashore for
August l was completely worn out.
| had managed q class of fifty children
for ten months, excepting holidays.
and never had l encountered so much
mischief June was a hot month, and
by the time | had completed the work
attending examinations l was too bro
| ken down TO get away for a change.
though my salary and my savings were
so small that l could only afford one
mouths outing, anyway.
l was walking one evening on the
beach drinking i'll the delicious salt sea
breeze when 1 met man who noticed
me with more apparent interest than
| usually received from strangers OF
the opposite sex. He brought pair
of fine brown eyes to bear upon me.
which caused me to lower mine, though
his gaze was perfectly respectful. even
deferential. My brief look at him was
only sufficient to tell me that his face
was intellectual and his clothes were
sha bby.
At a short distance from the shore
was rock on which l would often go
after sunset sink into a seat worn by
the water and enjoy the waves and
the breeze. / went there one evening,
passing over the narrow strip of sand
that led to it just as the full moon
was rising. For several nights 1 had
been troubled with wakefulness. and
now. lulled by the plash of the waves
and the sea breeze and the moonlight
on the water. l fell asleep.
i was awakened by a cold bath. The
tide had risen. and wave higher than
the rest had completely covered the
lower half of my body. l looked at the
water: it was all about me. 1 looked
up at the moon: it stood on the meridi-
an. | turned my head; the breakers
were on the beach behind me. l was
becoming terror stricken when | saw n
man on the shore making motions to
me. He called to me, telling me to re-
main where 1 was and he would go to
the inlet near by and fetch boat. Ten
minutes later I was relieved to hear
the sound of oars and see rowboat
rising and falling with the waves.
When it reached the rock and the oars
man turned his face to me. the moon
struck full upon it. He was the shah
by genteel man I had passed on the
beach.
There was every reason TO suppose
that he had saved me from drowning,
for could not swim. and since nearly
every one on shore had gone to bed il
is doubtful if my cries would have been
heard above the noise of the breakers.
Be this as it may. l had had thrilling
introduction to my rescuer and did not
n RI GOOD offices
of mutual friend to make us ac-
quainted.
After that we spent many an hour to-
gether on the beach. l tried without
appearing to he inquisitive to discover
his occupation and social stasus. but
failed. Though he was nearly forty, he
did not seem to have taken hold of
career He disliked money making. but
loved literature. art, science, all that
was ideal and intellectual. l asked |
him what career he would choose il he |
chose any, and he said he would prefer |
that of a gentleman. | sighed, regret |
ting that want OF energy or purpose |
had neutralized his excellent qualities.
l cannot think of my action in this |
important episode in my life without |
| had believed myself |
the most practical woman. / had pitied |
those women who had lost their heads |
in losing their hearts. and yet l not |
only suffered myself to fall in love with |
this man. who appeared to drift like
ship without rudder. but l permitted |
him to make love to me. Shabby as he |
was, no woman in her senses would |
have formed any other conclusion with
regard to him than that he made
precarious living by his wits.
However. the result was the usual re-
suit of infatuation. He said he had an
income of $500 a year. and / earned the
same We passed from friends to low
,rs and, after many misgivings on my /
part, to betrothal One thing he per-
,uaded me to do that considered posi-
lively rash-to be married quietly at Il
he seashore and return together. l
consented under protest, and we were i
married.
On reaching the station to return to
he city my husband put me on train
soing in the opposite direction. 1 was y
error stricken. / had married stran- II
,er and heaven only knew what he Ii
vas going to do with me. He led me X
nto a private room in a parlor car. II
demanded to know what all this meant,
specially the unwarranted expense.
Easy, sweetheart" he said in his
Usual careless way. NOW that you u
ant marry me for selfish purposes 1
will confess. / am one OF those multi
who have women thrown
It them by the thousands. 1 went to
he seashore incog. to get away from
hem. When passed you on the beach
suddenly struck me that you were
he woman 1 wanted to marry. The y
light you went to sleep on the rock L
vas watching you, hoping that you
would give me an opportunity TO rescue
'ou. In this you were very obliging as
veil as very stupid. II
my father started the business that IL