Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-15
Cbe Blsque
ToRen
Nv JOHN ERIC VIRCINI
d.. 1-.s J..... d. fIIy,,s 4 4 n
c1r..l., Io5, IN Mcclure, Phillips & Co.

cfhnlnR HIS neck, Ioohth ul' hlih uoN IA
the beach
For Il second he knelt there. facing
the cleaning sea The sun was In the
west. but 1t was still bright. Well. 1t
was early yet She usually came bit
nearer sunset time. He hastily dived
into one of his pockets and from the
tangle that crammed 1t extracted three
marbles, tiShhook and dearly
bought treasure The salesgirl had
wrapped il daintily for him with mar
row white ribbon and he held it care
fully, almost reverently, in both brown
little hands.
"Jiminee. I'm glad I've got some
thin TO give her before she goes away
somethin to remember me by"
For quarter hour more the sun
marched toward the western horizon,
and then She came. But, alas, she was
not alone, \ man was with her-not
one OF her numerous summer admirers,
but a man whom Dickie never had
seen He was young and vigorous, but
there was something about him that
bespoke age-a sternness, even hard
ness. as of one who had fought battles.
They passed the corner Of the wreck
whence Dickie Boys head had risen
Just before and went down TO the other
end OF the vessel where some fallen
timbers made a sheltered seat. They
were both looking away from the dis
mantled stern and through a conven-
lent opening in It's joints pair OF blue
eyes watched them eagerly. 1t was not
Ia Dickic's character Of youthful ira
ditions To sneak or hide, even less to be
an eaveSdropper but somehow a Gu
rious sLyneSs bad invaded him at sight
OF the stranger. and he found himeeR
unable TO - forward or speak, but OF
the conversation which reached his ears
he understood little or nOthing-he was
still such IL child
How plainly we hear the buoy"
said the girl arranging the border Of
her bue serge skirt close to her russet
shoes. She was intent upon speaking
Of Representatives The man looked
out TO sea. whence came the fitful tone
at discoucerting intervals.
Winds IN our direction" he remark
ed briefly
What makes 1t 50 sadf" she specu-
lated idly. picking up pebble and
throwing il into the surf. The ir-
regularity of the sound, do you thinkE"
"IrregularIty is not necessarily sad"
the man objected. | think perhaps
it's the aimlessness. the futility of 1t,
dear 4 bell ought to call people to-
gether. and this one warns them off.
Therefore it's lonely. II must ever be
lonely That's why it's sad, little girl"
The bell swung at the mercy of the
wind and water. Its sound came to
them in the pauses OF the surf
Keep away, keep away" chanted
the girl. with the same measured inter
walls Yes, | don't know but you're
right It's rather doleful burden"
While the girl looked silently out to
sea he reverently studied her face with
It's somewhat pale beauty-the effects
OF the gold hair under the yachting
cap and that of the Christening indif-
ference OF her eyes.
Suddenly he rose and stood before
her, his broad shoulders sIlhouetted
against the growing pink Of the west
ern sky
I'm going away again. Eleanor" he
said. I'm going tonight. | thought
when | came back that you might love
me Perhaps you do. | don't know.
You don't know yourself. But I've lost
my old boyish faith you see. dis
trust you. and you distruSt yourself
and-so-!t IS hopeless"
He spoke with bitterness that
seemed Involuntary. Then for one brief
second he stopped and laid his face
against the soft hair on her forehead.
She could not see the yearnlng tender
ness of his expression, but there was
flush on her cheeks and a light in her
eyes
You see, Blair" she said slowly, its
SO hard for me 10 know my own
mind. -
Yes" he threw In. little frown on
his forehead "ani it wasn't SO very diff
rerent five year ago"
You mean to reproach me, BlairT
The flush on the girls face was deeper
now, but the light had died out The
note Of trouble in her voice melted
him Unconsciously he sat down again
on the tlmbers.
Il mean that nave lost i've good
. years out OF my life because you didn't
know your own mind, little girl. If
you had known
She held out her slim hand to stop
him Then his eye fell on a tiny ring
on the third finger-a ring with bit Of
red stone Ike drop Of blood. He
reached over and took the outstretched
hand
Poor little ring" he said musingly.
You would not take It, you remember,
Eleanor till | promised that It should
bind you to nothing IT was 10 be a
reminder merely Of our friendship But
in these fiye years all my thought, all
my labor, has been for you. I've never
been wholly hopeful. but now the last
shred Of hope is gone" He relnquish-
ed her hand gently And tomorrow
well, the years that stretch before me
seem bit black md long"
blair. | dcr't think It's kind OF you
TO talk like that" the girl broke in.
with nervous little laugh that was
half sob. at makes me reel-.t
makes me feel positively guilty, as IL
mirth rippled frp.l The shadow Of the
big hat, and lis owner let the suit case
drop to the porch II landed squarely
on Mr. Lloyd's toes and brought the
tears to his eyes.
I'm 'thr baby she laughingly said
as she stood for moment on the
threshold of the door taking him in
from head to foot, striving to fix the
identity Of her mysterious cross eX-
aminer. II am baby still, despite my
advanced age and the centuries of fu-
tile protest at my mothers tender for
getfulncss. Did ! not do well for an
infant'-this very saucily and boldly