The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-06-22

tCopmtght, 1906, bv Mcclure, Phillips d Coz
The long sand beach seemed to be
deSerted-not Il single soul in view.
Suddenly from the gray timbers Of
wrecked vessels stern rose Ddckie
Boys head. Half kneeling in hisiworn
and sc;tnty garments, he rested a'hand
on the Jagged edge of n BEAM and,
craning his neck, looked up and down
the beach.
For second he knelt there, facing
the cleaning sea. The sun was in the
west, but it was still bright. Well, it
was early vet. She usually came bit
nearer sunset time. He hastily dived
into one of his pockets and from the
tangle that crammed it extracted three
marbles, fishhook and-his dearly
bought treasure The salesgirl had
wrapped it daintily for' him with mar
row white ribbon, and he held 1t care
fully, almost reverently, in both brown
little hands.
"Jiminee, I'm glad I've got some
thin to give her beforetshe goes away
somethin' to rememberi me by"
For quarter hour more the sun
marched toward the western horizon,
and then she came. But, alas, she was
not alone! A man was with her-not
one Of her numerous summer admirers,
but 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 sheltered seat. They
were both looking away from the dis
mantled stern, and through conven-
lent opening in its joints pair Of blue
eyes watched them eagerly. 1t was not
In Dickie'S character of youthful ira
ditions to sneak or hide, even less to be
an eavesdropper, but somehow a Gu
rious shyness had invaded him at sight
Of the stranger, and he found himself
unable to go forward or speak, but Of
the conversation which reached his ears
still such a child.
"How plainly we hear the BUOY"
said the girl, arranging the border Of
her blue serge skirt close to her russell
shoes. She was intent upon speaking
Of impersonalities. The man looked
out to sea, whence came the fitful tone
at disconcerting intervals.
"Wind's in our direction" he remark
ed briefly.
what makes it SO sad?" she specu-
lated idly, picking up pebble and
throwing it into the surf "The IT.
regularity of the sound, do you think?"
'Irregularity is not necessarily sad"
the man objected. l think perhaps
it's the almlessness, the futility Of it.
dear A bell ought to call people to-
gether. and this one warns them off.
Therefore it's lonely. 1t 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, l don't know but you're
right It's a 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. l thought
when came back that you might love
me- Perhaps you do. l 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-it is hopeless"
He spoke with a 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 yearning tender
ness of his expression, but there was a
flush Oh her cheeks and a light in her
eyes.
You see Blair" she said slowly, ats
so hard for me to know my own
mind, T.
Yes" he threw In, little frown on
his forehead, land 1t wasn't so very diff
ferent five years ago."
You mean to reproach me, Blair|
The flush ON the girls face was deeper
now, but the light had died out The
note of trouble In her voice melted
him. Unconsclously he sat down again
on the timbers.
II mean that l have lost five 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 tiny ring
on the third finger-a ring with a bit Of
red stone like 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 l promised that 1t should
bind you to nothing. 1t was to be a
reminder merely Of our friendship. But
In these five 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 relinQuish
ed her hand gently. and tomorrow
well, the years that stretch before me
seem bit black and long"
"Blair, don't think it's kind Of you
to talk like that" the girl broke in,
with nervous little laugh that was
half a sob. at makes me feel-it
makes me feel positively guilty. az II
| had purposely broken your heart.
You wouldn't want m to marry you
If | hadn't surely made up my mind,
would you? And l can't help it if ma
ture deliberately made me coquette-
so there!" She tossed handful Of
sand into space. She was angry with
herself for the foolish tears that had
started
Then there came a startled little cry
Of pain. Some of the sand had blown