The San Francisco call., 1909-10-31

M the seal some day when you are in San
Nv Il Diego You the fishermen, the waiter,
the soda fountain man, the spectators. the
raft and the Pacific ocean for yourself
Nature made La Jolla the most beautiful spot on
the coast of southern California 1t is very popular
resort She made Peter the most attraetvely homely
on that same coast He is very popular bank
clerk Polly will enter into the plot directly.
Peter never was what is commonly termed a
queener" OF course. he had hosts of fair friends,
had actually fallen in love since his twenty
fifth birthday which just one year ago. Previous
to that anniversary he had proposed only 10 girls,
which is remarkably low record for young
who has lived in San Diego since bis fifteenth anni-
versary Each of the 10 had accepted, and Peter is
a Mormon which is little story in itself But
these were all kid" affairs
And now for Polly
She is OF the most attractive sweet and gem
orally desirable girls written about, regular
corker and just the type 10 permanently bowl
man of Peters stamp.
With her highly cultured mother she had been at
La Jolla just three weeks previous to the Monday
which marked the beginning of things so far as he
was concerned. Peter, too for that matter.
Love at First Sight
To be brief Peter fell in love with her at first
sight She was seated at the time the raft which
is anchored off the at La Jolla each summer.
She busly engaged in the fascinating operation
of arranging her hair under the red rubber cap which
she was wearing and dangling her legs in the deep
interesting waters of the Pacific. like mermaid
only mermaids don't wear caps and have no legs to
dangle
There were not many swimmers in at the cove
when Peter dove in He Polly on the raft. She
was alone on it. Peter had intended to swim out to
it anyway because it is the natural thing to do.
Everybody who goes swimming at La Jolla takes
down the sand to a certain edge where the shore
deepens, dives in, comes up and blows for moment
and then heads for the raft with that easy, swift,
graceful stroke which so impFesses the idlers and
spectators on the veranda of the bathhouse.
AS 1 was saying when interrupted myself. it is
the natural thing to do-swimming out to the raft
after diving in Just like eating bread after buttering
it going sleep after diving into bed-if one is
healthy.
1t is generally admitted that Peter saw Polly on
the raft Some assert that he stood at the waters
edge and gazed steadily her general direction for
several minutes before taking the plunge. Others
add that Polly returned the stare, and two
eye witnesses willing to that she actually
smiled But this is mere gossip and has never been
authenticated.
And Peter, reaching the raft slipped out of the
water gracefully seal and rested opposite Polly
And as they sat half facing each other they fell
desperately in love.
This may be rather abrupt way of ehroneling
delicate an event, but it is the plain truth Both
Peter and Polly admitted ito themselves, /
morally certain Of it, although neither of them
told out and out. / just naturally know it.
And entereth the villain.
His name is of no impertanee-its Jones' He
came down to the cove just in time to see Peter
swim to the raft and repose near Polly. Jones knew
both Of them, and he also knew that the two were
not acquainted-at least not according the rules
Jones believes in the proper thing. He swan out
and introduced them. In doing so he blasted his
fondest hopes, for he had long ago made up his
mind that he must have Polly for his own He had
known her a little. gFl-he was a young man
then-and although never furnished with what most
of would call encouragement, he had accepted
the matter settled The fact that he is 40, pros
porous, well connected and Presbyterian is a COM
bnation to make any man eoneeited. Jones is natu-
rally inclined that way.
Mamma Was Willing
And Pollys mamma recognized all these assets
barring the last and more than willing union
for Polly suited her far better than mere match
which is fairly comprehensive nushellful Of Pollys
history up to the time of this story.
And now viii get down to business and tell how
it all happened for the reader may have already
guessed, it did.
In the first place Polly is a splendid swimmer
Many of her numerous admirers make it a point to
admire in conventional clothes when she goes
in at the cove. They don bathing suits after she
comes out They might be invited to swim out a few
miles beyond the point in the deep breahless ocean
from which there would not be any hope of ever
swimming back again if they did otherwise Pollys
invitation always resembles dare and who likes to
be stumped by girl2
She invited Peter to swim out a ways" with her
before they had each other on the raft five min
utes. Peter accepted with light heart He would
have started with her for the opposite bank of the
Pacific at that stage of the game
Jones had the same lame shoulder he always used
for the occasion, and excused himself He remained
behind the raft and said things which no Presby-
terian should say, even to himself
Peter and Polly swan clear out to the Watermelon
If you have ever been fortunate enough to visit La
Jola you will know that the Watermelon is a power
fishing soop. When not fishing ii is anchored near