The Caucasian., 1909-07-18
WOMAN'S WEAKNESS.
ay MARY RowEs.
[Copyright, 1905, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l ID


This is a seashore story and illus
trates the fact that woman is
stronger in her weakness than in her
Marcia Worthington was the crack
swimmer of the season at Cranes
Beach. She would walk into the wa
ter gracefully. skip over the first two
or three waves, take the next one or
two against her side, then, diving un-
der big roller. swim out like dol
phin.
What a splendid thing" those who
lined the beach said, 'for a woman
to be able tQ do such thing!''
Rodney Temple was at Cranes Beach
that summer for the express purpose
of proposing to Miss Worthington.
He, too, was a swimmer, and many
were the excursions beyond the ropes
made by the two in company.
That's the way for a girl to get
husband" said fat woman on the
overlooking pavilion. I'm going to
have my daughters learn to swim. Do
you see that timid girl over there
watching them with tears in her eyes?
She's Sally Jones. She's dead gone on
Temple, but what can she do? She
gets an occasional dance with him in
the evening or game Of tennis in the
afternoon, but the hub around which
his wheel revolves is couple of hours
in the morning when he can swim out
on the bouncing waves with Marcia
Worthington. Sallie hasn't ghost of
a show"
But If there were tears in Sallie's
eyes there were schemes in her head
While she was looking at the two
symmetrical figures sporting in the
sunlight she was revolving plan,
There wasn't much hope of success in
it, and there was some danger. 1t re-
quircd a peculiar kind of pluck-that
kind which one would require at jump
ing from fifth story window into a
net held by people over stone side
walk Sallie was not plucky, but she
would rather die than see Temple and
Miss Worthington spooning out in deep
water where she couldn't go even to
make fight for him.
The next mail carried an order to
the city for a bathing suit, and one
morning Sallie appeared on the beach
arrayed in it.
why. Miss JONES'" said one. Il
thought you never bathed!'
''Why. Miss JONES'" said another,
you're not going In! Be careful!
Don't let go the rope"
Poor Sallie ran this gantlet with a
heavy heart. She knew what she was
going TO try to do, but didn't know il
she would have the courage at the
| critical moment or If it would be OF
any avail il she had. Just then Tenn
pie came down to the beach and stood
looking out over the ocean like ar
| Apollo. a ffmid voice beside him re
called him to his surroundings. Mr.
| Temple. would you mind helping mt
to the raft when you go out this mern
| mgr
Mind it? I'd be delighted. Why
how-how becoming a bathing suit Il
to you!"
Then came Miss Worthington, look
Ing for all the wor1d like Diana tread
ing the sand.
Miss Jones is going out with us thf
morning said Temple.
The eyes Of the two girls met. Mar
cia knew that some game was intend
/ ed; Sallie knew that 1t would be block
ed if possible Temple was the onl!
stupid one of the three. AS they walk
/ ed down to the water Sallie remarked
almost inaudibiy that she was goint
| only to the raft, anchored some fort.
yards ont for diving purposes. Templ
i and Sallie started firsl, and when be
/ yond their depth Temple passed eve
j the short space remaining swimmin:
4 with one hand and supporting Saili
/ with the other Just as he got he
on to the raft graceful mermaid witt
i yard and half of nair shining be
hind her swan past. II was Marcia.
There was no ore besides Sallie OF
| the raft, and Temple didn't like t
leave her there; she looked so fral
so frightened. He would have remain
ed. but she bade him go. Enjoy you
swim. she said in a sad voice.
-'But you'll be washed off"
NO: III hold on tight"
He followed the mermaid, swaH
| about with her for awhile and wa
floating on his back looking up at th
heavens when he heard scream
Turning over on his chest. be saw iii
people on the shore pointing with hes
rffied locks to the raft Like might.
sturgeon he made couple Of doze!
long strokes and as he neared th'
raft saw Sallie's head emerge frcn
! the depths. She went down again. bu
he dived for her. brought her up ans
supported her to shallow water. Their,
she lay In his arms, pale, helpless. IN
/ conscious.
Poor little girlr he said in hi
| heart, and a mighty interest arose il
one whose life he had saved, Til
| bathing master, whose attention h.lt
momentarily been elsewhere when th,
accident occurred came up and offer
/ ed 70 carry the unconscious girl to th