El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-09

on the excursion planned for them, on
account of the notorious rips" even
now tearing to froth and foam the ba-
sins ordinarily motionless bosom.
Wheels ratified on the pier, and the
light touch of feet descending caused
the skipper TO turn around He had
barely time to remove his cigar.
Us this the launch that takes one
across the bay to Milton and Cape
North and Greenwich" a girls crisp,
quick tones asked him I hope I am
in time, for 1T is of the utmost import
ance that I reach Greenville tonight.
Are you the captain?'
The skipper bowed in reply. Really
he had not /time accorded him for
speech. There was a tension of ner-
voUs repression in eyes and voice as
the girls quick look sought his as
sent. then searched the line of sky
and bay beyond.
really. you know. this boat
doesn't"
81 know" she interrupted. the sta
ton agent told me you didn't go across
TO GreenvilIe today; he also told me
that there IS a heavy sea outside, and
that it requires so many extra gallons
of gasoline to make the trip, but 1
must get home tonight"
She stopped and, checking the rest
less, eager gaze Of her eyes seaward,
turned to him with what of appeal and
personality she possessed. She found
younger man than she had expected to
see, and different-quite. From under
the visor of his cap there flashed at
her a vague suggestion; the fleeing
memory of a face seen in an art gal
lery or book, but the impression was
so indistinct she scarce noticed II.
MY mother is ILL.," she said quietly,
nd
graphed 1 would be home tonight;
can't you see that you must take me?
I'll pay you anything if you'll only
make 1t possible for-me to get there
If the other passengers object, she
continued, mentally summing up the
suade them. and if you can't take my
sudae them, and if you can't take my
trunk, leave it; look, the tide is drop
ping already" Above the noise Of the
waves tapping, despite the intrusion Of
opposing obstacles, came the memory
of her mothers voice calling as in the
long ago she called her, through the
cleaning, at bedtime.
The skipper looked seaward a bris<
moment, as though he might be COM
pairing it with her Incompatible eyes,
then he said: 'T think we can man
age it."
Ben's head showed above the cockpit
'I think we can manage it." he MIN
licked to his engine On various occa-
sions Ben had known the skipper to
compress the results Of large expert
ences in that one sentence. The girl
smiled, gloriously, right up into the
shippers eyes. Perhaps that IS why
he forgot TO mention that this launch
was not the tourist boat by which she
had expected to reach home, but his
own pleasure launch.
With easy, steady throbs the little
engine won its way down the narrow
ing river and out into the wide rfmmed
basin.
The girl found the sunnieSt corner to
leeward and sank to the deck. her
hands clasping her knees. her lowered
eyelids telling Of lassitude following
two days of hard travel with unusual
mental stress. The sun crept under
the awning, the wind freshened, the
trim launch cut steadily ahead.
A waking dream enveloped the girl
Yonder, at the end of the boats wake,
path led up TO the old academy
where her ambitious little soul, tenta-
lively reaching out, had found the
first rock wall on which its tendrlls
might find a niche for aid in climbing;
for the old. unappreciated. back num-
bered professor Of philosophy mad
found in her the spark Of genius and
famed to flame q splendid energy. From
out this energy was born her desire
to study for the stage, and TINS leo
finally to a family rupture.
The wind fluttered the leaves OF the
magazine she held in her lap their
rustling recalled her wandering
thoughts; she turned with indrawn
breath and shining eyes to a Crisp
new magazine article concerning
young girls prophetic work in stage
land.
Gloating on that one page which
meant at least recognition, success
pay-her mother-she forgot the i've
years hard work; the bitter hght, the
disillusion. She remembered only that
now she could in some part repay a
mothers tireless love and sympathy
This last thought dealt also its sharp
stab Of pain; maybe she needed and
was calling for her now She arose;
the skipper was standing at the wheel
In the engine room, his cigar neglected.
If he wanted again TO see the glory Of
the smile her wondrous eyes reflected
he was disappointed.
cit seems to me we're making poor
time" she said. looking in at the door.
May speak to the engineer"