Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-17
A Long
Romance
II Ended Realistically In
Wedlock
ny RICHARD c. WHITE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.
ny RICHARD G. WHITE

broad piazza OF a summer hotel over
looking the ocean. Beneath him the
waves were curling I'm on tho beach,
casting line OF foam over the smooth
sand, and receding with an effervesc-
ing sound. There may be people who
can sit and watch this incessant roll
luz in and recession OF waves with
Stolid indifference. Not SC George
Warrington. whose spiritual part was
made OF finer stun than that OF the
average man or woman. To him the
pillows told stories OF infinity More
than that. they brought him memories.
There was. tinge or sadness In it all,
FOR he was alone In the world, without
wife or child
The waves were recalling to him n
picture of his youth. He had seen it
from hotel window. The hour was
between daylight and dark. Far out
an the horizon full moon was rising,
Il belt OF cloud across it's center. Near
or black hulk was rising and falling
monotonously. Nearer still lay n point
Df rocks. At low tide it was little
peninsula. ut half tide an island en-
hraclng few square yards. at full
tide submerged. On its face. looking
out upon and absorbed In the beauti-
fui scene, sat n girl Since she had
gone there the sand behind her had
hccn covered by the rising waters. and
she was unconscious that her retreat
over dry land hadebeen cut Off.
Quick thought shot through the brain
Of the young man LOOKING 0,.s of the
window. The tide his fancy transng-
ured TO a savage In the wilderness
with raised tomahawk stealing on his
prey. Again IL was serpent encir-
cling the girl and drawing its coils
closer and closer about her. 1t was
really an inanimate ocean uncon-
sciously surrounding a girl unmindful
OF all save the beautiful scene before
her.
In that region the tide runs with
great rapidity. Warrenton knew this
and. rushing down several flights OF
stairs, dashed over the sand toward
the girl. AS lie ran he looked TO see IL
n boat were lying anywhere near on
the beach. None was In sight. Reach
ing the strip OF water closing in behind
the rock, he plunged in and swan
across.
The girls reverie was broken by look
ing up and seeing dripping figure be-
side her.
Come. quick! You're cut of by the
tide"
Turning. she saw the swirling waters
behind her. Her face lost its color. for
she would be helpless I'm that quick
current. She stood paralyzed.
Gomez repeated Warrington. But
he did not wait for her TO move. Seiz-
ing her hand, he drew her. supporting
her at the same time. to the margin of
the torrent. She shrank back. Forci-
bly, dragging her into IT. encircling her
with one arm, he swan with the other.
The distance across the current was
not long. but it ran so swiftly that the
two were carried along It'll they found
themselves at the end OF the little
strait, where they were tossed on the
waves.
Then came a test Of endurance. War
rington was strong and n good swim
mer. but by this time the girl was
clutching him so as TO impede his eff
forts. At that hour few were on the
beach and none within call. Warning
tons efforts were having less and less
effect, and he was about 20 give up
hope both for himself and his burden
when he heard the sound Of oars. Max
ing an effort. he got his head as far as
possible above the surface and shouted:
"Helpw
The sound OF oars ceased. then re
commenced with n quicker stroke. and
In less than q minute the dark body OF
a boat appeared on the crest OF a wave
above the drowning couple. Then
hand was extended and Warrington
put out his own hand and grasped the
gunwale Of the boat. Between the new
conner and Warrington the drowning
girl was got into the boat. Then War
rington was helped In by the boatman.
While MFR. Warrington was passing
in memory over the scene that had oc-
CURED more than thirty years before q
woman whose white hair contrasted
with her comparatively young face
came up and stood with her hands on
the piazza rail. looking out upon the
simmer that was beginning TO extend
Itself from the rising moon. She turned
and was about to go away when she
noticed the man sitting near her There
was something in his appearance. his
wrapt attitude. TO tell her that he. like
herself, possessed the gift OF apprecia.
ton Of the beautiful. She felt inn
PEELED to address him.
isn't It charming" she exclaimed,
half TO him.
Say, rather. infinitely grand he re-
piled, rising and uncovering.
I'VE women are apt to see the beau
tiful, you men the grand" she contin-
ued. az child once said. God is
beautiful painter While the state
ment places the lesser above the great
or. it is still a beautifully expressed
thought"