Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-01
A Long
Romance
II Ended Realistically In
Wedlock
By RICHARD G. WHITE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By RICHARD G. WHITE


An elderly gentleman sat on the
broad piazza OF a summer hotel over
looking tho ocean. Beneath him the
waves were curling In on the beach.
casting line of foam over the smooth
sand, and receding with an efrervesc-
Ing sound. There may be people who
can sit and watch this incessant roll
Ing In and recession Of waves with n
stolid Indifference. Not so 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 a tinge OF sadness In It all,
for he was alone I'm the world, without
wife or child.
The waves were recalling TO him a
picture of his youth. He had seen it
from hotel window. The hour was
between daylight and dark. Far out
on the horizon full moon was rising,
belt OF cloud across It's center. Near
er black hulk was rising and falling
monotonously. Nearer still lay a point
Of rocks. Az low tide 1t was a little
peninsula. st half tide an island EN-.
bracing few square yards. ut full
tide submerged. On It's face. looking
out upon and absorbed in the beauti-
full scene tsat<a girl. Since she had
gone there the sand behind her had
been covered by the rising waters, and
she was unconscious that her retreat
over dry land had been cut OF.
Quick thought shot through the brain
or the young man looking out OF the
window. The tide his fancy transfig-
ured TO savage I'm the wilderness
with raised tomahawk stealing on his
prey. Again 1t was a serpent encir-
cling the girl md drawing its coils
closer and closer about her. II was
really an inanimate ocean uncon-
sciously surrounding n 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 he ran he looked TO see IL
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 n dripping figure be-
side her.
Come, quick! You're cut or by the
tide"
Turning, she saw the swirling waters
behind her. Her face lost it's color, for
she would be helpless in 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 1t. encircling her
with one arm. he swan with the other.
The distance across the current was
not long. but Il ran go swiftly that the
two were carried along till they found
themselves at the end Of the little
strait. where they were tossed on the
waves.
Then came 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
bench and none within call Warning
toms efforts were having less and less
effect. and he was about 10 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:
"Help!"
The sound of oars ceased, then re-
commenced with a quicker stroke, and
I'm less than n minute the dark body OF
boat appeared on the crest of n wave
above the drowning couple. Then a
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 I'm by the boatman
While Mr.. Warrington was passing
I'm memory over the scene that had Oc-
CURED more than thirty years before
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 ne. like
herself, possessed the gift OF apprecia-
ton OF the beautiful She felt I'M
PEELED TO address him.
isn't It charmlng?" she exclaimed,
half TO him
SAY. rather. infinitely grand" he re-
piled, rising and uncovering
I'VE women are apt TO see the beau
tifuI, you men the grand" she contln-
ued ~ child once said. God is a
beautiful painter While the state
mont ,,Inrn.. III Innrnr nI.nr-n IL. ..rn-.A