The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-11

wv wind against his face and the fc
OF the warm sand under his bare ie'
was utterly satisfying. lie was gla
now that he had accepted the ParmlcyS nvitatio
TO Oyster Bay; house parties had their charm, bu
he in mood for the complications OF the socia
game The presence OF one or two peaceful congenia
people might have been addition TO his prcsen
content, but he wanted nothing so much as rest
and rest not be obtained, III Merwms esu
nation where must cavort about at the behes
OF half dozen strenuous girls and an even NOR
cxacting hostess. But here the ocean si6c OF th
island his modest hostclry within stones throw
of the surf he could loaf in his bathing suit Tor hour
i'll tho sun and rid himself gradually oi the wrcchet
sense OF strain which had possessed Inn tor
months
Since it was September the beach not crowded
lust spots of color here and there made by the float
ing fair hair OF children digging III the SAND
and by the rcd bathing cap OF tai girl somewhere
about the middle distance
Lying on his side his elbow proppng his head
his big shoulders and muscular limbs passive his
eyes wide and dreamy and very dark. Merwin made
:, considerable addition the composition oil the
picture as the girl in the bathing dress and rcd cap
rcaIizcd She was standing on the edge Of things
1Iv and stable facing three thousand miles OF salt
sea Mcrwin, watching her. decided that She was
one Of the few women he had seen who i'll bathing
costume looked thoroughbred The longer he
looked the more he liked her slcndcrncss, which was
yet rounded and graceful the poisc OF her small
icad, the grace OF her every attitude and move
ncnt AS he watched her she advanced slowly INTO
,he surf making little jerky calculations as she
moved Evidently the water was bit wintry, IN
spite OF the warm sun.
win shivered sympathetcallv as she drew 10 her
ull height dripping wet, rings OF bright hair es-
apng from her cap. Then She whlrled about
danced into deeper water waving her white arms
obviously rcvcng III the wine glow OF the sea-
which energies every and muscle He had
anything prcttcr than the game she was
playing with the surf Suddenly he lost her, and in
Inc thrill OF something like terror he sprang his
Fset only to her dozen yards farther out
Ioatinp sercncly beyond the breakers
There were ite-guards ropes nearer than
ihc hotel, a full quarter of mile away and the
leach was now practically deserted Mcrwin took the
plunge hastily, swimming out towards the lightly
floating figure AS hc drew near she turned on her
lace and began to swim, with long easy strokes He
kept parallel with her. and they went up the beach
toward the hotel. Merwin was watching not en-
lrcly mpersonaly, the red cap which suddenly
seemed to symbolic the charm of the unknown
the lure of the whom man cannot place.
who stands to him for mystery and certain wild
freedom from tho conventions OF life
Suddenly. his novelist brain woyc airy fanccs
about her, she again disappeared In another mo-
Jncnt he was barely two feet from a lovely face
flung back upon high folded arms She noatcd
high, her cap gone leaving exposed a quantity of
wet curling hair, which now looked dark red rather
Than golden.
did you dive to frlghten me?' spluttercd MGR
win. III so, you succeeded"
She laughed. 81 never thought OF you" she re-
turned easily why should T.
This SO unanswcrablc, although he didn't be-
licvc her, that Mcrwin merely swan along silently,
when he suddenly that they were heading for
the open
Turn and swm' he commanded "Wc arc
getting too far out" And lie set the example of
heading toward the shore. For moment she did
not obey, and he had sensation OF altogether un-
SoninC uyhcn her oft
and she followed with Please waltz which was
4 little breathless
AS they emerged from the cradlelkc swinging
OF the deep into rough surf and touched bottom.
they looked at each other for moment then a
great breaker hurled down upon them
The girl flung roughly against Merwin; he
caught her and held her steady against the fierce
pounding OF the
The beach beyond them was quite empty; The sun
low and rcd against bank OF clouds the horizon.
Mcrwn felt her trctnbe as he stood with his arm
supporting her, the clear paor OF her face
turned TO deep pink. She certainly beautiful,
and they appeared to be quite alone in the universe
Also, she had frightened him and made him angry
81 should like you 10 know that l want to kiss
you and that morally | consider [ should be quite
justified in doing so" He strobe into the shadows
and loosencd his hold. But l won't" he concluded
royalty
Inc Drown eyes thdt loOkcd al nm lduHneu no
longer "Thanl; you mucl-for behaving like 4
gentleman she said btngly. AS she stood for a
moment 4 step above him. her smile came suddenly;
in the glow from the sky she looked nymph-hkc,
with her loose warm-hucd hair and the exquisite
liehtncss of her figure outlined in her dripping
dress
She laughed soft laugh OF raillery THANK
vou-and good-by-Mr. Merwin' Her tone was the
tone OF casual a~Quaintancc, for the benefit he
guessed OF the solitary attendant i'll the bath-honse
but as he turned and ran swiftly towards his own
cottage he was curiously puzzled. He muttcred
half aloud "Mr Merwin? Then all along she knew
mcw And tho maddening thing about it that
he had never to his knowledge bchcld her before
and he might her again.
But the next day hc found her at the same place