The Washington bee., 1911-07-15
A LONG
ROMANCE
It Ended Realistically In
WedloCk
By RICHARD G. WHITE

broad piazza of a summer hotel over
looking the ocean. Beneath him the
waves were curling in on the beach,
casting a 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
ing in and recession of waves with
stOlid Indifference. Not so George
Warrington, whose spiritual part was
made of finer stuff 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 1t all,
for he was alone in the world, without
Wife or child.
The waves were recalling to him
picture of his youth. He had seen It
from a hotel window. The hour was
between daylight and dark. Far out
on the horizon a full moon was rising,
a belt Of cloud across its center. Near
er a black hulk was rising and falling
monotonousIy. Nearer still lay a point
of rocks. At low tide it was q little
peninsula, at half tide an island en-
bracing a few square yards, at full
tide submerged. On its face, looking
out upon and absorbed in the beauti-
full scene, sat 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 off.
Quick thought shot through the brain
of the young man looking out of the
window The tide his fancy transtig-
ured to a savage in the wilderness
with raised tOmahawk stealing on his
prey. Again it was a serpent encir-
cling the girl and drawing its coils
closer and closer about her. 1t was
really an inanimate ocean uncCn-
sciously surrounding a girl unmindful
Of all save the beautiful scene before
Der.
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 II
a boat were lying anywhere near on
the beach. None was in sight. Reach
ing the strip of water closing in behind
the rock, LIE plunged in and swan
across.
The girls reverie was broken by look
ing up and seeing Il dripping figure be-
side her.
Come, quick! You're cut off by the
. tide"
Turning, she saw the swirling waters
behind her. Her face lost its color, for
she would be helpless in that quick
current. She stood paralyzed.
Come 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, encirclinS 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 till 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 a good swim
mer but by this time the girl was
clutching him 50 as to impede his eff
forts. At that hour few were on the
beach and none within call. Warning
toms efforts were having less and less
effect, and he was about to 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
in less than a minute the dark body OF
a boat appeared on the crest of a wave
above the drowning couple. Then q
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 Mr.. Warrington was passing
in memory over the scene that had Oc
CURED more than thirty years before &
woman whose white hair cOntrasteC
with her comparatively young face
came up and stood with her hands OF
the piazza rail, looking out upon th'
simmer that was beginning to eXtenC
itself from the rising moon. She turneC
} and was about TO go away when sht
noticed the man sitting near her. Their
+, was something in his appearance, hi
wrapt attitude, to tell her that he, Ek'
herself, possessed the gift of apprecia
ton of the beautiful She felt i'm
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. "A child once said, God is
beautiful painter While the state
ment places the lesser above the great
er, it is still a beautifully expresse
thought"
Indeed it IS But the most absOrt