The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1911-10-27
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

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Up to a certain date I had always
been skeptical of remarkable happen
ings. / was converted by an occur
renee which If told me by my most
trusted friend l would not have be-
lieved. And my conversion was the
more complete since the marvellous
episode turned the current of my whole
life and made husband and father OF
a bachelor. At any rate, don't care
to hear people sneer at improbabilities
or at persons who vouch for them.
was thirty years old and confirm
ed bachelor. In fact. I considered my
self especially fitted for single life.
Whether or no I was fitted to be mar
ried never occurred to me. Doubtless
if l had thought Of that side of the
proposition 1 should have considered
that If had chosen to marry I would
make a model husband. But no mar
'riage for me! Why should man give
up his freedom to suffer the annoy
ances of matrimony?
But it doesn't make any difference
what mans opinion is of matrimony.
If he happens to be struck by matri-
monial lightning he succumbs Ike any
one else. 1t was at the seashore that
the bolt fell upon me. and l forgot all
about my prenuptial prejud1ces. In
deed. I began to worry and fret and
fume for fear that matrimony would
be denied me, for there was just one
woman in the world 1 wished to mar
~. and if / didn't get her life would
no more be worth living.
l was standing on the beach one
bright morning where the blue waves
were rolling in merrily looking at the
bathers. A lady, young. rather pretty
and whose superb figure was shown to
advantage by becoming bathing suit,
walked leisurely down to the waters
edge and stood looking out upon the
scene before her. Each wave that
came up sent q line of white froth to
clasp her ankles. A breeze played with
her skirt. Then she walked out to a
greater depth. dived under an incom-
ing wave and appeared beyond it
swimming like a dolphin.
1 watched for the lady when she
came out of the ocean and saw her go
into a little cottage built up against
the dunes. The door closed behind
her. but her image had been left with
me. l saw her again the same even
ing supporting an old lady. doubtless
her mother. on the board walk. This
time 1 had a good view Of her face,
and melancholy resting upon it only
added to my suddenly awakened inter-
est Possibly any other expression
would have served the same purpose.
for when a mans imagination has
been kindled by the spark of love any
trait the fair one possesses is either
thrilling or delightful and usually both.
! secured an introduction to Miss
Henrietta Chamberlin and was gra-
cfOusly accorded permission to call at
the cottage. where she lived with her
mother and younger brother. Every
member of the family seemed to be
under a melancholy induced by some
misfortune. The natural disposition
common to them all judged to be
genial and happy. But If at any time
any or all became exhilarated some
closet skeleton would thrust itself in
upon their merriment and hush it.
Thinking to learn something about
them, questioned persons with whom
they were acquainted. But no one
knew them any better than l. When
the Chamberlins were asked where
they hailed from they gave evasive an
swers. stating usually that at present
they were unsettled. OF all the per-
sons with whom they became intimate
during their sojourn at the seashore
not one could give any account Of
them.
For time this mystery>put damp
er on my enthusiasm with regard to
Miss Chamberlin. But it was taking
one step forward to two backward I
was becoming rapidly enthralled and
soon got beyond any question of expe-
diency. Then. too. the seashore is a
dangerous place for those who wish to
keep out of loves whirlpool. Though
the waters look cool and. tempting.
there are sea pussies that are liable to
whirl one beyond ones depth.
Miss Chamberlin and were stand
ing one moonlight night just above the
highest line of foam when one of these
pussies came up and carried up into
boundless ocean of torture-or was it
water fay that did the damage? AT
all events while we were looking at
the moons simmer on the water.
changing with the light clouds that
foated lazily over her face. something
took away all my caution. and l pour
ed forth an unprecedented story Of
love.
Instead Of exciting pleasure I saw
under the moonlight shining full in
her face the melancholy she usually
wore intensified.
81 have been weak" she said. mo
woman can fail to see love before it is
expressed. should have repealed
you"
"WhyT I asked, overwhelmed by q
grievous disappointment.
"It's a secret"