The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-06-26
A Centennial Story
of 1913
BY ARTHUR TRoWeR!DCE

1t was during the early part of the
nineteenth century that young man
and a girl were walking on one of the
beaches of the New Jersey coast not
far south of New York city. That
region is now taken up with summer
residences and hotels, but it was then
a desolate ocean shore, inha bited only
by country people who dwelt there all
the year round. That the pair strolling
on the beach were lovers was evident.
for at times they walked hand in hand
and at times the mans arm encircled
the girls waist They were soon to
be married and were talking over their
plans.
The young man. Edgar Hart, was
to go the next day to New York to
take q business position: the girl.
Dorothy Ten Eyck, was to begin prep
arations for her marriage, which was
to take place in few weeks. 1t was
dusk when they finished their walk,
Edgar Hart starting to walk north
ward to his home. a mile away; Doro-
thy Ten Eyck to go to her fathers
house up on the bluff. short distance
back of the beach. On the way she
passed the house of Mother Van Gaas
back, who stood in the door.
Its bad luck for you, Dorothy" said
the old woman. that you've taken up
with Edgar Hart, who Is going to the
city, where he'll meet finer birds than
you. You'll not see him again in these
parts"
"You will prove a false prophet.
Mother Gaasback. Edgar Is true as
steel"
Just wait and see." replied the other,
and. turning her back on the girl. who
was struggling to repress tears at the
malicious thrust she went into the
house.
Edgar had agreed to post letter to
his sweetheart as soon as it would be
convenient for him to do so after reach
ing the city. He was to start at day
light the next morning and hoped to
reach New York by evening. If he
wrote the next day Dorothy might get
letter from him by the post on the
fourth day after he left her.
The morning after their parting Dor
othy stole away from home to go to
the place where Edgar had given her
his last kiss. She reached the edge Of
the bluff and stood looking down on
the ocean. The crew of British YES
sci anchored not far from the shore
was making preparations for sailing
She was a man-of. war, and had the
couple not been absorbed in each other
the evening before they would have
noticed her standing down the coast
from the direction of New York. Dor.
othy saw man on the deck waving
something white. but only for mo-
ment, since an officer ordered him to
join those engaged in hosting the sails.
Dorothy surmised that sailor seeing
woman on the shore was inclined to
salute her. The ship sailed away.
When the fourth day after Edgars
departure came round the post rider
left no letter for Dorothy. She was
sure one would come for her the next
day. but she was again disappointed
When a week had passed and no let
ter came Dorothy was much troubled
Passing the house of Mother Ten Eyck.
the old woman called to her, asking
what word she had heard from Edgar
and Dorothy was obliged to say that
she had not heard at all.
Il didn't think he'd go back on you
so soon,' said Mother Ten Eyck.
well, you'd better choose some young
man who is content to stick to the plow
and not waste your time waiting for
one who is ambitious to become citi
fed"
Dorothy, stung to the quick, was
about to hurl the words back at the
old woman. but repressed the impulse
and, turning her back, went her way.
Weeks. months passed and no word
came from Edgar. Dorothy was too
proud to seek him, but at last one of
the neighbors, who had business in New
York, when there went to the place
where Edgar was to have been EN-.
ployed and learned that the young man
had not appeared according to appoint
ment. When Dorothy heard this she
was filed with torebodings worse than
her distress at being neglected. She
feared that her lover had been muir
dered
HE went away to get rid of her,"
said Mother Ten Eyck. HE never in
tended to stop in New York. He's
gone back TO his folks in England"
Every one except Dorothy accepted
this explanation. But Dorothy had
faith in her lover. She told Of having
seen a man on a ship wave to her the
day after Edgar's departure, and this
was interpreted by her neighbors to
mean a farewell from her lover to her
Eighteen months passed. when one
day the missing man walked into Dor,
othy's home alive and well and caught
her up in his arms
This was his story. The night he
left Dorothy, while walking on the
beach, he saw boat approaching
When it touched the shore half a doz