Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-02-22
A Singular Call
II Came From One Who Had
Seemed Ungrateful
BY r. TOWNSEND SMITH

whom was employed as a diver.
when a boy stepped up 60 me aud
handed me a telegram.
Alec is caught In the Chaplain reservoir.
Come quickly and set him oui.
MABEL
| ran for the station to take a train
for Chaplain aud found one made up
10 start III twenty minutes But it
seemed an hour before | WAS rolling
out of the station on fifty minute
trip. While am making ii | will tell
how came to receive the telegram
received common school educa
ton One day in the school yard /
saw one OF the boys take doll from
little girl. and. holding II by its legs
he smashed it, china head against the
hard. sandy ground ! walked up to
the boy and without saying . word
slapped his face. OF course there was
a light. at which got the credit Of
having thraShed my antagonist But
this was rather because the boy |
fought was IN the habit OF doing mean
things for up cause whatever rather
than for any advantage ! gained oyer
him
The little girl whom | had bcfriend
ed surprised rae after the fight by max
ing a face NJ me. Children are but IN
grown men and women. and ! suppose
my reseuiing her III treatment was like
interfering in family feuds for every
body knows that protection against
tyranny in the ease ~ those who are
fond OF each other is liable to result
disastrousiy 10 the protector Refrain
ing from showing any feeling At the
girls ingratitude. ! walked on with
my hands in my pockets. whistlins "A
tune 10 make it appear that il was
matter of 10 consequence.
During the rest OF my school days |
had the NOR; .hcafion 10 experience the
III will OF both this boy and girl both
Of whom seemed 10 have taken dis
like to me II was period when We
were passing out OF childhood into
youth and for the several years re-
naming before we finished school
something about the girl knew lot
what-was growing upon me. Her
treatment OF me panied me-indeed.
would have given my best tennis rack
ct for smile from her When our
last term NJ school was finished found
myself IN love with her. True. | was
but sixteen years old ana she fifteen
but my experience in the matter has
proved that the younger the person
the more violent the love
Ii was very distressing for me 90 see
a girl whom had befrended and
whom ! loved not only showing repul-
sion for me. but layishing her admira-
ton upon the hoy whose malicious
treatment OF her had punished But
in matters OF the heart one never
knows what a woman Will do, and a
man Is not much more to be depended
upon. BE this as il may. ! saw my
love grow 10 womauhood lavishing her
affection on the person who had Out Vf
pure deviltry smashed her doll ! think
that rs child her turning against me
was natural As a woman 1t may have
been encouraged by my rival
Fate threw the three Of as together
not only ~ children. bat after We had
become men and women The girl /
secretly worshiped married my rival,
and attended their wedding though
rather rs her guest than his. for my
intimacy WAS always rather with her
family than his There was a GOODNESS
between me and him that never wore
of Whether his betroihed and after
ward his wife suspected my feeling,
for her did not know But ! lid
know that after her marriage she treat
ed me in much more friendly man
ner than before
About the time we finished school
and were ready 10 20 70 work ship
was sunk IN the harbor GU which we
lived, aud divers were sent down 10
put the chains under whereby 70 raise
her. There can be nothing more III
teresting to boy than man dressed
in diving suit going under water.
while those above pump mir down to
him We boys we're constantly on
hand watching the process. and the
consequence Of = all was that several
OF MS determined 10 adopt diving Ms a
trade.
This brings me TO my Telegram. II
was from Mabel Granger. the wife u
Alec Granger, the Two In whose child
ish companionslip | had nterfered
many years before TO my discontinue.
Alec and had been divers ever since
we left school and now he having
been caught In dangerous position.
his wife had called on me 10 save him.
During my journey to Clapham I could
not drive from my mind that scene IN
the school. Mabel standing with her
headless doll Rugged to her bosom.
making face at me- as ! moved away.
while Alec was brushing the dirt on
his clothes with his hands.
Furthermore. there was every reason
10 believe that what I was called upon
10 do I would do ~ the risk Of my
life II II were m easy matter 10 res
enc Alec Granger would not hive
been summoned saw In Mabcl's iele