Evening journal., 1913-05-22
A Centennial Story
of 1873
BY ARTHUR TRowBRIDcE

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. inhabited 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 business position: the girl,
Dorothy Ten Eyck. was TO begin prep
arations for her marriage. which was
to take place in a few weeks. II was
dusk when they finished their walk,
Edgar Hart starting TO walk north.
ward TO his home. mile away: Doro-
thy Ten Eyck to 20 to her fathers
house up on the bluff. a short distance
back OF the beach. On the way she
passed the house Of Mother Van Gaas.
back. who stood in the door.
II hNu luNh lpI NNhs hOtNNh9s odih
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'l not see him again in these
parts"
"You will prove false prophet,
Mother Gaasback. Edgar is true as
steel"
sTp,t ,rot4 ord ca. g" ronifod tba othor
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 a letter to
his sweetheart as soon as Il would be
convenient for him TO do so after reach
ing the city. He was 10 start at day
light the next morning and hoped to
reach New York by evening II he
wrote the next day Dorothy might get
a 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 60 to
the place where Edgar had given her
his last kiss She reached the edge Of
the blum and stood looking down on
the ocean. The crew OF British ves-
sci anchored not far from the shore
was making preparations for sailing.
She was a mnn-ofwar. and had the
couple not been absorbed in ench other
the evening before they would have
noticed her standing down the coast
from the direction Of New York. Dor.
othy saw a man on the deck waving
something white. but only for a mo-
ment. since an officer ordered him 10
Join those engaged IN hosting the sails
Dorothy surmised that a sailor seeing
woman on the shore was inclined "a
salute her. The ship sailed away.
When the fourth day after Edgar''
departure came round the post rider
left no letter for Dorothy. She was
sure one would come for her the mex
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 10 say that
she had not heard Mt all.
Il didn't think he'd 60 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 cii-
fed"
Dorothy, stung to the quick, was
about TO hurl the words back at the
old ,,-np,op l,nt ropra.-od tbo fr,p,,fea
and. turning her back. went her way
Weeks. months passed and no word
came from Edgar Dorothy was toe
proud to seek him. but at last one OF
the neighbors. who had business I'm New
York. when there went 10 the place
where Edgar was to have been em
ployed and learned that the young mar
had not appeared according TO appoint
ment. When Dorothy heard this she
was filed with torebodings worse thar
her distress at being neglected. She
feared that her lover had been mur
dered.
"He went away to get rid OF her.
said Mother Ten Eyck. "He never in
tended to stop I'm New York. He's
gone back TO his folks in England"
Every one except Dorothy accepted
this explanation. But Dorothy hat
faith in her lover. She told Of having
seen a man on a ship wave TO her til,
day after Edgars departure, and thi,
was interpreted by her neighbors e
mean a farewell from her lover to her
Eighteen months passed. when on,
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 h'
left Dorothy, while walking on I'll,
beach. he saw a boat approaching
When 1t touched the shore half doz
en- men sprang out. took him forcibly
into the boat and out to a ship that hai
; Just dropped her anchor. He had beer
captured by a press gang for the Brit
. ish navy.
The next morning he saw Dorothy
on the beach and tried 70 attract bel
! attention. but was ordered TO duty II
: hoisting sails He had been compelled
to serve the interval since his capture
In the British navy and had received
quite sum Of prize money. Will
which he had at last succeeded in max
ing his escape He married Dorothy
and with his capital he opened a small
store in New York.
=
HIS LEG IN WAGON WHEEL.