Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-10

Then Miss Vann put by her brushes
and colors, and with a fond farewell
glance at her daubs, went out with Bee,
locking her studio door carefully after
her
The two breakfasted alone-Madame
Vann did not appear. AS the clock on
the salon mantel struck eleven Miss
vann ordered her carriage, and attend
ed by her guest and her French wait
ing maid, rolled off to the bathing
beach, to take her morning plunge In
Newport surf.
The tranquil sea glittered like q
great expanse Of silver scales. The sun
shone cloudlessly on the gray sands,
and over the purple cliffs, and the rocks
and forts of the harbor. The vapors Of
early morning had vanished, the air
was like balm. and hundreds Of people
thronged the bathing place-spectators
in carriages, laughing children with
their nurses, gay girls as merry as
grigs, elegant ladies in picturesque cos
tunes, and ladies not so elegant and
regarding whose physical proportions
the aforesaid costumes made unpleas-
ant revelations.
Miss Vann, arrayed for the occasion
like Paris fashion-plate, seated her
self on a beach chair, and was sur
rounded directly by a score Of friends,
all anxious for a word and a smile
this rich spinster was great favorite
in society. But Eric Sake was not
among them, and Bee stood impatient
ly by, watching the fringing surf-lines,
and waiting for the close Of the i'm
promptu levee.
When it was over, Miss Vann retired
to her bath-house. and with the help Of
the French maid, Bee struggled into a
charming blue bathing-dress, and, with
fair braids flying, and all her Hebe
prettiness enhanced by the soft, cling
ing costume, she rushed forth for her
first tumble in the breakers.
Bee was not timid by nature. and she
had no nerves Of the troublesome sort.
She took to the watery element as
naturally as a duck. Her warm blood
was impervious to its chill, and her
heart too full of healthy delight to feel
any of the qualms that usually beset
the novice in her first battle with the
surf. She scorned the aid Of the rope
at once, and breaking free from Miss
Vann-Miss Vann, who looked like an
animated scarecrow in red and blue
held out her dimpled white arms to
meet the ocean that came rolling softly
into their embrace.
"Oh how lovely!" she said to herself,
as she splashed about in the sun-warm-
ed waves like young dolphin. How
good it seems to be alive this perfect
morning!-to be young and tolerably
fair, and to have the world all before
one!"
Bees world meant plenty OF fine
dresses, balls, jewels, operas, fetes,
with perhaps, now and then glimpse
of Miss Vann's artist friend added to
her other felicities; for his face still
haunted her memory like some strain
of wonderful music.
How gay ythe beach looked-how
merry the voices Of the bathers sound
ed! She had ventured beyond them
all. The surf was high up about her
shoulders Still she felt no fear. At
little distance a mass Of strange, pur-
plish sea-wreck drifted by-foatage,
perhaps, from far, unknown waters. Bee
plunged to grasp it, and as she did so,
big, inrushing breaker swept her or
her feet. The next instant thousand
tons of slippery brine seemed rolling
upon her-choking her, like great muir
derous hands. The element which had
been her docile playmate moment be-
fore. was now her deadly enemy. One
thought flashed through her frightened
brain-"O God! am drowning.
She cried out, and the sound was
echoed by the bathers nearer the beach.
| Above all other voices she heard, or
fancied she heard, Miss Vann Shrek
ing, Save her!"
Then sight and hearing fled togeth-
er. Over Bees blonde young head the
waters closed, wrathful and covetous.
She sank powerless into their cruel
possession. and knew no more.