Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-01-25
At THE SEAsHORE
1t All Happened on Lonely Stretch
Of Beach on a Summers
Day.
by ANNE MOOR.

man plohbAuhiy, NJ II ~ "Sto NuiNO sDS
usual thing for him to meet beautiful
young girls on a lonely stretch OF
beach, miles from nowhere.
How do you do" she replied. just
as pleasantly and properly as II
speaking to a passing acquaintance on
Broadway.
She strolled indifferentiy along the
sandy shore and finally. with delibera-
ton. selected the shadow OF large
rock as an inviting resting place.
He followed aimlessly. as It seemed.
and selected the other side OF the
rock AZ q convenient. although de-
cidedly uncomfortable. stopping place.
The rock was thin. Also not very
high. The young man was tall. Also
very determined.
He stood up, and in the Interested
gaze that he bent on the surrounding
country was startled to see that the
girl was reading.
He sat down suddenly.
"Welli" he mumbled to himself
wonderingly.
There was unbroken quiet for sew
eral minutes.
This silence was unbearnble. The
quiet of deserted beach was one
thing. Enforced silence was another.
This sun 10 decidedly uncomfort-
able" the young man remarked at
last.
No answer.
II say. I'm exceedingly warm"
A smothered giggle.
The next instant he was standing
before the girl. but she was reading
lntently. Perhaps he was mistaken
about that giggle. But he was sure
that he had heard something Of the
kind
ITS a nice day" he remarked
guiielessly.
Very NICE" she agreed gravely,
without looking up.
He dropped to the sand with a
sigh. but he was a big man. and the
rock would not throw shadow large
enough to shade him.
This shade Is not the right shape
!, tor man OF my size." he complained
conversationally.
There is another rock over there"
the girl explained indifferently.
The man set his teeth.
my name IL Robert villiers." he
stated presently to the world at large.
TITS very pretty NAME" she re-
piled demurely.
my home is in New York" he
further impaired to the waves.
"Oh, we'll some very respectable
people live there" she said consoling-
".
He wished she would look up from
that book. It was so very hard to
know just what one meant when you
could not Sc that ones eyes. The
book must be very interesting He
would just take a peep
When the man settled back into
his old position, there was a peculiar
expression on his face
The book was upside downi
Now he had an ally.
That's an interesting book" he
said presently.
Absorbing" she replied
II always read that way myself
when I'm at the sea shore. Isn't 1t
strange that the beach affects ones
eyesight In that way! Almost makes
one see things upside down. as It
WERE" The man appeared much I'm
tereBted in the subject.
Swiftly to the girl came the knowl-
edge that the man saw through her
little pretense, and she was exceed
ingly angry, as 10 the way of a girl
when found out.
She rose hastily and stamped her
foot angrily.
The next instant she was gone, and
the book lay at the mans feet.
He unused disconsolately He should
have kept his knowledge until more
suspicious moment. when her humor
responded.
The charm of the place seemed
strangely gone since the girl had
gone. and the shade seemed gloomy
since there was no golden hair to
catch any Of the surrounding bright.
ness.
He drew a long breath. and gazed
modify over the water
Suddenly low laugh made him
turn. and he saw the girl fash by In
bathing suit. and he heard her say
gayly:
Come on. I dare you"
The next instant she was in the
water. and out OF sight
The man was just thinking of going
In after her even as he was. when she
UOUVCQ w quatc h1HAs taa6nluk IuLO
his anxious face
He watched her gravely for a few
minutes. then turned away.
The girl seemed to be having q
splendid time all by herself.
Well. he would show her he could
have just as good a time! a.
He resolutely settled himself
against the familiar rock, and turned
his attention to the book. which had
been SO angrily left, with commend
able application. considering the po-
aition Of the book.
SO intent was he that he did not
hear anyone come up behind him. un-
= I'll he felt streams of water dripping
down his neck. and he looked up to
see over the rock the girl draw back
her. hand. and mischievous eyes gaz
ing at him. while hooking voice
said:
Il always read that way myself
when I'm at the sea shore Isn't
ff - - - - -
"a y