Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-03-07
B|GNEss or LIFE.
Two Old Lovers Look on at the
Waters Of Strife anG Gain
Wisdom.
BY MAY c. RINewALr.

expectations
MY expectations-oh, Eben"
AS happy and wonder-rapt as chill
dren they sat side by side upon the
sand watching the waves romp at
their feet--the white-haired. wrinkled
little old man and the white-haired,
wrinkled little old woman with that
family likeness to each ether some
times seen in husband and wife who
have lived and loved together many
married years.
Before We came thought ! had an
idea how it looked" she went on after
a little break of intimate silence be-
tween them. From pictures in maya
zines, you know, and souvenir post
cards folks had sent us. But they all
was only ships of samples like you
get from a mail order store, and
here" she held out her arms to the
wide sweep Of sea in front of them
here there's the goods itself!
Whole beautiful bolts of it that scis-
sors haven't ever cut into" .
Yes" said Eben with a character
istic little nod of approval, that's
what takes hold of you from the start.
The bigness of it. The boundless
waters, as the saying is. Look how
they stretch on and on without any
stop to 'em! No stop. leastways, till
the sky shuts down sudden and shoves
EN- back. / reckon that's what makes
the waves, mother. The sky, way off
yonder at the far horizon, shutting
down on the waters and showing 'em
back"
His little pleasantly only skinned
the surface of her consciousness
with a wee ripple of an answering
smile-but the word "bigness" was O
plummet that sank straight TO the
bottom of her thought.
"The bigness of everything, Eben,
and the dazzlingness! she exclaimed,
her eyes bright, a glow on each wrin-
killed. cheek. Not only the ocean and
the beach, but the hotel-its rooms so
big and splendid it gives you that all
over feeling. as though you was living
In the same house with a sunset. and
the women with their beautiful
dresses and the wonderful way of fix
ing their hair, and-and the automo-
biles coming and going outside, and
the band playing indoors while you're
eating your meals. The bigness OF
life. tell you, Eben, it brings home
your own littleness till the sense of
1t makes you ache. The little years
behind you living in a little town
among little people. doing nothing but
little things, and the little years ahead
oh, Eben, now we know different, ] |
don't see how we're ever going to
stand Live Oaks Center againl And |
more than half our weeks gone al |
ready"
The next day brought another phase
If bigness to ponder over, for In the
light between with the sudden rush
" an angry sea a storm had swept
in upon the waves, and after
breakfast when everybody hurried
agerly out on to the glass-inclosed
'eranda overlooking the ocean. the
little old couple sat watching the roll
md rage of the giant breakers in
pellbound rapture.
Suddenly, In the same GREATNESS
lash as lightning springs from out
storm cloud and strikes fire to the
arth, the whole crowded piazza
umped to its feet.
Around a nearby promontory, lit
lie fishing boat-rock-riven water
wept In its last death throes-had
ossed into sight.
Out into the roar Of the storm ran
he little old couple with the rest of
he crowd-men and women Needless
I the rain that soaked them to the
kin, to the wind that beat down upon
heir heads with fierce flap Of wing.
he life-saving station was a mile far
her up the beach. Besides, no boat
ould be launched In such a sea. The
ne hope-the throwing Of a lifeline
efore it was too late.
She's gone TO smash already! No,
y George, she's up again." The men
creamed to each other, pitting their
igmy voices against the shrek of the
ca. This way with the rope, fellows
quick" II
A score of eager hands seized upon
he coil of rope brought from a nearby
athhouse. Dauntlessly the men
ressed forward With all the might
4 puny human muscle tried in vain {
o hurl an end over and beyond the
atch Of the incoming breakers.
Then a crash of wave. a drenching
cap Of spray, hideous crunching {
ound, and cast high upon the beach Q
bits Of splintered wreckage
nd a mans motionless. lifeless form.
There came sudden break in the {
ury Of wind and wave, a softer fall {
Il rain, and like a child who had
Iashed cherished toy to pieces In a
1T OF passion and was now repentant,
he storm turned its back upon the
'roken life on the sands and sulked [
ut to sea.
A bunch Of men lifted the dead body t
lpon n stretcher made OF weather