The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-15

would look at her when she came
home for holidays, note her growing
| beauty. and thoroughbred ways. and
whistle softly to himself. hoping fer
vently that the peanut trademark
would not handicap her for. tho race
with other women when she took her
plunge into the big swim
40. girl. do you ever wish your
dad was somebody besides the peanut
man." he asked her one day jocu-
! larry, yet with the undercurrent OF
earnestness that 10 well knew
Better peanuts than watered stock,
Dad" she would say. They're good
peanuts"
The fifth year 10 came back ready
for the big swim. She was twenty. and
| even the casual visitors at the beach
avowed that Hoskins' girl had the
others relegated to the background.
Almost childish she looked in her
black satin bathing suit, with its wide
Irish lace collar and jaunty little cap.
Courtney was standing up in the pier
Casino the first time he saw her. He
did not recognize her then. From the
long pier he watched her swim far
out beyond the RATS and life line. She
was making for the end of the pier
to dive or Near him somebody spoke
up.
It's Hoskins' girl. 10. She's come
back a sumner. and the best SWIM
mer along the shore"
In a flash of recollection. Courtney
remembered the scene at the old fruit
dock years before. Surely he remem-
bered 10 Hoskins. Just the memory
of her had kept his feet in the narrow
path many time.
A cry of horror rose from the crowd
along the beach. There came that
tense terrible moment of stupefied in
action that follows tragedy. Out on
the last piling of the pier. 10 had
stood for a minute. outlined wildly
against the bright sky. and had dived
almost recklessly. And she had not
reappeared.
Courtney's hat and coat fell behind
him as he raced headlong the length
of the Casino. Over the railing he
went like a seal. straight after the
girl. She had struck an old sunken
pile Down there in the blindihu
depths. his reaching fingers caught in
her thick curls. loosened when her cap
fell of. With one arm around the
slender waist he fought his way back
to life and fresh air.
I'll carry her myself. thanks" he
told the waiting crowd that surged to
help him. and he bore her drenched
form in his arms up the board walk
to Hoskins' peanut pavilion.
Two weeks later while the Senator
told Hcskins stories over bass fishing
by torchlight out on the lake. Court
ney sat on the veranda Of the cottage
on the point. and tried to win 10.
But. Court. dear. don't you under?
stand" she said at last, after all.
Dads only a good peanut seller. He
has been a success because people
liked his peanuts. And I am only Hos
kins' girl. Court. That's what folks
would say II you married me. Not that
I care-I love Dad. dearly. I don't
think he ever did a mean trick in his
life. or failed to help anybody out of
trouble. But that's what folks would
say"
Let them" retorted Courtney. pas
sionately. II want you 10. just you.
What do I care about peanuts in the
family. Father made his money out of
lumber. Don't they both grow out of
the ground? It's all tommyrot, 10. As
long as man keeps his hands and heart
clean. he's all to the good. and men
put the broad white mark on his tomb
stone. Didn't you save my life five
years ago? You darling! Oh. let me