The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-05
Z. BY ELIzABETH z. SHIELD

secluded hotel on a tiny island on the
Maine coast Kathleen had found in
Pete the best Of comrades and the
most sincere admirer she had ever
known.
Smiling up at the man, she explain.
led gayly: II never carried such heavy
trays in city restaurants"
These people are brutes," was
Pete's savage comment.
The unquenchable thirst of Mrs.
iGuyton interrupted and Kathleen
sagain started across the dining.room
with tray Of water bottles. The hui
..miliatfon following KathleeD's en-.
trance to the hotel by way Of the ser.
wants door was discouraging enough
to have forced her to thrust aside her
love for adventure and reality and to
have engaged the best rooms in the
hotel and appear at Mrs. Guyton's ia
BILE bedecked In gorgeous Owns and
sthe wonderful Browning jewels. Just
one thing made the step impossible.
I Pete-he would have to usher her to
4 her seat!
u Kathleen knew she was fair. All
her lifetime she had been admired and
iscourted. Since the winter season of
Fgayety and pleasure, great curiosity
had taken possession OF her. She
wanted to know whether the homage
she received was in part due to her
wealth and place in society. She want
ed to know II as a maid, serving soup
properly. she would be found as love-
~ as when she slipped soup-daintily at
tie table Of friends.
She found out almost instantly. Her
bronze hair and violet eyes evoked
admiration, Of course. but the men OF
her own world showed 1t by furtive
winks and flirtations. 1t was disap.
pointing, too, to know that life be.
hind the kitchen door was much the
same as on the. front piazza The diff
Sefrence lay only in its uncouth ex-
fterior and a greater amount of toler-
2sance for the faults of others.
In this Pete agreed. Being free ev-
cry afternoon at 2 and each. evening
after 8, they spent the time together.
Whether splashing about in the tumb.
ling surf, padding canoe in the
golden path Of the moon, or Just sit
ting at the end of the rickcty old pier.
Kathleen found life wholesome and
satisfying. She had never been hap
pier. Here on this dilapidated pier
kathleen passed many hours with her
friend watching the ever-changing sea,
with nothing to mar the exquisite 81.
lence, not a speck on the wide open
Space of sky and water.
1t Is Just as though we were the
iaonly people in the world" reflected
Kathleen idly one evening, as they
watched the moon rise across the wa.
ter.
I'VE are" promptly answered Pete.
What have We in common with these
sothers?"
The problem Of telling Pete the
truth about herself became more diff.
cult as the hours with him grew more
h precious. He was just the head waiter
z after all, and she daughter OF the
i Brownings.
Then occurred an insignificant mat
ter that was the turning point in Kath.
leen's life. She had since ceased 20
expect the big, dramatic things to en-.
ter into her days.
nj The extraordinary thirst of Mrs,
sGuyton had kept Kathleen busy on
4 and life In the kitchen unbearable,
Utterly exhausted and weary Kathleen
began her task in the dining-room, fol.
lowed Dy an encouraging smile from
Pete. Spoons slipped from her hands,
soups Just missed upsetting, ice water
: intended for the cut glass tumblers
J landed on the immaculate table GOV.
ers and the end of the luncheon houi
found Kathleen in the pantry shed.
ding real tears.
A can't stand 1t any longer" she
Hobbed and laughed. Pete stood by
Ill y
expected. I'm going right back. I'll
4 teacn ner-that old cat Guyton."
Wen go away from 1t all-well 60
sosetner, Pete breathed in her ear, as
ne took her In his arms.
kathleen chung to Pete. happy in his
love, miserable in her deception. II
must tell you, Pete-1 must"
Soothing and comforting her, Pete
led her to the coy spot they had ar.
ranged Tar out on the edge of the old
I pier. A thick fog drenched the beach
'front.'. They walked slowly along the
rotten boards Of the pier which sway
ed IN the terrific wind blowing in from
sea. The breakers began a mad
plunge quarter Of mile from shore,
ending In dashing white foam far up
I. on the beach.
$50 WoAA3Co VI u WAITRESS SllppeV
easily and gracefully from Kathleen.
She would have. one last swim with
Pete. then, high and dry in the sand
4 dunes, she would tell him, and togsth-
4 er they would adjust matters. Pete
ioathed the idle rich. Kathleen shud.
dered at the thought of adjusting her
lie to living in hotel kitchens, but she
y knew her fathers estate at Short
Hills would be Just as distasteful to
Pete. She postponed it all however.
Gracefully poised on the time.worn
rail Of the pier. Kathleen dived into
an oncoming breaker. Coming to the
5ssufface. she shook the water from her
'seyes. waved at Pete, then struck out
Z for shore.
us Closely following her powerful
stroke, mountainous breaker grasp.
ed Kathleen In its embrace. Desper.
ately fighting, she freed herself from
the whirle Sf the terrific undertow
and rose to the surface. She made a
feeble effort to swim, but the furious
sea leaping after her, again caught
and pounded her into submission,
/ dragging her toward low sea wall,
Fighting and struggling with every