The Parker post., 1917-07-28
s.s"e
:: SALT Water ROMANCE !
! BY WILLIS ARKWRIGHT. !:


discharge you at a moments notice
and leave you penniless to face your
landlady while you hunted for another
place
II you were an orphan and had no
relatives to extend hand in pinch
II you had q hall room in a boarding
house-if you had to keep the cost of
your meals down to an exact penny
If you had no amusements, because Of
the cost and the fact that you had no
beau
If you sat down to face the future
and come to conclusion, what would
it be?
Every girl has a right to look for
ward to love and matrimony and a
home. Miss June Benton knew this,
and after an hours interview with her.
self she came to conclusion.
"No, 1t isn't worth the living" she
said.
The thought Of ending it all did not
was rather a relief. She planned the
particulars just as calmly as she
would plan a walk to the park, and
then went to bed to sleep the sound
est she had in month. She walked
into the Office next morning to say to
the manager:
81 am not feeling we'll, and I want
to take day Off"
81 am going to suggest that you
take year or two off ' was his heart
less reply. "None Of you girls seems
to know when you have soft job!"
Miss June Benton took a street car
for one Of the ocean beaches. She
bade good-by to none of the girls she
had worked with. She was smiling as
she rode.
Bathing suit? Yes, MISS" said the
woman at the bathhouse. Better be
careful, for the tide is going out, and
at this hour the life-savers are not on
duty"
June wandered along the beach un-
til she found board that would float
her. and then she entered the water
and went floating.
Slowly but steadily the tide carried
the girl out. It was like floating in the
air. For the first time in long months
her mind was carefree, and she sang
as she fiOated.
81 will drift out mile and then let
go!" she said.
No shrinking. No fear. No regrets.
Why should there be? Why not sing?
"Say, now, but you are the happiest
girl ever came across drifting out to
sea !"
1t was voice at Junes elbow, and
a mans hand was laid upon her float.
"I-I-"
"Don't be startled I"
1t was young man in q bathing
suit. He had kindly but strong face.
and his deep voice was good to hear.
His bare arms were sun-tanned and
his cheeks almost the color of leather.
"Not life-saver by occupation" he
smiled. II tried to see how far out l
could swim and get back safely. Guess
I overdid it. If you hadn't happened
along it would have been all over with
me in five minutes more. Are you an
expert swimmer?"
II can't swim a stroke!" And her
face told why she was there
She released her hold on the float,
but he grasped her wrist and sternly
said:
None O. that, now. Because, right
here is what they call Shark Reef. The
moment you let go you will be seized
by shark. 1t isn't pleasant death!"
ooh, l don't want to be devoured
by a shark! = she walled.
"But you came out to die.'
eyes, but Oh, it was dreadfully
silly! I know you are thinking it was
idiotic!'
Somewhat like my case," laughed
the man. Il strained the muscles Of
my right leg three weeks ago, and yet
l came down here for ten-mile swim
five out and five back"
"But nOW-now?" asked June.
Having acted like two idiots we are
now driven to act with some sense,
but our latitude is limited. Our only
hope is to be picked up and that the
sea will remain quiet until after that
event. It does not require much cour-
age or muscle to hang to the plank"
"But I don't want to die!" sobbed
June. "Not now!'
"And I've got something to live for.
It's chance. When we rose on that
last groundswell l saw an ocean tug
standing in for US"
IF you don't want to die-?" said
the man to the girl as he put his arm
around her weeks afterWard.
'But 1 have everything to live for
now," she answered.
"Then let US cling together and
float"
Copyright, 1917 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Building Burns; Fireplace Remains,
It is not altogether uncommon to
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