The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-07-23
SALT WATER ROMANCE
RY WILLIS ARKWRIoHT.

f"A@~|A'N' 80
If you were n girl Of tweniy-if you
were q stenographer IN big ofice-if
you only had a moderate saiary-lf
The manager who was a crank could
discharge you az a moments notice
and leave you penniless 70 face your
landlady while you hunted for another
place
If y0u were an orphan and had no
relatives % extend d hand IN a pinch
" you had a han room Ia @ boarding
house-if you had 10 keep the cost Of
your meals down 10 an exact penny
if you had no amusemenis. because Of
ihe cost and the fact that you had no
beau
II YOU sat down to face the future
and come 10 a conclusion, what would
IL bcg
Every girl has a right 10 look for
werl 10 love and matrlmony and a
home. Miss June Benton knew this
ana after an hours Interview with her
self she came TO conclusion.
"No, It isn't worth the living" she
said.
The thought Of ending it an did not
frighten her in the least. Indeed. il
was rather a relief. She planned the
particulars just as calmly as she
would plan o walk to the park, ana
then went to bed 70 sleep the sound
est siie had Ia d month. She walked
into the Office next morning to say to
the manager:
Il am not feeling well, and / want
to take a day or"
Il am going to suggest that YOU
take a year or two of !" was his heart
less reply. "None of you girls seems
TO know when you nave a soft Jobw
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 bathhcuse. Better be
careful, for the tide IS going out, and
at this hour the llfe-savers are not on
duty"
June wandered along the beach un-
~ she found a board that would float
her, ana then she entered the water
and went floating.
Slowly but steadily the tide carried
the girl out. II was like Aoating IN the
air. For the first time in long months
her mind was carefree, and she sang
as she foated.
81 will drift out mile and then LET
gol" she said.
No shrinking. No fear. No regrets.
Why should there be? why not sing?
"Say nog. but you are the happest
girl / ever came across drifting out to
sea Y
1T was voice at June's elbow, and
a mans hand was laid upon her float.
I'll"
"Don't be siartledw
II was young man in bathing
suit. He had a kindly but strong face,
and his deep voice was good 70 hear.
His bare arms were sun-tanned and
his cheeks almost the color Of leather.
"Not life-sayer by occupation he
smiled II tried TO see how far out
could swim and get back safely Guess
| ovcrdid It. II you hadn't happened
nlong II would have been all over with
me in five minutes more. Are you an
expert swimmer?"
81 can't swim a stroke o. 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 cal Shark Reef. The
moment you lei 70 you will be seized
BY a shark. ItIsn't a pleasant denthl"
"Oh, I don't want to be dcvourcd
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
idIotlcm
nNAhfWhhA Aiht AtF NfHfs ANNNARA
the man. II strained the muscles Of
my right leg three weeks ago and vet
came down here for ten-mile swim
five out and five back"
"But now--now?" asked June.
Having acted Ike 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 viii remain quiet until after that
event. 1t does not require much cour-
age or muscle to hang to the plank"
"But I don't want to die" sobhed
June. "Not now r
"And I've got something TO live for.
It's chance. When we rose on that
lass groundswell / saw an ocean tug
standing In for US"
III you don't want to dle-T said
the man 10 the girl as be put his arm
around her weeks afterward.
"But l have everything to live for
now" she answered.
"Then let us cling together and
float"
Copyright. 1917 by the Mcclure Newspa-
lf4aa .