The Benson signal., 1917-06-09


harder than ever.
Then came the impulse to Dayton to
see Meta once more, if only distant
glimpse, and then to go away to some
remote place where he was not known
and forget her if he could. And now
he was speeding away like hunted
fugitive: He quickly left the town and
bade farewell to all hopes of ever see
ing Meta again.
A month later, in home newspaper
which ke happened to run across, Day
ton read an item which told that Miss
Meta Deane was married to Mr.. James
Rodney, the invalid guest of the Deane
home. With only a shattered romance
and bitter memories of his blighted
business career, Dayton roved here
and there for a year and finally set
tied down on an island off the coast Of
Maine, having charge of a sailing
plant.
His one pleasure when off duty was
to row along the shore, feeling alone
and rested to be away from the city
rush and men. Two years passed by.
He had saved up some money. At
times a powerful impulse influenced
him to go back to his former village
home and see his old-time friends, but
the thought that Meta was surely lost
! to him stood always in the way Of
carrying out that plan.
| There was a summer resort a few
| Oh,
One blustery afternoon Dayton was
| walking down the shore near to the
great beach hotel, when he halted as
he noticed quite in the distance wom-
an rushing in his direction, her man.
ner evidencing the most intense eX-
citement and distress. Her eyes were
fixed seawards. A glance thitherward
apprised Dayton of the source Of her
perturbation. A frail shore boat was
drifting beyond the great breakers and
inside Of it, clinging to the rail, were
! two little children.
Apparently they had been playing in
the boat inside the beach breakwater
and the craft had f1oated away with
them. Momentarily the furious waves
were driving them further and further
out to sea. In an instant Dayton tore
off his coat and plunged into the surf.
A wild, frenzied scream rang from
the lips of the running woman as the
boat gave a swing, turned over and it's
two helpless occupants were flung into
the boiling surf. A superb swimmer,
although battling tremendous difficult
ties, Dayton reached first one and then
the other Of the imperiled children. He
struck out for shore, one clinging
about his neck as he directed, the
other, quite insensible, sustained on
one arm.
He was well-nigh exhausted as he
staggered up the beach. His eyes half
| blinded with the salt sea water did not
clearly make out the frantic woman,
who rushed toward the two little girls
| and took the one overcome cheriShing-
| ly in her arms. Totally collapsed,
| Dayton took to a sand hummock, all
but insensible of his surroundings for
the moment. People came rushing
down the beach and there was an up
roar and turmoil. The lady and the
children were whisked away in an au-
tomobile. The proprietor Of the hotel
assisted Dayton to his feet.
you'll come with me and get off
those wet togs," he declared authori-
tatively. "Mr. Dayton, you are brave,
genuine man! Outside Of saving two
little schildren, you have saved the
reputation of my place here"
Dayton was too weak and unnerved
to resist the kindly interventions Of
his grateful host. His rehabilitation
was solicitously looked to. He was
provided with dry apparel, it was or
dered that an auto should take him
back home and he was leaving the
hotel, when it's proprietor came rush
ing after him.
"You-you fluttered a vibrating
voice, as Dayton was ushered into an
apartment where stood the lady of the
sands and he stared in wonder at his
old love. "Oh!" she cried, taking both
his hands in her own, "where have you
been these long many mOnths?
Gliding myself, fancy" rejoined
Dayton, with hard bitter laugh.
"And IL have found you" cried
Meta.
"Your children are safe," began Day.
| ton.
"Not my children. but dear to me as
if they were," said Meta. II married
Mr.. Rodney one hour before his death,
because he implored me to be mother
to the dear little ones. He left me
quite a fortune and uncle was thus
made comfortable until he passed
away. And now"
And now they had met, and her eyes
clearly showed the earnest longing
love of the years, and within an hour
those two were reunited, heart and
soul.