The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-11
A SHARK
STORY

~ n hAihbtT oI NOultl over afternoon
tea cups were talking about marriag,
and how trifling may be the cause o.
two persons meeting marrying am
spending their lives absolutely depend
ent upon each other for comfort. hap
pincss and, even In rare cases, exist
ence. Some of the present ladies
narrated stories of wonderful happen
inSs. demure little woman listened
attentively without comment To all
that was said. Finally one of those
who had told of happenings that could
take place only In the most lurid pie
ture plays asked her IL there was not
something worth hearing in her first
meeting with her husband.
Il have been married only a few
weeks said the little lady. There
was an episode connected with nv
meeting my husband. but I hesitate to
tell 1t after the recital of the thrilling
experiences Of the others
She was reminded that IN story tell
Ing II was not the happenings that
counted nowadays; the modern school
| OF high literature tabooed all that The
| object was TO make simple episode In
ordinary life interesting. The lady
upon this said that. though the incident
that caused her to be united TO her
husband for life was In itself very
tame. she would rely on its simplicity
to make 1t interesting.
My husband and met at summer
hotel on the New Jersey coast have
spent the hot season on the seashore
ever since | WAS year old. When |
was two years old my father took me
TO the beach one day, being dressed
In a tiny bathing suit. 1t was nor
long after storm. and the waves were
rolling in savagely. NV father waded
out up to his neck with me on his
shoulder, then set me on the crest of
wave and let me CO."
Great heavensr exclaimed several
ladies at once.
In that way" continued the demure
lady, Il was taught to swim. When I
was four years old | would dive on a
dock In twenty feet of water, and when
was ten | never swan inside the
capes. At twenty was considered the
best swimmer on the Jersey coast.
You all remember the horror felt
by the sharks biting the legs Off a
boy and deyouring a man within n
short distance OF land. Well. I was
az the Ocean House at that time and |
In the midst of the excitement. The
love or danger is inherent within rs !
mortals, and |. though weak woman
am no exception to this passion.
was seized with desire TO kin
shark Providing myself with a knife
used In cleaning fish. had n worry
sharp point and edge put on Ii and
made sheath for it In the waist Of
my bathing dress.
EVERY morning | went to the dock
ready TO take to the water and watch.
ed Tor sharks. Several DAYS passed
without my seeing one. Meanwhile
The hathers were regaining their corr
ige, and occasionally the good swim
ners would disport themselves in the
water about the docks.
On the fifth morning of nv watch
was sitting on the top of one of tho
'piles used in the support of the dock
ookihg down into the water. when I
Jaw double sight. One part was
nan ieisurely floating on his back.
ne other shark moving slowly in
us direction. The man was uncon.
cious of his danger, but it would be
Useless for me to warn him.
Drawing my knife, took 1t be
ween my teeth and dlved headlonr
triklhg the surface about ten yards !
head of the shark. let myself 90
> low as | could, which think could
OF nave been over seven or eight feet
M before beginning to rise shifted =
USER TO my back and looked up. Di-
ecty above ME was something white
men believed to be the belly of the
bark.
Taking my knife in my right hand
permitted myself to rise. OF course
had posted myself as to the shark,
iethods OF attack and his vulnerable
arts. knew that | must approach
rom beneath him and stab him in tbo
.omach. 1t was but few saconds
eiore | was near enough to see him
'aihiy. and | confess | was a little
'eny weeny bit staggered by his ellip.
cally cured mouth"
AT this point several of the listeners
aoe Explanations, and the speaker
aused and waited for quiet. When II
as restored she continued.
The great fish had not quite reached
punt uirectly above me. and found
diihcuit TO keep from rising In time
reach this frightful mouth, whereas
needed to permit him to pass so that
would come up directly under his
omach. lf | rose near his mouth he
'uid easily take me into 1t. If | struck
5 stomach he would have to back wa.
r TO do SO. Indeed in the latter case
would be perfectly safe. |
by wrigrlinD I nraroo., a..