The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-13

N
last book in the packing box and
- y nailed on the cover. Then he sat
and gazed about the little room, that
looked bare indeed stripped OF mis- few
personal belongings. 1t occurred TO
him Just then to wonder exactly how
many hours OF study and serious
thought he had spent in that small
block Of atmosphere inclosed within
four walls, twelve feet square OF floor
space and ditto Of ceiling.
IN the MIDST of his musing some
peryerse imp, whom Cameron profess
sor OF psychology though he was, did
not recognize, delved down into the
depths Of Rodgers orderly mind and
dragged into light some lines OF verse
The young professors lips entirely
on their own" as it were repeated
them aloud:
Even as child who on the seashore
sits,
Taking unchallenged all each bright
wave brings,
time,
Not thinking of the mystery of
things"
Two facts concerning these Iinss
elung to the roots of them in their
rude upheayal: That they were by a
modern poet, and that they had APP
peared some time before in maya
zine. The name of the magazine and
The rest of the poem, if any, refused
70 be unearthed.
But there were many things TO be
attended to before the start on the
morrow; so the methodical professor
put from his mind the truant verse
and for the moment his thoughts
dwelt, instead, on the course OF study
planned for the summer vacation.
But the mischievous imp was not
10 be gainsaid. He dangled the lines
in front Of the professors minds eye
lnsistently all that day. On the way
TO the station the wheels of the car
beat them out; the railroad train took
up the refrain. Then Rodger Came
ron did foolish thing-or perhaps
1t was wise one. He compromised
with the imp; and you know the old
saying about him who makes compro~
misses! Travelling fifty miles out OF
his way to spend whole day at
shore resort comprised Rodgers.
That is why we find him numbe;
fifteen in a queue of a hundred-odd
that stretched from the entrance 20
the lighthouses far back into the bis
Lering sunlight. He wondered why he
had come.
A short man in gray suit and cap,
bursting with sense of mis- own iln-
portance and outraged dignity, stood
Immediately behind Rodger. I'm
tired Of standing here" he called out
In a tone loud enough to reach the
perspiring man who was dolling out
bathhouse keys as rapidly-or as
slowly-as they were returned. I'D
like a house, please. "I'm"--an i'm
nressiye pause-"Mr. Greer"
You may be Mr.. Rockefellow
Vanderastor for all the difference 1t
makes here!" threw back the red.
faced dispenser of the precious bits Of
brass. "You take your turn or you
take nothing"
The gray-suited man stepped out Of
the line and stalked away, TO the
frank diversion of the crowd. Came
ron glanced around. A girl had ad-
yanced into the majestic persons
place; a girl whose face was conceal
ed from Rodger by wide-brimmed
hat. The professor turned back; then
a thought occurred to him. 1t would
not be any more than decent! SO he
addressed the brinf of the white hat:
won't you let me get your key
along with mine? Then you can sit
in the shade"
"Thats' very kind of you," spoke a
ripping voice, and the wide-brmmed
hat tilted back little so that Rodger
caught a glimpse of mischieVous
black eyes.
Rodger watched the girl walk over
to the pavilion and sit down on a
bench. He kept on watching her.
Every time he moved up a step she
glanced over at him and smiled. 1t
was winning smile. Rodger was
number five in the line now--and he
wished he were number fifty! Anoth-
or smile. Only three more smiles
coming now-possibly an extra one
when he should give her her key.
why, he was actually glad he had
come!
The end came too soon. The red
faced man handed Cameron two keys.
The girl stepped up and took one OF
them from him, pressing a quarter
into his hand. With murmured words
Of thanks and mischievous look as
10 she would like to say something
more, she vanished toward the group
Of houses set aside for women.
Half an hour later Rodger Cameron
sat disconsolately on the beach. Wave
after wave, bright and sparkling IN
the morning sun, spilled its foam
flocked crest at his feet.
"Taking unchallenged all each
bright wave brings" The lines ran
mockingly. Without his glasses ne
couldn't recognize his own mother
len feet away. How could he ever
expect, then, to find the girl OF the
ripply voice and the smile? She might
have been any one Of the numerous
women he had met and passed on his
way out to the raft and back; she
might be smiling at him from some
where about right now. Fool that
he was to ruin his eyes by midnight
study! Happy laughter and banterIng
Toices mingled with the splash Of
waves. What did he know about