The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-17

been changed 10 como after lunen'
Alnce winding up the dances Win
sbreaktasv' in the early morning
h6tirk had become quite a matter
81 coHfee. Four o'clock; O'Clock;
ut one hilarious party 1t had been
hefOre Carol Hall arrived home
TO tumble into bed with her soft
bia6k hair streaming over the Pill
Eid# and Seeming alike live the sea
weed which tugs in the current
tb6dEh fast to the rocks. For a
month, now, Carol had followed
this life as though TO be madly,
n6liily gay we're the very aim OF
her existence.
IL was Bill Sisson, the lobster
man, who one carly afternoon all
Jifi~ittihEly spoke the words which
lbf6uRht Carol to sudden decision
not to attend the Nortons' party
tfAt evening, though she assured
i6fselt many times that the real
reas6ii was nagging headache.
SlSeoIf vas on his way to the
Halss, back door to deliver wrtg
Cling mass OF his prey,
l'G6lng to be good day, did you
say. Miss? Best part OF the days
zone, 'cording to my way OF think.
ing. Take It just before sun.up.
now; about the time I get started
down the bay to pull my pots.
Then yon get the day when it's
fresh and unhandled, so to say,
and there amt a lot OF folks
s.buzzing around in tho way" Carol
rubbed her forehead and wished
She had not spoken to the lobster
man.
But Bill hadn't finished. There's
one fellow hereabouts," he contin.
ued. what knows how man was
meant to do with the day-eat II
fresh, like you got to do with these
here critters, SO to say. That Mer.
rick, now: he's down the bay right
early nvery morning. Got the sense
Of q native: that man has" Bill
Sisson could pay no greater com.
pllment. He passed on his way.
Carols mind echoed with 1t
'sThat Merrick, now: he's down the
bay right early every morning,
He'd head ached She worked hard
at becoming enthusiastic over the
gown Just arrived from the city for
the "Black and White" dance al
the NortonS that evening the
Brookses we're giving n breakfast
for a select few afterward. THAT
Merric6!" Why, almost month
must have passed since she had
ispoken with Stanley Merrick-
and then they had Quarreled. oh,
why couldn't a woman be honest,
even with herself? 1t was two
DAYS over month--two days and
ione hour. She ought to know.
Oh! Her head ached so! She
couldn't go TO that dance; she
wouldn't. She 'phoned 10 Phil
TRACY not to call for her.
Carol retired early that night for
the first time in more than
month.
she wouldn't be able 10 sleep.
aha ashured herself Down the bay
eight carly"-what time did that
mean? Five O'clock? More likely
"a And With 4 o'clock on her mind
Carol drirted into sleep; at pre-
eisely she awoke.
Her head did not ache. Instead
she felt curiuusly refreshed, alive.
She arose and went to the window.
The air was cool and fluid: there
WAS no sign or dawn. she would
gdreas and go down into the garden.
II seemed strange to be so wide
awake at this hour instead of wear
ily stupid and longing for sleep.
Carol walked through the gar
den downAo the shore. Theretwas
no moon nor yet n single star, but
1T was a diluted darkness and she
could make out the outline OF her
canoe as 1t lay on the float. To
paddle lust bit through the dim,
moist, sharply chilly air-iust off
their own beach-it would be
new experience. Ohshore lay a
thick blanket OF mist; Carol could
feel rather than see it. She pushed
the bow of the canoe into 1t. She
wouldn't go far out. she promised
herself.
b It was mysterious and, oh. 50
restful! Just the rhythmic dip, dip
OF the paAdle mo Earring coiors. no
sfuesy detail. One could think here!
But she didn't want to think. Un-
Consciously Carol piled her paddle
swifter and swifter.
OF a sudden the canoe quivered.
came to dead stop. Yet there was
no lar OF impact. Carol peered
anxiously into the mist Close
ahead she made out q bulk In
distinct. formless save for the dim
outline Of a foggy arm which sur
prisingly terminated In a strong
brown hand grasping the Prov of her
craft.
and he had put put the hand in
time to prevent collision. But
why didn't he ;. ak? There was
something familiar about that hand
hut supposing It wasn't?
who was It? Why don't you say
something? Let go, please" There
wrs a slight quaver in Carols
"oniy a lone fisherman" came
the answer. Then, after moment.
%oh! AS to letting you go-when
the sun rises the mist will lift: un-
til then It Is not safe for you to
paddle around alone"
It was Stanley Merrick, Of course.
why MAY with herself at being sur
6rised when It was the very thing
she had hoped would happenl But
now when what she had longed for
had come to pass Carol perversely
determined to spoil It all. She
would not answer. When It grew
liEhter she would Just paddle away
with q murmured Thank you"
y