Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-05-03
Her F~erryboat
Hero

By CLAIRE SMITH

C0nXTiRnI. lHGEs WEbAElh
Everybody in the hotel smiled at the
little bride. She was so obviously In
love with her husband, and he with
her.
So everybody was really sorry for
the bride when the bridegroom was
called back to the city on a most i'm
portant business matter which meal
the transference of several thousands
Of dollars.
And out of her own heart, overflow
ing with sympathy, she gave a Dounte-
Gus store to the lonely girl who knit
ted on the piazza. She wondered why
such a nice girl had never married.
One day, in a moment OF
the lonely girl told her.
"You see, my DEAR" she said, when
once you have really been In love you
cannot ever love again in the same
way. l gave my heart long ago-hve
years ago, my dear. 1t was stolen, l
should say, because" She hesitated.
81 never learned his name" she said.
"You never learned his manner" ques-
toned the little bride.
"I was living on Staten island and
crossed on the ferry to Manhattan
every morning to my place OF business.
He lived there, too. 1 used to see him
on the boat. The look in his eyes used
to be a delight to me; he was so youth
full in spirit, so happy, so buoyant, so
"a. - kAaA ornyryd nf 0mmOn
place city men. l knew he wanted to
speak to me. But he was a gentle
man.
81 think we must have known each
other in this way for three months,
although we never exchanged a word,
or bowed. And then-do you remem-
Der the ferry ramming the Steamship"
"Yes?" said the little bride breath
lessly.
"We were almost side by side when
the shock came. The ferryboat turned
on her side and a dozen of us were
flung into the water. 1 could not swim.
1 was struggling wildly, battling with
death when 1 felt his arm round me
and heard his voice in my ear. Keep
COOL he said quietly. There is no
danger. In a few moments the boat
will reach u.s.
"When he said that my terror left
me. 1 just lay still and let him sup
port me above the water. / think those
were the happiest moments of my life.
And when at last we were picked up
and put safely aboard and given warm
clothes and hot drinks in the saloon
cabin, a sudden fear fell on my spirit.
1 knew that, since he had spoken, l
should never see that look in his eyes
again.
"Just before we stepped ashore he
came up to me. He looked at me in
quiringly. He said nothing; there was
nothing for either of us to say. He
took me in his arms and kissed me.
"Then he spoke. I am going West
today he said. "Tell me your name.
When I come back 1 shall come to see
you. 1t may be six months OF six
years, but 1 shall always claim you.
l shall never let you go out of my
life"
"And?' questioned the little bride.
"That is all, my dear"
The lonely girl had arrived the day
before the bridegroom was called back
to the city. She was due to leave on
the day that the bridegroom returned.
The bridegroom actually arrived at the
hotel just as the lonely girl stood in
the Office, her baggage beside her,
waiting for her carriage. The bride
groom walked in and the lonely girl
turned and looked him full in the face.
The little bride saw the look OF her
face, but she was too much absorbed
in the bridegroom to think much of
the lonely girl. The lonely girl sat
down in a chair and leaned her head
back against the wall, her face the
color of chalk. The bridegroom had
gone out of, the office and the little
bride hurried to the girl in the chair.
"You feel ill?' she asked. "Can 1
get you some water? Won't you lie
DOWN."
mo" answered the girl, rising with
an effort. st was the heat, l think"
The little bride had thought that 1t
was very cold. She did not say any
thing, however, but helped the lonely
girl into the carriage and waved her
good-by.
The lonely girl had recognized him
as soon as he entered the office.
Meanwhile the little bride had
sought and found her husband and
taken him to the cozy seat ON the
stoop. arthur, dearest" said the lit
tie bride, 81 want to say something
something awful. Do you remember a
confession you made to me the day
before we were married about-about
kissing a girl once after a ferry acct
dent?'
81 don't want to remember those
past transgressions," growled the
bridegroom, kissing the little bride.
"But why did you do it, Arthur"