Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1923-01-31
A HARD SCHOOL
BY MARY LOUISE BUzzELL


the beach, scowled as he saw Ellen
ana that fellow" TempletOn hurrying
down to the inlet where the young |
nans boat lay; for TempletOn, while |
OStensibly taking a much-needed rest, |
NaS paying assiduOus court to the girl |
whom Jerry had looked upon as his |
future wife ever since they had played. |
together as children.
Jerry tuued his back on the APP
preaching couple but when they had
passed he gave his rival a surreptitiOus
glance-nOting the white silk shirt, the
immaculate white trousers and the
wrist watch. Turning suddenly, Ellen
caught his criticizing eye, laughed, and
called back:
Better forget your lobster pots to-
day, Jerry, and bring Sarah over TO
the island and picnic with u.s. to
which her escort added a languid.
''Yes, dear boy, get your Sarah and
COME"
Thanks" snapped Jerry. Il have
nc 'Sarah-and I've something to do
besides picnicking Misunderstanding
poetry" seeing the book TempletOn
carried.
Receiving no answer save tolerant
shrug from his rival, he sullenIy re-
sgmed his work, hut a moment later,
after troubled look at the sky, he
strobe after the picnickers, and as
TempletOn pushed off the wharf, he
gave him a brusque:
Better keep an eye on the nOr'wes-
Ter, Templeton, those clouds mean
wind; and I'd come in with the tide,
its tough rowing against it,"
TempletOn raised his brOws, then
vOuchsafed supercillOus: "Ah !!
Thanks awfully, my good man, but
have no fears, I've handled a boat sew
eral times before today with an
emphasis on the several" that made
Jerry long to pitch him into the wa
ter; but instead, with smOthere3
"Humph!" he swung up the beach to
the cottage he shared with his crippled
grandfather. The old man seeing
Jerry he stopped smoking to mutrer
fretfully:
IF that chap had sense of a-a-
sculpin, he'd keep 0ff'm the water with
such clouds abroad" waving his pipe
skyward then added with senilC
chuckle: Il shouldn't wonder If he
found it true that experience is d
hard school, but fools will learn from
no other afOre he gets home"
h.,k hov
pens to Ellen through his ignorance
| rll-Ill-"
You amin to let that whippersnap
per grab your girl away right from
under you nose?" Queried the old man
irascibly.
"Why, no." blazed Jerry, but HI
fiatters her till She"
Doesn't know any mOre'n she ought
err interrupted his grandfather. "Al
the same. I'd kinder row out TOWARD
the islasd-yOu see what's coming?
Jerry nodded and sat down.
The weather grew more threatening
every minute; but he waited till tn
tide turned, sending chOppy waves in
shore. Then, unable TO bear the sus
pense, he ran down to his dOry, thrus
the oars into the OarlOcks and pushes
off into the foaming waters.
Something smashed into the dOry
scraped by and was gone. Twistin
around, he strained his eyes to max
out the tossing thing astern-it wa
TempletOn's empty boat being drive
shOreward
His breath came In Mortified gasp
as he sensed the awful significance Q
the sight; then wild rebellion fire
his soul as he thought of Ellen bein
dashed and buffeted into nOthingnes
by the cruel waters. 1t must not
should not be! He sent stentoria
shout toward the island; 1t came bac
in a hooking echo.
Again and again he called her name
with wild hope that somehow, !
some miraculous manner, she had e.
capped death. Suddenly the islam
doomed before hlm-a black bic
against the sky. With a mighty effor
he sent his spent voice shOreward an
listened. His heart almost stoppe
beating for very joy, for across tn
flashing waters a faint hail came I
him out of the darkness. II wa
J Ellen's voice.
With superhuman effort. HI
strained. and swollen muscles beache
the dory; two sodden figures wei
lifted over its high side to safety, an
in silence, save for murmured Ethan
Heaven Jerry backed away, turne
his boat toward home, and the racin
tide did the rest.
: Giving no heed to the babbled e.
, plantations Of the modified Templetol
he lifted the shivering girl out an
; carried her up the beach to her HON
but before reaching her door he asked
, by what fool stunt did Templeto
lose his boatf"
HE tied it to a rock with a sill