Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-01-28
..~eSallies 90
Ie1lptdtions$

in my brain a few days later | de-
And what of his engagement to
Anne? a..
cided to drive father down 10 the
Reach cottage and take a SWIM.
drove the eighteen miles with the
sneed of the wind. l loved its sharp
sting in my face. Father sensed my
n,eaccupatlon and remained silent
during the drive. | invited MN 10 10
swimming with me but he declined:
declaring that there was a mint Oh
autumn in the air.
And so went in alone. Because
of the brisk day the surf was deserted
EXCEPT for me. But how pleasant II
was to turn ones face skyward al
lowing the waves to lift you with the
moVement of cradle, so calm was
the osean today.
Clouds as blue and BRILLIANT las the
ewes of a pretty child mantfed the
Heavens on high and the turquoise
tints of the water seemed 1rlenuiy
and soft. Overhead, seaguils, sailed
by-harbingers of good fortune 70
rna sailors. Nom Nellie had taught,
and as | recalled the superstition, l
wondered what luck they would bring
to me.
waves To lift me in their majestic
arms and then toward Mayport,
.n.,Ican winged into sight. someone
mad told me that the reason the pen
can is used as sacred symbol Is pc
rause the mother bird 1eedS her
Young by boring hole In her breast
from which drips the blood that gives
Them lie. Mother-love! My heart
sottened toward the bird. =.
Then | began to swim. A path OF
sunlight reached golden fingers
across the waves and over all there
reigned an enveIoping peace and that
olorious sense of freedom that the
ocean inspires.
There had been another SWIM IN
the ocean whe nj had not been alone
| recalled the first night | had met
Curtiss and he had rescued me from
the heavy surf. | wondered vaguely
if | would ever be able to go any
place or do anything that would not
bring him to mind, and wondering, l
heard his voice.
"fello, there! Mind if | tag
along?" .,
"No, | believe there's room," | re-
piled, nodding to the vast ocean.
We swan in silence. | could have
gone on indefinitely with the rhyth-
mical swing of his accompanying
strokes at my side but we had been
and even past the Inn. Toward the
shore. were reaches of white sand and
swimming with the current and found
ourselves beyond the row of cottages
unending palms sihouetted against
china-blue sky.
AS if by common consent, we
deade in and were soon seated at the
waters edge The waves broke In
playful melody against our feet. 1t
was good to rest while and to feel
his presence at my side.
1t was what call gold day. Even
the edges of the water and the beach
itself were bathed in a mellow glow.
The clouds had thrown themselves IN
graceful abandon across the sky and
the colors drifted from shell pink to
the deep tint of wood violets. over
the entire scene a. fleet-fOoted and
invisible nymph of the sky had drawn
a misty curtain. Here and there were
baby clouds in pale mauve.
Pools of pink and blue lay on the
beach and chung to the places still
damp from the waves of the implac-
able ocean. Out toward the horizon,
two-masted freighter put out to sea
with it's heavy cargo. The day was
still and the smoke scurried in an UNI
broken line upward. and distance with
her flattering hands made silver
clouds of it. A huge bird swift and
sure as man with a purpose, darted
into the ocean.
A last faint sitting Of gold-like
ashes of roses from chiffon scarf
which the lady of the evening would
soon draw close.
ITO be continued)