Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-09-27
Hopes Seaside
Romance
&s9-@
BY RUBY EVANS

Hope thrust one toe into the wa
~ ter, withdrew 1t, shlvered, cast
frightened glance behind her and
then slipped down suddenly under
the next great wave.
She forgot that she was just
spending two weeks alone at Noise
Beach; she forgot that she was ach-
Ing In every part of her brain and
her body from WEAKNESS. Now, for
this afternoon, she was part of the
sea and the sky and the sand
Oh, she could swim! And she
wanted to swim out, out, out to the
tuft of green island that laughed
under the sun! But when she had
gone half way and felt her breath
come harder, she was frightened.
She turned over very deliberately
and foated. She seemed to float for
long, long time; she felt as though
cons must have passed her by when
she opened her eyes slowly and saw
that she had drifted back-to the
white sand.
"YOu plucky little thing!"
Hope turned.
What she saw sent sudden wild
flutter through her heart. He WAS
young man with brown skin and
pair Of eyes that laughed at her
and admired her and Knocked her all
at once
'Ill race you to the edge of the
surf" he said, studying her.
Now she was conscious of how she
looked In his eyes. She glanced down
hurriedly at her old black suit she
put up timid hand to the knot Of
dlngy black that kept her hair from
wetting.
"COmlng%
Hope hesitated. Then she swal-
lowed all her prejudlces, all her IT,
midities and gave him a shy smile.
II was she who took the first break
err ahead, 1t was he who won the
race; but as they came gasping back
to the beach once more he said slow
ly:
''How Jolly you'd look without all
those bulky things to hinder you from
swimming
"GOOdby," she answered, and fled
surreptItiously up the beach to the
house on the edge of the sand where
she had her room and board.
Two days later she crept down to
the yellow sand.
He was there.
"rve been waiting for YOU" he said
gravely, "for two days"
Then his eyes fell upon her satin
figure. He was laughing at her Hops
could see It and she blushed hOtly
and made sudden run for the sea.
do you think" he smiled, catching
up to her in two strokes, "tlnt you
could swim to the sandbar?"
When they reached the beach agaln
he had not asked her name, she did
not know his. She said good-by a
trlfie breathlessly.
The next morning she went fearful
ly down to the beach.
He was not there.
She went slowly down to the sea.
All the sparkle had left the waves,
the breakers roared In, like white
sea-horses, their foamy names blow
ing, their breath a salt salute. She
shlvered as the cold water touched
her body.
At supper her landlady Joined her.
"Heard that young Marlow's been
seem" she asked "YOu know Mar
low, who's been house breaking here
abouts. Him with the blue eyes and
the brown skin and the pleasant way
with him. amt had light nor sight
Of hIml"
Hope lowered her face over har
plate. Her cheeks we're blazing hot;
she lifted her fork with hand that
trembled. Blue eyes. Brown skin. A
pleasant way with him.
The ocean Numbered like drums In
the wilderness. She caught up her
shabby little coat and went down to
the beach. Sunset still fingered In the
sky, but she was not looking ut the
sky. but at figure, tall and strong
and brown, that came walking to her
across the sand.
She held ont hand with be-
seeching gesture.
They're looking for you" she said;
her throat was very dry; she could
scarcely make the words come out.
"GO-nOw-rll put them of. I'll
send you money. You can begin
again. know how hard It Is. work.
I'm often desperate, too"
The hooking light had left his
eyes; something new and strange
lighted them.
81 don't know your name" he said,
his voice was almost husky.
Hope"
He came up closer to her and took
both her hands in his. "We've only
known each other, five days, is III
Less? But I've found something new
Hope. No, I'm not going to let you
pull away your hands. I'm not 60
ing to let you run away. Pm not
young NARROW. as you think, but just
an ordinary man who's come away
from all the sham and unreality OF
life back therein the city"
Her cheeks were poppy-red. She
could not lift her eyes. Her breath
came brOkenly from her parted lips.
II suppose we've got to know each
others names and what we do; but
that comes later. Nothing matters
much now except that I've found
Hope"
Twelve got to CO." she whis-
pered.
"But this time I'm coming with
you"
She gave him q sudden exultant
look.