OCR Text |
Show THE BENEFITS OF SEA BATHING. Wasn't there a champion row, Just, when I told Mamma mat Percy Black-tonhad reposed to me and that I bad accepted him! Her r ,ge was fcorre-thin- g Indescribable. Sho insisted that the engagement must be fcroken off at once. Percy, you must know, la a young barrister, at present only worth a few hundreds a year. But he has great abilities and is sure in no long time, to be making a big Income, However, the Mater thinks nothing of abilities, and an Income "In the air" (as ehe expresses it) does not appeal to her. She plumps tor cash down. And. In case, cash down was to be had for the trouble of saying "Yes." There was only one objection which, In the Mater's eyes, was no objection at all viz., that the man to whom I was to say "Yes" was personally insupportable to me. I hate old men. And Sir Montagu McMoultrie Is old that Is to say, he is a tood fifty. I hate fat men. And Sir round Montague measures forty-eigh- t men. And tEe waist. I hate Sir Montagu's face Is the color of Turkey twill. I hate unmitigated Scott key twill. 1 hate Scotsmen. And Sir Montagu is the most unmitigated Scot tllat ever caiue south of the Tweed. Against these drawbacks a baronetcy and 10,000 a year would have weighed little with me, in any event. This was the position of affairs the date of the marriage being only two months ahead when we (the Mater, Sir Montagu, and I) went down to Folkestone. At Folkestone, eighty miles distant though we were from London and Percy, I was watched and spied upon with undiminished vigilance. I must tell you that I am a good swimmer, for a girL I can do my half-milAnd or so with perfect ease. very time I bathed, I used to swim a considerable distance out, so as to be clear of the splashing, shrieking, laughing damsels who congregated In the t hallow water, and whose noisy me to In my was very distasteful present morose state of mind. On one of these occasions I noticed another swimmer a little way ahead of me, who appeared to be in difficulties. This impression was almost Im confirmed by a faint mediately -I Help!" struck out, at fulpeed. m the dlstfYsael"ones',utfection, to render what assistance I could. It was not until I was within a few yard3 of my objective that I discerned the swimmer to be a man. "Percy!" I exclaimed. "You here! Oh! what Is the matter? Have you got cramp, or " ,Percy laughed merrily. "Cramp, sweetheart? Oh, no! I'm as Jolly as a shrimp." "But you called for help!" "Only to attract your attention. Da you know I've been trying to get a talk with you. In the water, this thrs days past? V.'ith your mother watching you so closely, it seems to be our only chance." We were by this time within kissing distance of each other. Percy took immediate advantage of the fact He never was a boy to throw away his opportunities. "Percy!" I gasped. "And my face all < and dripping." "So's mine" he answered. "Same for Ufh sides." ter"Oh, Percy! If you knew how she and keeps rified I am of Mother; tuch a strict watch upon me; and I'm to o miserable," I sobbed, adding not few salt drops to the English Chane red-face- d e mer-rinin- cryf nel. "My darling!" cried Percy. "I know how difficult your position is. Tberei I will Never mind! Trust to me. make It all right" Our salt lips met in one last klsh, and a minute later I was speeding, as fast as a rapid sides troke would propel me, towards the ladles bathing machine; while Percy, swimming on lis back so as to keep me in sight till the last, was returning by a circuitous route to the gentlemen's. From that day forward my dally tip became to me the event of the twenty-fouhours, to which I looked with the most delicious ex forward pectation. Providentially, the weath er remained calm all the while, so that sever once did the state of the toa prevent our dally meeting in the wat r er. Our sojourn at Folkestone drew Its end all too soon. The morn-ba- g of my last dip but one arrived. 'Alaa!" I sail to Percy, sadly, "afUr tomorrow, I fear, we shall not meet again for many a day. - Oh, that the time had not passed with such terrible rapidity!" "Sweetheart," answered Percy, sud to-war- d! denly, wiping the brine from his eyea with his hands and fixing them fall on mine, "you are mistaken. may be the last occasion on which we shall hold a clandestine meeting in the sea. But as for being last time of our meeting, It will be nothing of the kind. will be No, my darling. more end the of tha than something of the the bo old it will beginning I never meet will then and You new. again to part" "Percy! what do you mean?" "That all the arrangement for our marriage are now complete. It shall take placeto-morrow.- " "Our marriage? Tomorrow?" "Yes; assuming that you consent" "Of course I consent, dearest, If such a thing is possible. But ' "There is no 'but' in the matter. Everything, as I have said, la arranged. I have been to London, to the Arch bishop of Canterbury's Registry, and 1 have procured not without difficulty, I can tell you a special license. A parson friend of mine has come down here on purpose. My two 6lsters, Etta and Minnie, have also arrived. W.th them as witnesses, we will be married at the hotel in my private sitting-roow now was I that I could never have dressed myself In Etta's clothes without the kinaly holpof my future sister-'in-laBut, thanks to their deft aid. was soon sompleted. I had toilet my to do my hair up wet, as It was; there was no time to dry it Then we hurried to the hotel. Percy had already arrived. He and his clergyman frleudi were waiting for us in his sitting-room- . The latter put on his surplice and openTen minutes later ed his Prayer-Book- . the ring was on my finger, and my beloved and I were man and wife. Oh, the joy the rapture of that supreme moment! I could have sung aloud for Joy. But I didn't There was no Ume tor vocal ecstasies. Even before the ceremony was well over a waiter had entered and announced in stentorian tones: '"Cab's waiting at the door, sir." So we drove off, and caught the midday express for London, Percy sending, from the station, his promised lefr ter to Mother. I have nothing more to add except that I received next day from my parent a most violent epistle. In it she characterized my conduct, aa not merely undutiful, deceitful, and wicked, but improper, indecent, and "brazen The only satisbeyond conception. factory part of her letter lay In the ending: "From henceforth, I have done with you." It may sound uniiiial; but I hope she has. BEFC3E THE TRAIN ' STARTS. By Barry Pain. Well, there you are, and don't ask tor no more, - And I suppose Hector must have one too.) What was I saying? ain't the one t "to blame. I do Why didn't hope I've got more regard for the feelYes, I Here, do come along you stick close to me same aa I told ings of others. It's wonderful, the selfishness of you? These trains won't wait all day for you, you know. You do hang men. The children's father was Just I've about so, Jane. Now you lift Qladya the same while here on earth. selfishhis about man to that in, and Hector he can get in by him- talked self. Quite a little man, ain't yon, ness for the hour together sometimes, No. nor and done no good neither. Hector? even But thanks. of word a ever had Poof! poof! poof! This hurry-scurrdisto th smoked have does try your heart, you know. I he wouldn't others. can feel :iue going like well, like comfort of Dear, dear! This won't be a pleasanything. And we've got a Quarter of an hour to spare, have we? And ycu ant Journey for anybody, I'm afraid, anysay we never need have hurried, do Jane. You know what Gladys is, train of the always you? That's just like you, Jane al- how. The jolting she's been eatways grumbling. I like to get a few sets her off. And then all the morning. And now minutes to settle myself down before ing sweets the train starts. Now you sit there, there's that cigar being puffed into her She's getting Jano, by the'dcor, and I'll sit opposite. face on the top e of it color greenish-whitalready. Then there's a corner apiece left for that there! Gladys and Hector. What? A gent And he sits (The man In the corner does not) So there is. r.ng in one corner? Gone? Well, and a good riddance. Then the children must just take it in turns sitting in the corner. Now, no WKat business had he got interfering hounda qurrellng. You sit there first, Hector, with us? Of all the nasty sulky worst And the is saw about he because you're the oldest; and Gladys, I ever a call this bit I Now off! you sit by your Aunt Jane. Many a here we are time I've known a gent to get up and of good management "Oh, Percy! This is all too good to give his seat by the window to a child, be true. How shall I ever eluda Easy for Pat so as to let the poor thing have to and your Mother's viligance get Irishmen stand high in the regard of chance to look out and amuse Itself. He likes to tell hotel?" Admiral Schley. Some do and some don't The all only thing "It is arranged. stories of the indomitable, reckless man In the corner does not) (The as me meet to is do to Irish. Thus, at a dinner here, you have And what have you got to complain pluck of the Will McClure of Philadelphia The Amateur Palmist you?" usual, Jane? This is a first, and that Colonel about now, sweetest of I "Indeed will, you boys. Palmistry continues popular. At all we've got third tickets? Suppose we gave in his honor, ho said: th'e summer resorts amateur palmlsia "An American merchantman once But" have. You won't make it any differ"No. I will listen to no but. Just abound. They sit .on the hotel piazzas; port and a number of ent by talking about it I never heard lay in a Dutchcame aboard to have a kiss. There, darling; au around them are grouped a dozen one good-bystuff and nonsense, I can Bay Dutch sailors tuch You won't men. revolr! forget young women ti white dresses and a If I'm asked, that I never th.it with our And away he swam, leaving me In a man or two; the conversation runs in truthfully, a and by spirit of rivalry aroso. "By noticed it was a first, besing that hurarwere those What to outdo one another this wise: anticipation. ried. Besides, this time of the year, The Bailors tried How he rangements of which spoke? Palmist Miss Smith, are you an with so much traffle going on, they In athletic tricks. 'Th honors tor a would be contrive for me to elude artist? Americans, but in where you like. And if Iotig while lay with the let you get I to Mother? bad wait until Jilss Smith No, I am a school teach- they make a fuss, you can always ex- finsHy a Dutchman climbed to the very to learn. and there stood er. the whole point of our top of the mainmast, plain. Why, The day arrived. The hour for my Palmist You have the hand of an being a bit before time is that it gives on his head. fell at once. morning dip came round. Mother, as artist the tapering hand. The fingers a chance to pick and choose your . "The Americans' spirits you saw had 'outDutch me safe into the bathing taper to a point, and the palm tapers to usual, And I like comfort aa It was i.lain that the a bit carriage on anat looked machine, then took her sentinel's seat the wrist Don't you draw, or write, did before me. After all, done them. They mother my were ailent I door. outside the entered my box. or play or something? other sheepishly. They why should some be first and some The supreme niomentwas at hand. So Miss Smith Well. I do play a little. third? We are respectable people, bo aud ashamed.a nervous, so agitated was I, that my young Irishman leaped Palmist I thought so. Let me look far as I know. Of course, if the gent Suddenly trembling fingers were scarcely equal at your palm, won't you, please? feet. to bis In the corner objects to our society to the demands that the task of Miss Smith (a little fluttered, ex- he's 'Begobs.' he said, I won't let a fat to speak. got only 'mpod upon them. But at tending her hand) Why, yes, if you (The man in the corner does not) Dutchman teat me.' I was And tha reckless fellow ran like a length safely InTmy "bitiTug'suit wish. ... t- Rub of? are you doing .IiiCj2r.Vbat tr.cr.lu-I ran forth. I plunged into the cool up the mast and got ready to Pa !:n 1st Ah, these are "ttie" lines I and mudJy-booall up water. I struck out for the appointed expected to find. You are Impulsive. bing your stand on bis head on the top. He put won't He trousers. rendezvous. There I found my Percy Your heart, not your head, govern your down that gents bis head down and gave a push with, can tell I you. hi legs. The first push wasn't hard awaitine me. actions. You are generous. Money half like It corner does In man the not) (The enou&h. and he aroppea oat, First we kissed. Then, In hurried, slips through your fingers easily, but I'm go Now Hector, for punishment wfnr bis legs again. But the second eager tones, Percy said: then, you know, you are able to obtain j of beside and, me; sit make you was too hard and be fell heels ."There is no time to lose. I will tell easily a great deal of money. You iove ing to Fun-- ; push corner. can bave'hit over bead. His back struck the first you all the arrangements I have made pictures, books, music, the theater. Am Gladys, you j screams, that way next and so boy ny thing the at once. Look along the shore there" I right? legs the next, his neck the j never I was a he When baby arn't it? on. somersault after somersault, tt.i Miss Smith Yes. (roaring in a northwesterly direction). did. on noise he make the knew anyone "Do you see that bathing tent on the eventually he landed on his feet Palmist Here, though ha, ha, ha! too. off set Gladys If hasn't It beach ?" the deck. really, Miss Smith remind me to t peak Now, or that of both you, Do quiet, keep be shouted Immediately, I nodded. "Do a to you later about this; It's matter big gentleman in the corner will take and he looked triumphantly .at that "Etta and Minnie have put it up and ba, ha, haj this line he. ha! both out of the window. Dutchman. are waiting for you there," he con Mr. Jones 1 don't take much stock and throw you In man the comer does not) (The tinued. In palmistry. "All the sailors crowded around him Now, hear You can't yourself speak. "Waltlrs for mo?" td praised bis pluck and agility Palmist (who dislikes Mr. Jones) Hector and Gladys, If you want a large "Yes, you are to swim along, parallel Let me see your palm. to stop arn:iy. with the beach, until you come abreast Mr. Jones All right Here you are, peppermint each you've got Och,' be said, 'say notbin' about are wid of them. Then you are to emerge from Talmlst (addressing tEe audience crying. That's right There you Sure, it's an ould ould trick it and mako childthem suck slowly the water, run into the tent, and generally) Now, here we have a hand Now you me. Sure, it't a trick the little offerno know it's I good her do In my counthry.' change Into the clothes whicii they as dlSerent as possible from the artis- them last have ready fur you. Etta is just about tic hand of Miss Smith. This is a ing you one, Jane. You've et them the way the Diamonds Improved by Radium. your size, and she has brought you a square hand. The fingers, instead of paregoric lozenges. Queer al- come will on ' them through of scent wardown from Influence of her and The are flat at the broad complete rigout tapering, ca.trI curbefore I robe. That done my sisters will con- and a bottle of rum something sordid most anything. Long the consUtution of matter is very duct you straight to my hotel. In the ends. An Indication of eordldness. up with you this morning. I knew your iously illustrated In tome recent experi ments made by Sir William CrooKes. meantime, I small have dressed, and Now cloe your fingers, Jones. Yes, it cold must be worse, This .won't do, you According to the rcsultt, If radium O, look here shall be at the hotel before you are. Is as I thought You hold on to your ain't go- comet to be a commodity among ut My friend the parson is ready there, money. You are no spender. What know. The company's rules while not this way, with his surplice and his Prayer Book, you get you keep. ing to ba broken pome dismay may be caused to those I ain't going to who wcr diamonds on finding that the Mr. Jones (uncomfortably) Oh, I I'm here to stop it and he will marry us as soon aa we arhave cigars lit up In nonsmokings un- carbon crystal under the Influence of rive. I have ordered a cab to be at don't know. the door to take us to the station the Palmist You dont care for the art der my very nose. Just you let that radium threatens to return to ltt le&t moment the ceremony is over. We Pictures, poKry, music nothing of window down, Jane, and call to tha attractive form of graphite or crystal shall catch the midday express for that sort appeals to you. A clay pipe guard, or a porter, or the station mat- line black carbon. On the other hand, and a bottle of rum something slrdid ter I don t care who It la. There does radium may turn out to be a "diamond town, and there we are." "O Percy! You are the very lever- - g what you like, ch? You could never come a time when you improver." What? It is a smoking comparteat boy that ever lived. But how about ' make a living in Intellectual pursuit It Is well known that radium emanaMother? 1 do not feci that after tha lu teaching or the bar or tha church, ment? Then you might have said to tions possess the property of darkenmean bodies upon which way ah has treated me, I owe her any You are in earne business that only re- - before, Jane. And what did you de- ing transparent do I all? at here us la I when But consideration. of a bringing Intellectual minimum Quire particular they impinge; and now Sir William claim, when it cornea to a matter of Crook cs has shown this also holds do not return and they find clothes In capacity. Am I right? Mr. Jones I sell shoe blading. she will think that I traveling, you're no better than a mere good In the case of diamonds. The the bathing-box.- , Palmist I thought aa much. Stick child. am downed. And 1 have n desire to emanations not only convert the surdistress." to to that her ft It suits you. Here Is an odd Una Of course, he ought to have asked face ict) graphite but also alter the aubject an unusual line. Let me tee yocr Manners don't always go with fine color of the body of the stone. It Is "Never fear, my dearling. As soon aa we are safely In the train, I wlU other hand. Ye, it Is there, ton. Well, clothes teemlngly. Fancy lighting up therefore suggested that this observame the r.rxt time we send her a note, which I have already r .Tovr-- ! filthy t linking cigar without even tion may proveto be of commercial Imhas ! what t wouldn't ha.! are much at by alone her It there torn eiacUy to written, trl.ing ha, ha, portance. For example, "if off color occurred. Come, sweetheart, strike thing that 1 want to say to you in pri-a- c have, minded It a bit if he'd only stonea can be lightened their value lieahr. ha. ha, ha! boldly out towards Sandgate, Don't be apologized. Hear? t don't care if he will Increase, while if the prolonged afraid. It Is all right Etta and Minnie The Audience Ha, ha, ba! Phila- does hear me. Do him good. Now action of radlirYn is to communicate to will see you through the preliminaries. delphia Bulletin. perhaps he'U know better, and put that them a decided color they would be And now I myself must swim ashore cigar out worth much more at fancy stones." and change, " succe-it,succeed like Is "Nothing (The man In the corner doea not) This may add considerably to the bus, fie If ft me. With my heart beating the old Mving, but Ernest Terah O no, Jane! Even If there It time, iness of the Jeweler who, for a considand every pulse In my body throbbing, the English bankrupt millionaire, you won't catch mo getting out of to submit I ftruck out on that fateful ewim. The wcull probably say "nothing sacceeds this carriage and taking another, not eration, might undertake "off Jewels'' to burial In radium for a In five like failure." Mr. Hooley failed tor sow I've once settled tide was running with me. This leason. Lancet myself. minutes 1 was abreast of where EtU IS.000,000 In 183, yet be has Hed carriage was all right when I got Into and Minnie stood. 1 ran ashore and better since than many a man who has It It ain't me that starts poisoning Thirteen life insurance oompanlet took refuge la the tent So tremulous not had the luck to become a the place with a lot of filthy tobacco, In Great Britain refuse to accept riaki (What another peppermint, Gladys t of. oavaeeinated person t. w y e un-d???- " .' y j j tbf radio-emanatio-ns , p-m- 'nd your-leave- Hoo-ley- |