The Tidal Wave and Other StoriesDell, Ethel M. (Ethel May)
General
The Tidal Wave and Other Stories
Dell, Ethel M. (Ethel May)
Short stories
They stood together under the frowning cliff and watched the wonder of
the pool's awakening. Knight's arm held her close pressed to his side.
He could feel the beating of her heart. She stood with her face upturned
to his and all the glory of love's surrender shining in her eyes.
He caught his breath as he looked at her. He stooped and kissed the red,
red lips that gave so generously. "Is my love as the rising tide to you,
sweet?" he murmured.
"It is more!" she answered passionately. "It is more! It is the tidal
wave that comes so seldom--maybe only once in a lifetime--and carries
all before it."
He pressed her closer. "My passion-flower!" he said. "My queen!"
He kissed the throbbing whiteness of her throat, the loose clusters of
her hair. He laid his hot face against her neck, and held it so, not
breathing. Her arms stretched upwards, clasping him. She was
panting--panting as one in deep waters.
"I love you! I love you!" she whispered tensely. "Oh, how I love you!"
Again there came the thunder of the surf. The waters of the pool leapt
as if a giant hand had churned them. The foam from beyond the reef
overspread them like snow. The whole world became full of the sound of
surging waters.
Knight opened his eyes. "The tide is coming up fast," he said. "We must
be getting back."
She clung closer to him. "I could die with you on a night like this,"
she said.
He crushed her to his heart. "Ah, goddess!" he said. "You couldn't die!
But I am only mortal, and the tide won't wait."
Again the swirling breakers swept around the Point. Reluctantly she came
to earth. The pool had become a seething whirl of water.
"Yes," she said, "we must go, and quickly--quickly! It rises so fast
here."
Sure-footed as a doe over the slippery rocks, she led the way. They left
the magic place and the dazzling tumble of moonlit water, the dark
caves, the enchanted strand. Progress was not easy, but Knight had been
that way before, though only by day. He followed his guide closely, and
when presently they emerged upon level sand, he overtook and walked
beside her.
She slipped her hand into his. "It's the lie of the quicksand that's
puzzling," she said, "if you don't know it well."
"I am in thy hands, O Queen," he made light reply. "Lead me whither thou
wilt!"
She laughed--a low, sweet laugh of sheer happiness. "And if I lead you
astray?"
"I would follow you down to the nethermost millstone," he vowed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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