The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-14
prtated ~ sDeosa. Arranse~ert.-cepr.gA1ea lss,
A TRIALOF STRENGTH



Adela Classens uncle, johnson Raymond. was
involved in the financial crash The brave girl
turned at once TO try and help him, and, after
much thinking and contriving, went suddenly TO
her friend. Gala Westward, and asked for her
house Curlew island, in which to take sum
mer boarders. Gala laughed at the singular
idea, but. both consented and promised to come
and r her. And in spite of rdicule and OPP
he plan was carried out with success.
one the boarders was young newspaper
man named Landon temporarily off work, who,
at FIRST, seemed to take good deal of quiet
amusement at the novel firm. bat became quick
ly interested in Calais scholarly but crippled
father, and more and more respectful toward the
young ladies, for whom he was able to do little
services on his runs into town. Coming origin
ally for week he stayed on and on with inter-
Vals to the end.
The Applegates were wealthy and likable,
free-spoken family, by no means scholarly, yet
hearty and unaffected honest people, with a
single exception After most of them had been
q week or two at Curlew island, the oldest
son, Lane APPLICABLE came into Airing bay on
board of his yacht. the Belle Brandon. Lane
had been handsome fellow, and was so
still, till you came near enough to see the plain
marks left by dissipation and years Of idleness.
Re had bold, jovial manner and loud laugh,
and did not conceal his intense amusement at
the idea of two such young and handsome, we'll
bred girls setting up as landladies. It was not
long before he had said as much to Adela, with
some added compliments to herself, which called
ap an indignant flush that heightened her
beauty and made him laugh all the more loudly.
The friends were very glad when he and his
comrades sailed away; but, to their surprise and
annoyance when they looked out the third
morning afterward they saw the Belle Brandon
lying at anchor off the island. About noon the
master of the craft appeared on deck anu was
sowed ashore Adela was passing throurh the
hall when he appeared in the hallway. He got
no welcome from her, not even an invitation to
enter, but he only made merry over his cool re-
cepton.
"Didn't look for us back quite so soon eh,
Miss Classen9 Unexpected pleasure, and that
sort of thing" he exclaimed, with great show
of mock gaantry. mot prepared to entertain
me as you'd wish, and so forth! Oh. under
stand all that; I appreciate the distinguished
y
my account l assure you don't mind rough
ing it in the least Had to come back to the
old parties, you know; 'pining for his mothers
knee you understand. Blest If l could keep
away!"
Adela could not held laughing at the fellow,
but turned away abruptly. And when she
learned that he proposed to send away the yacht.
and remain week or tw o. she went to stout,
good natured Mrs. Aplegate and objected decid-
eddy to taking her son into the house; but the
1ady univ oh cd at ipdi
of her scapegrace.
"Law, Miss Adela," she cried, "poor Lane
does not mean anything. He must have his
joke and he's fond of a pretty girl, but he's the
best-hearted fellow in the world, and you must
not mind him at ALL" And she added, more
seriously: II hope you'll let him stay. [ don't
zee very much of him nowadays, and perhaps it
would have been better for him if he had been
more ct home"
The retuit was that he stayed about from week
to week. The girls presently discovered that his
POPULARITY depended very much upon stimulants,
and that he had serious intervals, in which he
was more offensive than when In spirits in more
senses than, A5ne. He began speedily to manifest
very Erdent admiration toward Adela and to
abstain from drink at the island, enduring the
deprivation as long as he could, and then going
off two or three days, to come back red eyed and
excited only to relapse into pallid desperation in
q little while Once or twice he frightened
Adela by his wild ways and words when she met
him alone. One morning, AS she and Gala were
getting into the boat, which regularly came
from the lighthouse for their service Apologize
came tramping down the bank and hailed:
"Helo there, young light household hard,
nowl Fine morning to you ladies. By your
kind permission I'll take lift across the gulf
with your young Charon."
Dan Cantrell, son of the light-keeper, looked
to his ladies. for orders, without pausing in his
nmbe preparations to cast off. Gala came
near him and said in low tone:
"Don't let anyone come into the boat"
Applegate stepped on the string-piecs OF the
little dock. Dan sprang up close ir front of him
and blocked his way.
This boat is engaged-you can't come
aboard"
'You young sea-crab," the burly fellow an
swered, sinking his voice and making menacine
movement of his clenched hand, get out of my
way or I'll"
IF you put your foot on this boat" Dan re-
turned, the blood showing through the dark tan
of his cheek he bent little closer, drew the
sheet home and jammed the tiller hard round
with his foot-..f you step on this boat III heave
you overboardp
The sail drew and the boat swung around and
headed away. Dan started her with quick
thrust against the piles and the boat bowed and
went foaming away from the furious yachtsman,
heplessy vowing maledctons on Dams head.
Not word more about the matter passed be-
tween Dan and the ladies. He went about his
business and kept his respectful silence except
when addressed
Apologize became more and more vexatious to
the friends time passed, but his mother
pressed them 10 let him stay on tho score of his
spasmodic attempts at reformation. One day in
the last week of September he intercepted Adela
alone at the east end of the island and so thor
oughly frighted her by his passionate declara-
lions and some vague threats that she pushed
past him suddenly. ran rapidly to the house and
went straight and out of breath to Mrs Apple
gate. and refused to permit him to enter the
place again
Rut he did not show himself at that time. md
some days afterward they heard that he had re
joined his yacht with congenial companions, and
had been on wild carouse with them at North
Shore.
On the morning of the 9th of October the las,
of the boarders left except Landon. who had ar
ranged with Dan Cantrell to take him and his
baggage off in the afternoon on purpose to be of
service TO the two friends in the last busy hours.
Old MIR. Apologize, however was to return to-
ward evening and spend another night, in
aEdar 10 get off f,,=pi....s e