The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-10-08
AN ISLAND EPISODE.

Little Mrs. Golfer was in a turmoil 81
Jealous Indignation that brilliant July
day. II hadn't begun with the day,
however, for all had been serene and
smiling as she went down to break,
fast in one of her prettiest gowns, es-
corted by her handsome, genial hus-
band. And this pleasant state of things
had continued while she looked through
her letters, enjoyed few minutes rock
ing on the piazza and passed in review
the baby battalion, with their shining
morning faces and crisp ruffles. Then,
with some Of the other ladies, she had
sauntered down to the little pier to see
her husband off on his fishing excursion,
with half dozen more husbands, broth
era and fathers in his party; and this
done, the next thing on her programme
was TO see that her room was put into
that comfortable state Of order which,
to the average hotel chambermaid, seems
an unknown quantity" indeed.
And just here her serenity departed
and the turmoil began in her poor little
heart For there, on the first chair,
flung down with true masculine care
lessness, lay her husbands flannel suit,
discarded in favor of the fishing ''togs,"
and as she lifted the coat to hang it up
there insidiously slipped from the
pocket little twisted scrap of paper,
which, with a smiling Lets see what
Rob has been perpetrating nowl" she
proceeded TO investigate. For Rob was
blessed with keen sense of humor, and
was much given to jotting down bits of
jokes, puns and sage reflections on the
different aspects of summer hotel life,
which it was their custom to laugh over
together in the retirement of their own
room. So it was quite without suspi-
cion that Mrs. Rob UNFINISHED the limo
cent looking scrap, and was confronted
with-not her husbands bold scrawl,
but delicate feminine writing, to this
effect:
"Yes, mon ami, ! don't know that
mind giving up my afternoon siesta for
this once; and if can evade the notice
Of the rocking chair 'Tabbies,' will slip
away about 3 o'clock. That is, if YOU
will pledge yourself that both GOODNESS
and shade lurk on the farther side of the
big rock, and if you are sure that it is
out Of window range. For it would
never do If we were to be seen there.
Yours, J. L.
"Wednesday, a. m"
As she took in the sense of these
words, her placid smile was succeeded
by frown.
Its that horrid Mrs. Lesson. Of
course. She has just thrown herself at
Roberts head ever since she came.
Wednesday. Ell? That's today, and now
Wen see about this walk. shan't men-
ton this note, but think can manage
to defeat this plan. wonder, though,
II il would not he good idea TO set up
little counter Irritation? There's that
handsome young Dugall just waiting for
q little encouragement, and, evidently,
Rob needs lesson"
Now all this was quite natural, but in
her indignation Mrs. Golfer failed to
give due consideration to circumstances,
or to remember the kind of employment
always found for idle hands"-and idle
minds as well. She and Robert wero
spending n month on a small island in
the sound, just off the Connecticut coast.
II was one of the most unique and de-
hghtfully cool of summer resorts. The
nearest land was a mile away to the
west, but that was only on one side, and
In all other directions there was a much
wider expanse Of waters, dashing up all
day with soft murmur, and always the
most delicious salt breeze was blowing
all across the island, so that even at mid
day II was not unpleasant to feel the sun.
But IL was such a little island, only
about thirty acres in all, and not build
ing On IL but the hotel and offices, which
could only accommodate about $50 peo-
pie There wasn't horse on the place,
for there was no room for driving, but
there were good fishing, sail and row
boats always available, bathing, bill
lizards and bowling alley, and a long.
two story piazza for q promenade and
filtration gallery. A delightful resting
place ii was for semi-inyalids, for law
people who can bask in air and sunshine.
and for bookworms and dreamers, but
just wee bit dull for a city man.
Robert Golfer was the possessor of q
sweet. intelligent wife, who appreciated
all the good things of life almost in
equal degree with himself, and who was
% ready with sympathy and comprehen-
sion that IL was the most natural and
comforting thing in the world to go to
her with all his hopes and plans, and
though they had been five years man and
wife he never wearied Of her companion
ship Still that did not prevent his en-
joyment Of other women's society, and
In this quiet little isolated resort he had
found certain piquancy in exchanging
light badinage or a few harmless conf
dances on the mooniit piazzas with some
one elses wife-or widow. These even
ing conferences were about forgotten by
II pext incoming, end certainly thsn
saaR