People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-10-27
"Milly can take care of herself"

will not be.
why not?"
81 do not know. do not like him
that's all"
The young man wandered aimlessly
along the path on the bluff, as if in NO
haste. Well might he linger, for at
his feet lay the broad beach, now
creamy with breaking surf, and, be-
yond, the blue sea sparkling in the
sun and stirred by salt and fragrant
breeze. To the left the sandy dunes,
here and there dotted with patches OF
bronze-colored grass and dark wax
berry-bushes stretched off towards a
fringe of small pines and oaks. Before
him stood the quaint tower of the
lighthouse. With all this charming
scene and beautiful day he was gloomy
and silent. Why had his mother in
sisted on his coming down to this
dreary place? He had not needed rest;
he wanted money. If he had that he
he would leave this stupid country
and once more cross the water
to charming Paris. He looked over
the sea that he had crossed only three
days before with little sigh of regret,
regret for past pleasures, regret for
things done that could never be un-
done.
"And here | must stay for two weeks
or more, till they come down here for
the summer,-or till she lets me have
some money"
just then he reached the neat wooden
fence that stretched across the end of
the cape and enclosed the plot of land
belonging to the government and on
which the lighthouse stood. Just
where the path met the fence there
was a stile or low place in the
fence, with big yellow boulder
for a step over the gap. He
paused here a moment debating
whether he would enter the govern
ment grounds or return to the hotel.
when the door of the little white house
opened, and young girl stepped out
on the fat blue boulder that served as
a door stone and came briskly towards
the stile. She was neatly and plainly
dressed, and wore a large white sun
bonnet that half hid her face. She
seemed preoccupied, and did not OBJ.
serve the stranger by the fence till she
was close to the stile.
ALLOW me to help you over, miss. "
She paused abruptly to see who
spoke, and found young Mr.. Royal
Yardstickie at the stile with one hand
offered as if to help her over. The
next instant she stepped easily and
gracefully over the stile, and said:
THANK you, | can help myself"
beg pardon, miss. I'm stranger
here. Can you tell me the name of this
lighthouse"
Il can. live herewith my father"
He was not accustomed to this par.
ticular phase of the Massachusetts, fe-
male mind, and was vexed, though he
took care not to show it.
What is it called?"
"Hedgefence Light. Good morning,
sir"
With that she moved away towards
the hotel with a free and vigorous step,
as if quite able to take care of herself
MIR. Royal Yardstickie had a new
sensation. Never before had he met
with quite this kind of rebuff. Women
commonly bowed down to him, or he
thought they did. And those who he
imagined declined his acquaintance
had always left an impression that
they had been pleased to meet him
once.
"She has gone to the hotel on some
GRAND. From the lay of the land, she
must come back on this path. l may
as well look about here for a little
while and see what happens. Pll go
into the lighthouses always did en-
JOY lighthouses and see what sort of
creature the father NAV be-"
The young man watched the retreat
ing figure as it followed the path on
the bluff. Here was girl of charac-
ter and with mind of her own. How
different from one he knew in Paris!
IF Julie had been like that, l
shouldn't be in this hole-fguratively
speaking-and might never have seen
Wilson's Holl, which would be bless,
ing"
By this time he had crossed the little
yard, land, mount ng the great doorstep,
he knocked at the green door OF the
house.
81 wonder what the father is like?"
fIN htc