The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-18
TALE OF 4 TERRAPlN.
A Romance of an artist Who Was Eni
OF 1t.

TALE OF a l=hRAFlN.
A Romance Of an Artist Who was Fni
or 1t.
CHAPTER T.
In a sequestercd spot on the shores of
Chesapeake bay Basil Beresford. a young
artist, was sketching one day in the spring
of Is. The bright cOlorings were being
cleverlv applied to the canvas when all no
once the artist ceased his work. The houf
OF some animal could be heard strking
the trampied turf lit was muiied bur
also a quick sound which accompanied
the rougher noise Of breathing. Turning
aside. Basil witnessed a curious sight Il
TAT terrapin, scampering Ger tho lawn for
dear life, was being holly pursued hy
sturdy fisherman and his daughter 'Ihe
animal was soon captured ard stored away
in the we'll filed gamebag of his capturs.
Then Basiis attention was drawn us if hy
a magnet to Phyllis Marmaduke, daugh-
ter of Harold AIarmaduke. the famous
hunter who was the terror of the tcrrnpiu
for miles around. Phyllis was a dream oL
love and beauty, with blue eyes, bright as
the dew, and her golden hair hanging
down her back. She stood breathing taa atr
like beautiful plant. Basil work for
that day was over. He could sketch np
more lie could scarcely move. His blood
began to frappe and suddenly the truth
flashed over him.
Basil Beresford was in Lowell
CHAPTER H.
Ten-thirty.
Basil stood meath a sturdy oak moving
his pencils in a mechanical sort of was-
Ever and anon he would leave his canvas.
walk to the spot where Phyllis Marina
duke had stood the day before and gaze
into the grass as if searching for treas-
uro. While in ono of these moods who
should stroll along but little Miss Marina
duke
Have you lost something she asked
Eyes, my pretty one, Il have. "
"What is it?''
my heart. -
IF you darei" came in rough tones
from behind tree and Harold Marina
duke appeared on the scene. The old fish
erman was not a man to be trihcd with.
and lie upbraided the young lovers fae
their Irritation. Then he marched his
daughter back to the house. Poor Basil
was well nigh frantic. Seating himself ON
q log he placed his hands to his forehead
as if in deep thought. While i'm this rev
erie a terrible storm came up. Tine trees
swaycd in the fierce gusts of wind, tha
peaceful bay was turned into thraehinE
sea, the thunder crashed, and myriaGs eE
terrapin ran hither and thithcr To- points
of safety But Basil needed them NOT.
Suddenly a wild streak of lightning pierced
one OF the largest trees, and down cumo lfs
tremendous weight upon the form of fhe
poor artist, pinning him To the ground
His calls for aid were like whispers DID the
tempest, and Basil Beresford was lcl. to
die.
CHAPTER III.
1t was daybreak
The storm had subsidized, and still Basil
Beresford suffered in the terrible clutches
of the heavy oak He was about to- luIu6
away when he felt something crawl 8 er
his PROSTATE form. Stretching forth H5s
hands, which were free, he caught "a Iaress
terrapin- This was soon devourod foa tho
young artist had not tasted food for "a dag-
came. The loneliness was only broken bF
a constant procession of terrapin across
the form Of Basil, who, fortunately enough.
had fallen directly across the path used 1y
the terrapin to go to the bay Basil wouid
select the best ones, slay them with jus
penknife and place them beside him for
the next meal.
1t was then that he thought of an old
legend of Chcsapeakc's shores tit was said
that if you point diamond back toward
a certain place and start the animal ON its
journey it will at some time arrive ~ tile
objective point Quickly taking his peu-
knife Basil, scratched a sketch Of his dcaUh-
trap on the back Of the hard shell Of
well built diamond back, giving tho exact
location of tho spot where ho was lying.
Then, pointing the terrapin toward the
happy home of Phyllis MarmaduEe, he
started it on its journey.
Days, months and even years passed.
but Basil was still in his terrible prison.
sustaining his weary lire by means OF pne
terrapin and praying FOR death release.
CHAPTER ".
The sun was shining
Around the humble cottage of the fsh-
erman's daughter her happy children
were at play on the spacious verandn. 80
was just 5 years ago THAI very day thnt
Basil Beresford had illustrated his horIl-
BILE misfortune by means Of a pcnknife ou
the shell of u diamond back. All this
while Phyllis had not been happy ~hu
had buried two husbands, and her life
was now burden.
Presently the laughter Of the children
ceased. They gazod intently at the move
ments OF a cool and collected terrupiu aa
it clumsily clambered up the broWnstoua
steps. It was Phyllis who picked up the
belated rescue party and saw tho message
upon it's back. With a shrek She fell tu
the floor senseless. When she regaiucd her
CONSCIOUSNESS, she hastily summoned five
of her strongest children, and they few 80
the rescue. After a short run she found
the prisoner, but at first she did not recog-
nize him He had wasted to almost Moth
ing, and his long whiskers, now gray,
were cruelty intwined about the limbs az
the tree
Heaven be praisedr7 she cried, and She
and her children began to cut away Che
monstrous oak. Are you still full Of the
old love, Basil?"
mo. dear; I'm fun Of terrapin. Chi
cago Tribune
Nothing to Prevent.