The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-04
SHADOW OF A DOUBT.
[From the WashIngton Post.l

IErOn the washington POST
The brown waters were rippled into
golden waves that sang lullabies. all
their own, about the silvered roots Of
the sycamore. The two were in a little
batteau. The beauty of the swamp was
an old story not worthy Of comment.
Indeed. comment was not current coin.
as the studied Inconsistencies Of their
faces betrayed
Janet could not forgive that direct ac-
allowed his kisses. and you dare not
deny it"
'Deny2 Her face yet burned with the
memory OF his tone. Perhaps 1t was not
good form, but she tore his ring from
her finger and flung it at his feet And
then she was alone Some one spoke her
name-half way back to the door She
turned, and then Jack Andrews entered
to claim his dance
The strains of the waltz yet fingered,
with a haunting sense of pain and loss.
The bright lights, the crowd, and An
dreWS' gay NONSENSE dim background
for one face-Hugh RexelPs, dark and
reSentful- She had last seen It the night
OF the club dance. She had avoided him
until today, when, on reaching the
camp, Mrs. Ashford had srniIingIy beck
oned to Rexell and appointed him her
I special knight for the weeks outing
4 always plan to have those only who
are perfectly congenial, as SO much de-
ponds upon ones companion in these
little laugh, Mrs Ashford moved on
There was an awful silence. Janet
traced divers and strange images IN the
sand with her parasoI and Rexe1 pulled
away at his dead cigar
They could hear Mrs Ashford arTang-
ing her forces Nothing left but that
little batteau2 Where are the other
bOats2 OF course not They never are
in condition. Mr.. RexelI-' There was
no escape, and Janet felt an insane de-
sire to laugh when a few moments later
she found herself face to face with Mr..
RexelI. Janet was determined that the
advance If any, should come from him
The splash OF the paddle was the only
sound that broke the stiffness They
were too far behind the others TO join
them; so they drifted along.
Rexeu stared straight ahead with a
fixed smile. exquisitely provoking 1t
may be irritating when false accusations
are Ieveled at ones head, but to be ig-
nored is maddenfng- Janet felt that the
limit was reached, when he laid down
the paddle and calmly proceeded to joint
his fishing rod The boat drifted with
the current, and the situation was fast
becoming desperate when a In1rd power
put a swift period to armed neutrality"
They had drifted under the boughs OF
a large cypress. from which into the
boat dropped the most repuls1ve or
snakes 2. water moccaSln- As II landed
between them Janet Sprang up The next
instant the batteau had careened, and
with startled cry she went down deep
into the dark water.
She knew nothing more until she open
ed her eyes to find RexelIs face very
near hers There was a sense of some
thing that had touched her Iips-certain-
Iy not water.
Janet, darling, forgive me. There
has been a beastly mistake somewhere.
1 could have sworn to that pink wrap;
there isn't another like it in the county.
But mistake it was-I am sure of it"
RexelIs voice sounded faint and far
away; but, too dazed to question. she
nestled her cheek against his coat. What
followed in that haIf-tone that fits itself