The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-04
An ACT OF REUNION
fFrom Modern societv.l


the day the heavy, odorous seines had
lain drying in the autumn sunshine, the
fishing fleet had just put out on the ris-
ing tide. A yellow streak of light CLINT
ed cheerily across the waters from the
lighthouse at the end of the quay, ana
against a placid silver of the harvest
moon the great, Tapping brown sails of
the smacks were silhouetted like t he
wings of some huge birds of prey set
ting forth into the night.
In the village nesting in the cleft Of
the hill. far up from the Shingly beach.
where the feeble flicker of candle flames
came from the cottage windows, the
solemn hush of the evening was broken
only here and there by a mother Groom
ing some quaint cradle song to her rest
less babe, or by the quavering bass of
an old man trolling a hymn, as a man
and a girl passed together from the
quay up the narrow lane that led to
the common, all furze-grown and
heather-cOv
Her lissom figure, the milk and roses
Of her skin and the rudy sheen of her
chestnut hair. all plainly told of the vii
lage belle; but the man who walked by
her side, and who had. drawn her arm
through his was neither a blue-Jersey-
ed fisherman nor a farm labOrer- He
wore the velvet coat, low collar and
loosely knitted tie SO beloved Of the art
ist, and small wonder was it that the
simple innocent little country girl
should so completely have abandoned
herself to the midSun mer madness OF
his wooing, for Randolph Clayton, with
his cameo-cut features and eloquent
eyes, as mystic as the eVer-changing
sea, was one of those men who seem
made for women's adulation.
And SO, tonight, it is Goodbye,
sweetheart" he was saying in low. mu
steal tones g Goodbye until next
summerl How I shall look forward to
it. through all the long, dreary London
winteri'
There was no answer from the girl
and presently he peered under the
dropping brim of her snowy sunbonnet
What Crying. Rose!'' he exclaimed
''And on my last EVENING" Come, come,
that viii never dol Smile at me, dar-
ling. and once n ore let me hear you say
you love mel" and he bent and kissed
away the two big tear drops that stood
on her cheeks.
She chung to him with sob. What
ever shall I do without 'ee2" she
moaned.
Rather ask what shall I do without
you pet he answered. You must not
look at the dark side of it In a little
while it will be Christmas. and after that
you must wait for May, when l hope
my plcture-yOur plcture-wiH be on
the line of the Royal Academy, and
then shall be free to come down again
and see my Cornish sweetheart and tell
her all the nice things the great ladies
are saying about my beautiful model"
"Ah, Randolph If you should forget
me among all the fine ladies!
Never, earring, WnlIe nave d IIleAA4-
oryt There is not one of them fit to
stand beside my lovely Cornish rose
How proud / shall be to deck you in
silk and Iaces, as you deserve. and drop
you down in their midst. They will
turn green with envy. Rose, YOU must
write to me every week aand tell me
all that is going on down here, where 1
met my sweet little wife that is to be
- 'Tez but a poor writer l am, dear.
Il don't mind Be the letters ever 50
queer your dear hand Will have formed
them And Rose, above everything.
don't let Will Polglase come counting
you"
She raised her head proudly. CAS- if I
should let Will Polglase. or any other
man. come courtin me when you m
gone. Randolph"
My lovel NY own Rose," and he
drew her into his arms, and over and
over again kissed the fair, sweet face,
so trustingly lifted to his own
They had reached the end of the lane
and on the topmost bar of the wooden
stile that parted the hedge. all fragrant
with late honeysuckle. and luscious
with blackberries and that gave egress
to the common, they sat and talked
loves old sweet theme, with the pale
halo of the moon above them, and the
soft lap. lap of the sea far down below
theml and for that hour, at least. Ran
dolph Clayton was sincere and forgot
that ever he had wooed another woman
He plucked bloom of the pink hon
eysuckle when at last they parted, and
she kissed it and slipped it into the
bosom of her cotton gown.
Keep it always there. warm bv your
heart love" he whispered, until the
day I play you false and then bury it
together with my memory, in the sea-"
And so, his summers work ended, he
left her to go back into the great world
from which he had come; left her in
that quiet spot beside Gods mighty
ocean to dream away her dull. dark
winter with glad visions of the glorious
to take all her simple soul and fold it
forever in its shining arms.