The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-15
A Man OF THE SEA.

Pretty Della Somers stood in the mid
die Of her room and surveyed the num-
erous strapped and labeled trunks with
a sigh of satisfaction. Only one thing
in the room remained unpacked-over
the narrow little bedstead, with its
cheap. printed counterpart, lay we'd
ding dress. For a moment the girl
looked at it, then turned and opened
a cupboard. 1t was empty save for a
straight blue serge skirt, a blue cotton
blouse and a sailor hat.
Il suppose I shall never wear sucn
things again" she said, and something
like a sigh escaped her. b. veil! for
one more escapade, and then
She made a little grimace at her own
Charming reflection as she hastily dom
ned the garments in question.
Half an hour later she stood on the
QUAY. anxiously scanning sundry small
yachts at anchor outside the harbor. A
fisher lad lounged up to her.
DO you know which is Mr.. Smiths
yacht?" she questioned.
He pointed to one lying some distance
ROW me there. please" she said.
But arriving at her destination, she
was amazed to find it deserted.
However, it's all right" she assured
the lad; Mr.. Smith is expecting me
and will be sure to be here soon. It's
funny, too" she added to herself, as
she started to explore. Il can't think
what Aunt Charlotte and BOD nave
gone ashore for, when they told me 70
he SO sure and be punctual. Bob salo
we should have barely time for ul4e
trip" an, -. NTH
dismay by its hopeless litter. JUS
like Bob" she reflected, ana strals - -
say proceeded to reduce the c"aoS -
come sort Of order. e...,,
About an hour later Mr.. John smith
accompanied by Joe, the 1actotuHl'
boarded his tiny craft. 50. "Aua
ssWho are you?" she demanded anu
,.,here's NV Aunt Charlotte and Roof
1T reallv-don't know" he stam-
mered. .,,-
IT sunnose YOU are the sailor. But
severely-"you had no business IN mere.
I will go to my aunt
lssyor can't" he burst out ungrammat-
ically. There's only me-and joe ne
.,Oniv YOU she began. and then an
linking Of the truth broke upon her, and
the haughtiness died out of her face.
~O-h-hi YOU don't mean-you can't
rnean-I've come to the wrong boat!
ooh" he CALCULATED. vaguely relieved;
that's it. Is it?"
what else should it be?" she de-
rnanded. with a swift return to haughti-
ness. You surely don't imagine came
here on purpose? -
IL didn't know. You see-it took
me rather"
The next instant she was clinging an
grily to the doorway, while he ned rap
idlv away. 1t hadn't been exactly an
unpleasant sensation, but
Come back" she cried imperiously;
land stop that boatlYou mustn't start!
We're more than started" he an
nounced badly. We're half way up
Thegarthen. and we can't go back. It's
blowing UP for a gale. You know Pen
witha harbor-we couldn't go back IN
the teeth of the hurricane were IN TOT
You see'' he added. in calmly explana-
torv tones, 1--WE should be mere fire.
.sBut-but I have an engagement, a
particular engagement" she expostulat-
ed. tomorrow at 10 o'clock at Pen
witha."
The boat lurched heavily again ana
the man fed precipitately.
''Impossible!" he called over his Shout
The hour that followed was to Della
Somers one of direst stress. At first she
could think only of the appalling Iact
that tomorrow was her wedding day,
and that she would figure in all tina
local papers as the millionaire's run
away bride" It could bear that. she
rrdaned. but the boys and mother
Of course he'll forgive me. oh, it's
crueI-its cruel, And how can ever
explain?" But then there slowly
daWned on her the disheartening con-
viction that she would never need to
explain-that she was doomed to a
lonely death with the ugly, disreputaoiy
attired stranger above. :,
But 1 can't lie alone down here.
she cried. in sudden terror, and
crawled, fighting her way inch by inch,
to where he stood by the helm She
caught his arm, and-yes, he was
actually smiling.
Il thought" she shouted. the refiec-
ton of his smile showing in her eyes,
81 thought we were going to be
drowned
were in for a stifnsh time" he
shouted back. GLORIOUS. isn't it? Hold
tight: I must get you below presently"
mo. no: I want to stay here with
abr
He flung an arm about her. Hold
hard. Joe. Give her her head. Now!
Steadv"'
Then he looked down at the drenched
little figure he held.
Aren't you afraid?"
Not with you" she answered from
the shelter of an arm that seemed.
strong enough for all things. 1t was
simple truth simply stated. Let me
stay, he heard her plead.
"All right" he answered gruff1y; but.
I'll have to lash you uD."
1t proved to be a SITTER gale than even
he had anticipated. and all through the
long night hours he fought with every
nerve and sinew, fought with bleeding
hands and half blinded sight for her
life and his. Did not life hold more
than he ever dreamed? The sea he had
loved seemed suddenly to be no longer
friend. but an enemy. He set his
teeth and fought once more-fought
with half a lifetime of knowledge of
: his enemy it his back. And all the
While in the eyes of the woman there
grew passion of admiration for the
cool daring and mastery skill of this
lonely seafarer- She knew enough to
recognize that not one man in a thou
sand could have handled the little craft
as he did. Once in a momentary lull
he asked her again:
Aren't you afraid?"
And she gave him the same simple
straightforward answer: Not with
you" Then he caught the look in her
eyes, and he laughed aloud in sheer ioy.
and fought again. To himself he always
offcr rraG nc fv1r- 49,. o-.,-