The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-10
Little Sister
&c. By-.
+. q. WRIGHT
Copyright, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure

aren't you going to answer my
question? Won't you take me with
your
Clifford Vane turned with surprise
as he heard the voice. A girl with
deep brown eyes and hair in which
there was a TINT of gold was standing
beside the boat her skirts blown out
against her slender figure. The futter-
ing sail had made so much noise that
Vane had not heard the girl before.
He frowned unconsciously, for he was
in no humor for company.
Its too rough today. There's a
nasty sea running, and you'll get wet
through" he answered.
'As if l cared for that! And If it's
so rough why do you venture or:tt:'
Because want to. Because it suits
my mood"
The words sounded rude, but Mar
jorie Winthrop knew from the irte2:
expression on Vane's face as he gazeI
out on the black clouds, the sullen
green water Of the bay and the wind
blown whitecaps that he was speak
ing more to himself than to her.
And If it suits my mood?'
"You with moods, child?" Vane said
wonderingiy. What can you know OF
thoughts black enough to suit with
such a day. Go back to your dolls or
read your pretty fairy love stories and
believe in their truth as long as you
can," he added bitterly.
"You think because I'm only seven
teen I'm not to feel and think"
Think only of pleasant things"
"But If the day suits me it is pleas
ant Please take me-"
What win your mother say"
"She won't care. She only thinks OF
Edith. If It was Edith, now, it would
be different, but I'm not such valu-
able cargo. No one will bother about
me.s
There was quaver in the girls voice
that made Yane look at her. She was
looking out over the yeasty water with
misty eyes and set mouth.
AL right" said Vane after a mo-
ment's hesitation. I'm in reckless
mood. Let fate take care Of Us. What
will be will be. Jump in."
It was a gusty day, and the Dot, too
light for such weather, her lee rail al
most under water, staggered under the
flaws, every now and then buryfng her
nose into the rollers and sending a
shower Of spray into the boat. Vane
had all he could do to manage her and
for a time forgot his companion and al
most his gloomy thoughts in the grim
pleasure of his contest with wind and
storm lashed sea. It was Edith Win
throp he was thinking Of, the woman
who had led him on to love her and
then thrown him over for another man.
Edith did not care. Every one must
be sacrificed for her amusement-yes,
even this child, her sister. At the
thought he glanced at the girl where
she sat poised out to windward, like
some spirit Of the sea, her hair blowing
In the wind, her cheeks aglow with ex-
her eyes fixed with a far
away look on the horizon. Vane had
never noticed how pretty she was be-
fore. He had always thought Of her
as a mere child, and, 10, she was Wo-
man. What was she thinking Of? he
wondered.
AS II in answer to the question, Mar
iorie turned and met his eyes for an
instant and then looked away.
you've heard Of Edith's engage
ment?" she said.
"Yes,' answered Vane, setting his
teeth hard. II only found it out to-
day"
II knew It weeks ago. You thought
she cared for your?
eyes"
"You might have known she didn't.
Van Allstyne Is q richer man than you
in money. It's wealth and power she
wants, and attention and admiration.
Love! She doesn't know what 1t
means. And you thought she had
heartr' cried the girl. This sea has
more
II know it now" said Vane, when
It's too late"
"Ar.d you-can you care for her still"
asked. Marjorie after silence.
"Yes-at least I care for the ideal
thought her"
"What did you think herT
"Brave, courageous noble hearted
with a soul as beautiful as her body, a
comrade for a man, to face with him
the storms Of life, woman tender and
true. to fight for and dare for. I would
have tried to give her everything she
wanted. No man can love. her as l
now Vane laughed bitterly
as an ending to his sentence.
"Why did you come out today in this
eale"' said Marjorie. '1s your life
so worthless to you that you would risk
It because thoughtless woman has
wounded you?'
MY life! What does it matter? I
don't care"
''I thought you didn't" returned the
girl gravely. II knew you didn't. That's
why I came. I couldn't let you come
alone"
49, -., oopoo hooorco VoTl