Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-07-06
finder and
Spark
By oEoRoE HYDE PREsToN


Wof4NAA~
81 AM so glad that we are not in
love. sighed Nan. c~ontentedly
"Of course" agreed Dick; but why this
outburst Of thankfulness?"
Because. II we we're, l would be look
ing at you instead Of It this wild bit Of
Oregon coast. I would not see this
stretch of cliffs that swings so grandly
out to sea. and ends in that bellieerent
rock on which sits Tillamook light"
You are quite eloquent, Nan, put in
Dick.
"oh. I love this coast. and this grand,
big Pacihc!" went on Nan. unheeding.
"The Atlanticl What is that just across
IA little 5000 miles. or so-is little old
Europe. with its shops and bOulevards,
and guide book cathedrals. But the Pa
cihcl why. Dick" cried the girl, turn
ing her eager face westward, away
over there, away over the edge, beyond
that farthest wave. is the eastl-the Ian
terms and tinkling samisensH Of Japan;
and China. With its queer lettered tea
caddiesl and heather godsl The
strange. twisted streets Of Cantonl The
Jade shops-the smoking josh sticks
the shouting crowdsl Indiai-the
fakirs-the currie-the dancing girls
the blistering days-the soft nights-the
tropic odors-the magic-the romance!"
wait a minute, Nan! Let me catch
upl" cried Dick. Aren't you a trihe
sentimental? And you know your
phrase. that a girl who tries to be senti-
mental is a fooll"
Eyes. answered Nan, land I'll cap II
with another; that the girl who tries not
TO be is a bigger foolP
Good gracious. Mani you will be sem
timental about me nextl"
mo danger" she retorted, with a toss
Of her head. Il know all about you.
Sentiment, romance. is founded upon
mystery" went on Nan, positively.
There must be something that you
don't know-and want to know. Look
at that lonely light house, Dick. with
the waves tossing about It. They say
that there are four men stationed there
all the while, to keep one another from
going mad with loneliness. All winter
long, in raging storms, in fogs. through
the long nights and the dark days, they
sit and think-of what l can imagine
you, Dick-a light keeper-thinking
through all the winter Of me, and peer
ing through the mists Of the spring
storms for a sight Of the lighthouse
tender; praying that 1t ONE and bring
you, not food or wine, or news Of the
great world. but my letter-all about
myself, and about no one else in the
world! l a see you open it, and for
get that there is a world! Forget every
thing, except mel"
Man, l believe that you are making
love to met" exclaimed Dick, in q
shocked tone. "And we are the only
really platonie couple on earth"
Il will make love to you, If l want to"
retorted Nan, wrathfully. What is the
use of being platonic couple II you can't
do as you van to? One must have some
escape valve, or one can't continue pla-
tonic"
well there is Danvers. Why not es-
cape in his direction? He would like
it."
'Mr. Danvers! Do you know, Dick,
why I asked you to take this long walk
down the coast, and why I didn't tell
q soul at the cottage that we were go
ing?"
Eyes; I suppose you wanted to make
love to me-" laughed Dick.
Il suppose they all think that. l sup
pose they all think that we are in love"
sighed Nan. but we are not, Dick, are
wei" she pleaded. You promised to
help me, and keep me-platonic. when
men made love to me. We are always to
like each other immensely, and say
whatever we wanted to, to each other,
and you were to come to my rescue in
time Of need-and this is time Of need.
Mr.. Danvers is-last night he said-and
I wanted to get away from him-and SC
/ asked you to come with me to-day
and here we are!" ended Nan, radiantly.
eyes, here we aTG" answered Dick,
land unless I am greatly mistaken there
- OHnFSAa uAu anAAnNA Sill ! NMAAh
recognize that uncommonly ugly hat Of
HIS added Dick. viclously.
ooh, Dick, get me out Of sight He
must not see mel The truth is I prom
ised to walk with him this morning,
and didn't"
"That Is in your favor, anyway. Get
behind this big rock, and they will go
By without seeing US. Whom do you
suppose the girl Is. Nan?"
"How should / know. He has the
worst taste in glrls-I mean generally"
amended Nan.
"Ohi" said Dick.
As the couple slowly passed, Dick
peeked cautiously out from their hid
ing place.
Man, that Is not Danvers. II is nice
young fellow from the village, where
our hostess gets those delicious eggs
I have seen him in the post once. The
girl Is pretty. Imagine she Is HIS sweet
heart. They are holding hands"
"Are theyl" cried Nan. "Let me
iookl" and she put her hand on Dicks
shoulder and peeked around him.
srHe doesn't look q bit like Mr. Dam