The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-19
TIE EVENING STORY
After the Fog.
z James Baxter.

Daisy looked anxiously up and down
the dock. 1t would be embarrassing tc
have to ask Ted to row her across tbs
lake. but if she wanted to catch that
6:34 train in the morning she must gel
over tonight.
Ted, with an air of preoccupation toe
exaggerated to be sincere, tied and IN
tied the painter of the little slxfff from
which he had just landed. He hoped
that Daisy would go away. It was not
peasant to meet the young woman who
only that afternoon had handed him
back his ring and had declared that he
was too much of a flirt ever to make a
good husband, and yet
But instead Of going away. Daisy ap-
preached him. Three times she called
his name, but it was not until the third
repetition Of her Mr.. Cosgrove' that
he raised his head
We're you spea king to ne?" he asked
in mild surprise
No" said Daisy acidly Il was
yelling at you. You appear to be deaf
to conversational tones.'
1t was the Mr.. Cosgrove,'" he ex-
planned maliciously. You see everv
the Mister .
He smiled as he observed the color
mount into her cheeks. It was this that
furnished the excuse for the dispute in
the afternoon. Daisy had objected to his
letting Grace Bronson call him bv his
dlminutive and that had been his de-
Iense- Under ordinary circumstances
she would have been furious, but she
wanted very much to go to MuriePs
wedding and unless she could catch
that train there would be no hone Of
reaching town in time.
am sorry that 1 startled you," she
salu sWeetly. I merely wanted to ask
II there were any boatmen about. I
want to go up to town on the first train
IN the morning and I want some one to
take me across the lake Aunt Mamie is
stopping at the Regent"
The boatmen have all gone home -
o'clock
I just remembered that tomorrow
was the wedding day." explained
Daisy. Il thought it was next FRIDAY. .
That is too bad" he consoled. I'm
AFRAID there is no chance of getting a
man this time of night. You see they
all live back in the woods"
Ihen suppose I must give up the
Idea, she sighed, though I did so
want to see the wedding"
If your anxiety outweighs your
prejudice against my Objectionable
SELF" he suggested, Il should be glad
to take you across"
L could not think of troubling
you, she murmured, though she knew
that he must realize that was why she
had spoken.
To her surprise Ted shouldered the
oars.
I'm sorry he said. I'm not a bit
tired. I'd be glad to take you across .
Then why don't your" she de-
manded. You ought to know I didn't
mean that"
You never can tell what a. woman
brought the boat alongside the dock
and helped her in
Daisy deigned no reply, but settled
herself and her suit case in the stern
and sat silent. Ted cast Off and with
a few strong strokes was well away
from the dock.
The lake was about four miles wide
between the two hotels. On one side
was the Regent while on the south the
Lake View lowered on a cliff The
Lake View was on the side tapped by
a branch of the main line railroad that
ran past the Regent, and those who
wanted to catch the early trains had
to make their way across the lake in
boats since the first train on the
branch line was at 9:15.
With steady strokes Ted forced the
boat forward through the clouds Of
fieecy vapor that rose from the water
1t seemed to Daisy that they must
have risen above the cloud line and
that the swirling sheets were detached
masses rising above the rest
Ted took a less poetic view Of it,
Looks like a heavy fog" he sug-
gested. Il hope we make the other
side before it closes in
"Of course we will" was Daisy's
confident reply, but they had gone
only two miles when the fog had sur
rounded them and ii was possible to
see only a boat length ahead.
For more than an hour Ted rowed
on without speaking. then he dropped
the oars.
You don't happen to hear any
shore sounds. do you?" he asked,
Not yet" said Daisy. "Why?"
Il ought to be about a mile inland"
he explained, If we had held to our
course"
You mean that we are Iost?" she
asked TREMENDOUSLY.
You can not get very much lost
on lake four miles wide and ten
long" he assured, but I guess it's
going to be some trouble making
land.
Not if you row straight ahead she
suggested That ought to be easy
If I had anything to steer by" he
admitted, but the trouble is can not
see where am going"
You should carry a compass she
declared. Il thought all boats had to
carry compasses. 1 thought it was the
Not rowboats on a land locked
lake he corrected. You are sun
posed to be able to tell where you are
going
There's land" she explained.
there
He glanced ahead and 1t seemed to
him, too, that there was a shadow
ahead. Desperately he pulled for it,
and presently the boat grated on the
shelving bank Ted sprang to the
shore, drawing the boat up, and start
ed to explore the beach. Presently he
returned.
This is the island" he said, dis
gustedly. Il just ran across the fire
some Of the boys made this afternoon
Well she smiled, I'VE at least
know where we are are. You can start
from here and row right"
He pushed off the boat and started
fo tFr0ur right - For half },