The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-20
THE EVENING STORY
Out of the Channel.
By Lyle Ward sanderson.)

lighthouse stairs. He liked the wind
ana TWIST OF them; hazy wish f1oated
lnrougn MS mind that they might never
end He would like to go on forever,
nearing the tap of her little feet on the
iron Dehlnd him; feeling her hand touch
| MS shoulder, every now and then, when
she grew a bit dizzy with the curve.
Inc Iact was Mr.. Kesler's sense OF
proportion had been rather unsettled
since the night before. Then, Marion,
IN that strange, illogical way girls have,
and in spite Of her aunt's skiIlful, con-
| efdry maneuvers, had made the obtuse
Mr. Harvey understand that she was not
4 overwhelmed with delight at his invita-
| tlon to try his new electric launch; ana
within the same five minutes, had prom
ised kesler to visit the light with him.
| even If we have to go in dory.
1t mad been somewhat hard Tor MI.
| Kesler When he came down to the cape
on his short vacation to find his OLD
| playmate absorbed by the wealthy MI
| Harvey. 1t was true that Marion olo
not appear very happy; but her aunt
| certainly seemed at peace with all the
world, and made an extremely Wllilns
| chaperon on the many trips which that
gentleman was constantly piahhiiis'
| This had been Kesler's first chance
After thanks and farewellS to the olo
Captain, Kesler guided his companion
down the steep path to the little, pep
| bly, beach, where their boat awaited
them. It was not a dory. but a gay
| little pleasure craft, bright with many
cushions Keslcr helped Marion in. feel
ing a keen regret that he could not put
her into the handsomest launch on the
coast.
There was no hint of regret in Ma
rion's face as she picked up the rudder
ropes, and the boat swung on; Inc sun
was warm; but the breeze. filled with
the, tang of the sea, blew the glris
bright hair about her face, and brought
sparkle to her brown eyes
"And over the sea lies Spaln' sdnS
the girl happily.
you'd like to visit the old world.
wouldn't you, Marion? You must go.
some day." said Kesler, wondering
how he would feel If he should know
that Harvey and Marion were Jour
neying about Europe together.
Some day." repeated the girl softly,
her dark eyes dreaming, then smiling
into his She was quite willing to
push everything but the present mo-
ment into the indefinite future.
The man hesitated a moment, then
said, with a note of entreaty in his
voice: May I row you over to Tur-
bets creek before we go back? It's
such a quaint, Dutchy, little place.
with it's old wharves and f1shermen's
houses, that 1 want to see it again.
You know my vacation ends tomor-
row.
Marion's face suddenly flushed till
1t was the deep pink of the wild roses
that grew along the SnOTe
"I'd love to go with YOU" she an
swered, 'only-well. you see after all
aunt told Mr.. Harvey he might take us
out in his launch at 5; and she'll be
much displeased if am not at home"
20. see" said Merton Kesler rath-
er blankly I'D better hurry then"
His mouth suddenly became a
straight line. He began to pull with
long even strokes. Harvey can give
her everything in the world" he
thought with remorse and some bit
terness, land he is a very descent fel-
low besides-aside from being a snob.
If ever a girl was born for riches, she
was What right have to ask her to
share my mean, little salary? It's a
good thing my vacation is nearly
over; 1 might say something foolish
and make her unhappy. But o, may
she not smile at me again before we
reach the farther side of the little
bay"
''The tide is running out fast" said
Marion, looking down through the
clear, water to the yellow sands.
'We'll strike the channel soon," re-
turned Kesler, pulling himself togeth-
er with an effort, II can never tell ex-
where it is when the wind roughs the
wish we had a yacht, Marion
"Oh, like this little boat full as
WE'LL" declared the. girl contentedly;
then suddenly cried: "It's growing
Kesler's oars stopped in the air.
That was the name she had called him
when, as children, they had built
many dreamships together.
The oars made a savage swoop into
the water, the boat shot half its
length ahead, then stopped with a
jerk. its nose buried in the sand.
"Great Scott, we've struck on the
while I push her Gifts a mercy this
oar is stout. No. don't push. child, sit
STILL
but the tide is just racing out" OBJ
iected Marion; while all of the mans
efforts simply caused the obstinate lit
tie craft to grind deeper into the sand.
Wrath and modification struggled
on Kesler's face. Its bad enough to
have to take the princess out in a
mean, little rowboat," he broke out,
"but to shore her on a sandbank, and
not be able to pull her of, is absolute
disgrace"
From far up the bay came the
sound of distant putting and Kesler,
glanctng up, had the pleasure of see
ing a new, shining launch coming rap
idly down the channel toward the
stranded boat. Still Juggling and pull
ing Intellectually. he turned angrily to
the astonished girl.
'sYour aunt will be pleased to find
you here, Marion. Good heavens, why
did you ever come or with me! You
ought to be in that launch this min
ute; you don't belong here'-his
wrath poured out on her-"You love
luxury; you know you love it like
cat. Harvey's not good enough for
you; nobody is; I'm not. He wants
you-of course I want you ten thou
sand times more; but you're crazy to
come Off with me. He'll be angry and
twill serve you right. I'm going to
signal, when he gets nearer, and get
you over to the channel IL I have to
carry you. 1 hope this will teach you
lesson!"
Back of the anger IN the mans face
the girl read something else, and
sprang to her feet. crying: "Wait,
Merton, don't signal!" With a swirl