The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-10
THE EVENING STOR
Crusoe the Second.
(By Constance Darcy Macks


myriads of anchored craft. mostly
steam launches. Viola Ainsley looked
at the receding shore with a sign OF
relief. The sail filled with DrisK
breeze and spray dashed against the
bow as they lacked for the open bay:
The air was keen and fresh and full
of relish. The sun shone strong ana
warm.
Splendid, isn't ?" cried Miss Aims
ley.
Peyton smiled. "I thought you
liked that sort of thing better" he
said, with a backward glance at the
summer colony of Cliffcrest, rows OF
cottages and big hotel that stooo
little back from the water front,
Don't I look as If / was enjoying
myself?" she parted.
For a person not addicted to the
simple life, 1 must confess you do,
said Peyton, regarding her as she
perched on the seat before him, In
her trim white yachting suit.
What salty tang" she sninea.
tits strange. but one never seems 70
shore"
Zone has to get out-away. out. to
get the full flavor of most tnln8s, l
fancy" Peyton answered. his brown own
looking straight ahead. -,
why did you come here at an,
them" Viola questioned. you musI
have known what summer hotel
would be like!"
zone has ones duty to ones family,
YOU know. and my mother and sister
are here. And then there's another
reason for my coming. 1 Followed a
girl"
IA grill"
Eyes. a girl I saw on the train. She
had the seat across the aisle from ms
and there was lot OF people with neF'
very gay, noisy, Iasnl stll PIE raet Of
them and thought she was their KIND
TIL l saw her eyes. And then l knew,
for they were neither hard nor shall
low. nor full Of surface lights ~ fn ats
were moved by love I think they coulo
be exquisitely tender"
But who is she?" cried Miss Ainsley,
in utter innocence, and then hushed
suddenly as Peyton's look answered
"OhY' she said, breathlessly, and
turned away her head.
"Of course know 1t was extremely
foolish of me-" Peyton Fernald went
on, because rumor has already en-
gagged her to Millionaire McNugget."
Miss Ainsley bit her lip. "Rumor,
she said, sis often very Impairment!
Then it isn't true?"
ITS not true-yet," said Miss Aims
ley, and dabbled her hand over the
edge of the coat.
"Ahr he began.
NO" she said, quickly, you've made
great mistake. The girl isn't at all
as you've Imagined her. She's very
fond of money. She's hard and selfish
and doesn't care for simple things
bit She'd hate not to have lots OF
houses and clothes and good time"
You think, them said Peyton, that
because I'm not very well off in this
worlds goods it would be quite useless
If I asked her to marry me?"
quite useless, I'm afraid" returned
Miss Ainsley. Though I know what
the girls missing. for there aren't
many men in the world Who She
lurch, nearly sweeping her from her
feet. Peyton reached out a strong arm
and steadied her. The keel of The
CULTS Wing scraped against something
hard and slippery, then with slide
and splash the boat righted herself. and
went on. But the cockpit was rapidly
filling with water.
"a derelict dory, by jingo" cried
Peyton, as a dark object drifted past
them beneath the surface of the water.
Take the tiller and the main sheet"
he directed, land put for that little is
land over there. I'll have to bail like
blazes.''
Viola did as she was bid. crouching |
on the seat to be out of reach of the |
water that swished in the bottom of |
the boat. The trees of the little island |
they were approaching stood out sharp |
ly against the blue sky. Its sandy |
beach lay white and shining in the |
sun.
do you think Wen make it?" she
asked quietly.
We'll try" he answered, with equal
repression. Their eyes met in the I'M
of a common peril. There |
was much against them, but wind and !
tide were with them, and when The |
CULTS Wing sank it was within a few
feet of the islands shore.
Peyton stepped out and carried Miss |
Ainsley to land. Then he pulled in |
the boat as far as he could and made |
it fast.
tMarooned!" cried Miss Ainsley, |
lightly. She did not refer to their past |
danger, nor did he, save to say, solicit |
-ously: Miss Ainsley, you're soaking
wett"
$50 are you! But the suns strong
and hot on this little beach, and Wen
soon dry. When do you think they'll |
come for us?"
I'm afraid we won't be missed till
1ightfall. and it's only o'clock now.
lamp, and we can build a f1re!'
"Crusoe the Second" laughed Miss
Ainsley do you think the wreck
will yield US anything? 1t should. ac-
,ording to the best story books"
Nothing but the bailfng pail, and
coffee pot and two tin cups in the
tern locker"
Get them" she besought; wen
Use them to cook With!
Cook what?"
Miss Ainsley's eyes danced "Oh,
srusoe, Crusoe! Haven't you any inn
lgination! Don't you know there's al
ways food on a desert island! Sea
,ull's eggs and things like that. Come
long and let's explore"
There! I told you'll" she exclaimed,
IS their wanderings brought them to
little spring. isn't that pretty the
way it bubbles up between the moss
md ferns And I do believe there's
,een a picnic here. Look at that bit
Il orange peel"
Yes. and see this" cried Peyton.