The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-06
THE EVENING STORY
Drifting Into Matrimony.
(By Elizabeth Taggart.)


aft, declared Donald Frazer, as he
glanced down from the bridge. Half
of them are not speaking now, and I'm
pretty certain that Betty has broken
her engagement to Halgren."
81 could stand everything except the
ice" said Dicky Rich plaintively. l
haven't had a high ball in four days
Can't they fix the shaft?'
MACPHERSON is working on it, but
there's small chance said Frazer. I
guess Wen just have to drift until a
breeze or a steamer comes along"
Its too bad" said Rich sympathet-
ically. This trip was to mean SO
much to YOU"
Rich slipped down the ladder and
Frazer moved over toward the man at
the wheel.
Rich was right The trip had meant
much to him. He had planned the
cruise to bring his niece, Betty Hol-
combe, and Ralph Halgren together
Betty was his sisters child, and ever
since her mothers death had been his
pet. Brilliant Geraldine Frazer would
have nothing to do with his match
making; it had been all he could ac-
complfsh to induce her to embark on
the yacht while the season was on.
Betty had announced her engage
ment to Ralph, and things were as
merry as marriage bell when the
shaft of the Ventura had cracked
Sails had been resorted to, but had
been blown away in the mild hurri-
cane that had followed the accident,
and now the yacht was drifting far out
OF the track of the coaStwiSe and West
Indian steamers.
There were provisions and water to
last three months, but the party was
badly planned, aud already they were
heartily sick of each other. Even the
newly engaged couple had found the
monotony irksome, and the girl, in a
flash of bad humor, had handed back
her ring and was too proud to ask for
it again.
Frazer left the bridge and descend
ed to his wife's cabin. Mrs. Frazer
had taken to her berth at the first sign
of trouble, and was comfortably en-
joying a novel and a fit of the nerves
while her husband wrestled with the
task of entertaining a dozen utterly
uncongenial persons on board a Grip
pied yacht with no immediate hope of
rescue.
Mrs Frazer looked up languidly
from her book as Frazer entered. She
received his inquiries as to her health
with doleful air, and then Frazer sat
down on the edge of the berth.
Look here, Gerry" he said. de-
and help me? The men are growing
to hate each other. and 1 look to see
the women pulling each others hair
any moment
Horrors. no." gasped Mrs. Frazer.
MY nerves are bad enough as they
are"
Frazer rose to his feet. From long
experience he knew the hopelessness
of argument. He was just leaving the
room when she called him back.
Perhaps Miss Brockway can help
you" she suggested. She's a rather
capable girl!''
She resumed her book and Frazer
went in search of Clara Brockway. He
1@-- - l., i - -
her before. She was a sort of social
secretary to his wife, and that she was
tactful was evinced by the fact that
she had been serving in that pacity
for two years. He found her sitting
we'll up forward, for it was not Mrs.
Frazer's way to make an employee an
equal.
Briefly Frazer sketched his troubles.
THE cruise will end up in free
fight he said humorously. "unless you
will serve as a peace commission
Lets have minstrel show this
evening" she suggested. Don't let
the women know and surprise them
after dinner"
with beaming face, he hurried off to
round up the men. 1t was not a diff
cult matter. for they were all sitting
gloomily apart. and presently they
were gathered in the chart house, and
Clara was outlining her plans.
They worked so hard all the after
noon that they were positively cheer
full when they went off to dress for
dinner. Frazer glanced about the ia
BILE. and the contrast between the men
and the women, the latter with their
airs of ennui. cheered him. Miss
Brockway had worked half the cure.
The rest would come after supper.
The minstrel show. held on the af-
ter deck. was a huge success, and
The roars of laughter even brought Mrs.
Frazer on deck. That was but the first
Of series of entertainments that kept
the passengers and crew alike busy.
Clara was director of amusements, and
it taxed her brain to de-
veIop new ideas, but something always
turned up. A ghost party was one of
her last resorts, and in the bright
moonlight the white draped figures had
l most spectral effect.
Long since she had been recognized
IS one of the party, and she looked
particularly effective in her white
vrappings. Dicky Rich was leaning
beside her at the rail.
II think you are more witch than |
ghost" he laughed. You have GER |
.ainly bewitched us. The day of the |
minstrel show I was carefully planning |
L murder just to offset the deadly |
lullness of the cruise"
Minstrel shows are a more refined |
'orm of torture" she smiled. wish I |
we're witch. I might conjure US a |
ship
rou are able to make a go of it,
She pointed a slender, white arm
,ver the water. Here. ship!" she |
,alled "Come, ship! Nice ship."
In a steamer chair nearby some
me had left pair of glasses. Dicky
,aught them up and looked out over
he water Then he made for the
bridge. where the sailing master paced |
mpatiently.
Clara. watching his sstrange move
nents wonderingIy, started as a trail
# light shot from the Ventura, and
0icky came dashing back.
you did it." he shouted. You con-
ured 1t up. Look There comes the
A faint streak of fire marked the
Lorizon- and the whole party crowded