Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-01-03
GeInevitable
M an
BY IZOLA FORESTER
Copyright, 1906. by Ruby Dougla.

Wait" laughed Jolly Allan, prophet.
ically wagging his forefinger at tho
two figures In the hammock. Just
you girls wait until the inevitable man
shows up and see where your friend
ship will be. Pouf! Bling. Up in
smoke"
There have been men began
irene loftily.
Il said the inevitable man." protest.
ed Jolly--"the man, the right and only
one. / know there have BEEN wasn't
| one of them last year? But, honest,
1t will do me Il world of good to see
both Of you girls fall in love with him
your tastes are SO similar, you know
He lodged the cushion that whizzed
from the hammock in his direction
deXterously. And then see the tumble
in girl loyalty. You won't speak to
each other, and every time the other
one goes by with the inevitable man
the one that's frozen out will say,
Cat"
"Jolly, there is limit, you know.
even TO ycJr imagination" Dorothy
Arnold rose from the hammock and
stood moment. her arms appraised as
she fastened in some refractory hair
pins. They were pretty arms, plump.
tanned and bare to the elbows. so
WAS their owner prctty-the very pref
fio.t yjrl nj NnrtIs.rr I ,slfs nycnnt
one. and that one her closest friend.
Irene Nethersby
It was nearly month since the two
girls had come to the inn ut Northern
Lights TO spend their summer vacation.
The Lights was not n Ga shionablc
resort strictly speaking; rs guests and
their dOings were not chro licled in the
Sunday papers. bat to those who knew
and loved ii ii had beauties far be-
you'd Newport or Atlantic City. Perch
ed high on the pine crested bluff oyer
looking the sea was the inn Winding
woodland paths led to it from the
shore, and back in the hills We're trout
brooks and deep glenN. Long before
the inn and its satellite cottages had
been there the lighthouse had held its
own upoa the rocks OF the bluff, and it
was the light from its lamps which
had given the north point Of Shelter
island its name, Northern Lights.
Ii was an odd summer crowd that
filed the inn students resting. stu
dents studying, people in search Of
peace above ail-and vet about these
steady guests who came year in and
year out, there played perpetuully the
transient, merry summer butterflies
who came and went with the weekly
steamer.
Jolly Allan was permanent fixture.
AS son of the owner Of Northern
Lights at large lie occupied Il privileged
position. But even with Dorothy's dark
eyes gazing at him i'll naughty disap-
prevail he did not retract one word
Just wait" he said. Last year he
didn't come bat he will this time"
Arm in arm the two girls walked
leisurely down one of the cliff paths
that led to the boat landing. Both
were tall, both slender and golden hair
ed MS sisters, but Dorothy's eyes were
dark and grave, and Ireue's were blue
as the bluebells that grew in the rock
crannies at her feet. They were cous-
ms and college mates as we'll Every
year only drew them nearer together
and made their friendship more sure,
and with all their little love affairs
there had never been shadow OF
rivalry.
Halfway down the bluff the path
made a turn. and a rustic bench had
been built there. Kneeling on 1t. the
girls leaned their elbows on the back
and watched the White Queen steam
smoothly to the dock and dlsembark
her usual quota of city desertors.
1t was sunset, and the sea lay silent
and rippleess, stained crimson and
purple from the suns rays. Most Of
the passengers We're taking the main
road up to the inn. Only one figure
came toward them. q figure in gray
hannel and rs he came he whistIed.
The girls watched him idly. disiuter
estedly, without moving from their 30.
siton. Men were common at the
N-''9'''ti' S'N'' ii'Ai III EliN lluDltIS VINO
whlStled. But as he came up the path
ana faced them ut the turn they real
lzed that this man was different. II
wasn't any thing special about him-ne
was merely strapplng, healthy young.
ster, clear eyed clean shaven. with Inns
ready to whistle or smile and brown
hair that waved above his tanned fore.
head-but it was the quick. frankly as
tonshed look in his eyes that disarmed
them as he glanced from one face to
the other, look that spoke volumes,
hut volumes with a double dedication
Is this the right way to the innY' he
asked
Dorothy did not answer. After that
hrst look in the strangers eyes she
had looked out at the crimson sen
irene flushed slowly and pointed ND
the path.
II Is up there where the gray towers
are she said, and he lifted his gray
travelling cap and went on. but he aid
not whistle.
For few minutes neither girl smoke
Then Irene sighed half to herself. and
shipped her arm around her cousip,.