The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-11
THE EVENING STORY
\ Vacation Episode.
(By Edward Gerritson. }

| canoe like a herald Of the rising sun.
Imagination transformed him to a
yellow-haired Viking and his up-to-
date canoe to battle galley with a
/ serpent's head prov.
The man saw the girl standing,
straight as a birch sapling, on huge,
brown rock, gazing out at him over
set to lure him to destruction on the
rocks at her feet. Without a moments
hesitation he decided it would be
pleasant to be lured. He arched his
| hand above his mouth.
! "Ye-ho!" he called to her.
| She mimicked his action.
| Ye-ho!" she answered back.
The next stroke of the paddle al
and the girl meditated ignominious
flight; yet, knowing who he was, she
decided to remain.
He certainly is all that rumor
she soliloqufzed, as she watched,
fascinated, the play of the muscles of
his mighty arms.
When he was near enough for her
| to see she colored at the unstinted
admiration in his eyes.
you're glorious!' he cried, impul-
sively, as he deity shot the canoe up
| to the rock.
you're extremely bold" she re-
torted, nervously.
He smiled irrepressibly.
I've come for you-get in" he
said, peremptorily. ut needs only
you, leaning against that forward
thwart, to make the. morning perfect"
MY goodness she gasped, "you
are a Viking!"
you're making fun of my hair"
he said, Stimulating offense. You
shouldn't call me such a hard name
simply because my hair is tow
colored."
In a moment she was seated among
the pillows.
He watched her trail her fingers in
the brown water awhile and then:
I'm Edric Stanford" he said alb
rupt1y. "And you?''
Jeanette Hartman. of Pitts
burg" she answered, eveying him
futrively. u rs.4.zi,ir : p
He stopped padding for a moment
and looked at her in amusement.
Not Malcolm IIarriman's daugh-
teri" he blurted.
- yes" she. said simply,
you know who I amp" he ques-
She nodded afirmatively.
And yet-and yet he doun-
WELL she queried finding he did
not seem inclined to continue, land
yet-what?''
ooh. nothing he answered lamely,
and fell to padding furiously
After all. he thought. what did 1t
matter? Only vacation episode-it
could be nothing more. He would
carry it out in the spirit in which he
had begun.
A morning of enchantment was
theirs. They visited a spot where the
sharp-nosed pickerei leaped with
twinkling frequency. They slipped
cupped water lilies. wide open to the
glory of the dawn. They glided
stealthily along in the shadow of the
shore-fringe until presently they saw
or Txyif6 II es -
down to the shore to drink He
brought her nearer to nature than she
ever before had been.
II shall come here the first thing
tomorrow morning." he said, as he
helped her up the rock where he had
found her. Shall find you here ?"
Perhaps" she answered: but there
was a half promise in her manner
when she waved him goodby from the
hilltop.
He was earlier than she next morn
ing, but he had not long to wait. In
few moments she came smiling toward
him down the hill.
eff you like" he said, as he helped
her to her seat. well visit that eagles
nest on Bald mountain. have been
up to her aerie and seen her baby
eagles"
Jeannette's eyes sparkled.
They started while the mists We're
coat in anticipation of the GOODNESS of
the air at high altitude of the noun
tain. Shortly before noon, after a !
wearying climb. they gained a spot
where it seemed advisable to eat their
luncheon.
1--WE must wait here until Mrs |
Eagle goes preying for the family din |
ner," Stanford informed his compan- |
ion. '"Then, by hurrying. We'll have
time to climb and take a peep at the |
little eaglets and get away before the
old bird returns"
In a few moments they saw the |
of bird with |
spread of wings and circle out over |
s.Now is our time" said Stanford,
springing up and leading the way: |
but we must hurry"
A hard scramble over a series of
ragged powders brought them to the |
craig where the eagle had built her
nest. Four young eagles stretched out
their featherless necks, their yellow /
beaks wide open for the expected din |
ner of bfood-warm flesh.
Suddenly Stanford gave a cry of dis |
may.
"Ouick. Quiclx!' he shouted. The old |
bird is coming back!" and grasping I
Jeanette by the arm he rushed her /
away from the nest.
But the eagle was coming with the I
rapidity OF a rocket and was upon them I
bsfore they had gotten very far. At |
tracted. probably, by her red coat. the /
enra ged bird made straight for jean
nette. stanford succeeded in only par
tfRl1y saving her from the onslaught.
One of the huge wings struck her a
glancing blow and Knocked her down
The eagle was carried far beyond |
them by the impetus of the rush. but I
dropping the rabbit it had brought for
it's young, it circ1ed quickly and return
ed to renew the attack.
Stanford looked about for weapon.
He grasped young scrub oak, strug-
Cling for growth in the barren SOIL and
tore it up by the roots. Swinging 1t in
the air he brought it down on the eagles
head as the great bird poised over the