The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-01
THE EVENING STOR Y
Winston,s work.
(By Honore Willsit.)

dark and grey with night shadows, but
toward the dim line of Minnesota the
water was liquid crimson.
Darrell, a fine strong figure in his
bathing trunks, shfvered as he paused
to look at the familiar beauty of the
great river. Then he. took breath
that swelled his deep chest and plunged
with great bounds down the bluffside TO
the river far beneath. When he return
ed, red and dripping, Jim, his darby
BILE on the veranda and in a short time
Darrell was drinking his coffee and
looking out at the tendeE spring green
of the midstream islands.
1t was for over a year now that he
had piqued the curiosity of the ma
tives'' by living alone on the bluff side.
TWO isolated facts, however, known to
the gossipS, accounted for all his &C.
centricities. Darrell was a writer and a
New Yorker. They called him surly.
They could not know that he was mere
ly readjusting his lifelong theory Of
married happiness. They could not
know that he was merely fighting to
recover his old-time buoyancy that had
left him that spring morning when
Elizabeth had told him that she was
going to devote her life not to him, but
to her art"
Darrell sighed, then rose, abruptly.
''Jim.' he said; Mr.. Winston may
the band sharply about noon"
"YeSsah."
And you may as well fix up the
guest room, this morning" &
Jim looked around at the simple
furnishings of the porch and living
ROOM, critically. Jim had served OAR
rel's father and had privileges.
Am Mr.. Winston very particular,
Darrell smiled. ST don't know. Jim.
The publishers are sending him out to
get illustrations for my book. This will
have to do" And he swung down the
bfuffside, to the little pier, where was
tled a string of canoes and skiffs. He
jumped into a canoe and was off down
the river, with beautiful long strokes
of the paddle that told of many hours
spent on the water. In fact, it was
from the hours spent on his river that
barrels book had grown. He had
written it in fervor of enthusiasm
over the wonders of the Mississippi
and the publishers had received it
joyfully. Darrell had found new
field.
The noon train drew slowly up to
the station platform and Darrell turn
ed away in disappointment. But one
passenger -alighted and that was
to make sure that he was not mis-
taken. Then he halted. There was
something very familiar about the
slender, well-dressed figure standing
hesitatingly at the far end of the plat
form. Suddenly the girl moved to-
ward him.
"Oh, Horace she cried.
Eyes, Elizabeth he replied quietly,
as if they had not parted. over year
'fWell, aren't you glad to see me?''
brightly. "And what are you going to
do with me-"
81 don't know" said Darrell to both
questions. What brought you here,
: The girl looked into his face. with
her candid blue eyes full of wonder.
why, Horace. didn't they send you
word that I was coming y = .ss-
rel's fingers were trembling a little:
''Mr. Tompkins, your publisher"
Darrell sat down heavily on truck.
Then rose. They wrote me that they
were going to send winston you
you know my old prejudice, Eliza /
BETH"
Elizabeth's beautiful mouth twitched
and her eyes twinkled. You have al
only pretty work That she could put
no strength into her sketches. Come, |
Horace, you are not very hospitabie'
are your
You see, 1 could have put up Winston
but I am going to take you to Mrs.
Brady. who will be glad to have 4
paying guest.
canoe facing Darrell. In her lap was
4 sketch book Darrell had said moth
ng more concerning feminine artlsic |
ability. He was struggling with the
Did disappointment and with the old |
owe that, as if the intervening years
lad been for nothing, had returned
With redoubled force at the sight OF
Elizabeth's beauty. She was so dainty,
never been able to consider her for her
irt, seriously. She was thing to be
ldored and protected and shaved for.
The toll of profession was ridiculous
considered with Eliza beth.
She sat looking at him in an In
icrutable sort of way. You must take
ne to the places you want sketched,
irst Horace, so that 1 won't get con-
used by seeing too much else
They padded slowly up to the foot
II Grey Eagle. Darrell held the canoe
against the current and looked up at
bluffside, whose great face
vas deep and cool with pines. The
Mississippi bluffs were new to Eliza
,eth. She sat in silence for moment,
hore Then she began to sketch. rap
dly All the brilliant spring afternoon,
hey padded about; in silence. for the
most part. Elizabeth slipped her sketch
Ter portfolio and Darrell did not ask to
Zee them He was grateful to Elizabeth
hat she did not rapsodize over the
cenery. Words were inadequate and
die here.
At last the girl with a tired little
Ugh; slipped the last sketch into her
,ortfolio Now if you will come back
O supper with me, We will talk them
ver," she said.
They sat on Mrs. Brady's porch just
efore sunset and Elizabeth laid one
f her sketches in barrels hands. He
ave a little start of surprise. How
lad she done it? The Mississippi,
aim, swift and deep. in all its potency
f motion; then for miles, bluff after
huff, pushing into the water, stern.
orbidding, yet lovely; the tenderness
f the blue sky; the softness of ragged
louds; the
Elizabeth" said Darrell, and his
dice trembled little. ST did not
now that YOU could do this. This is