The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-17
THE EVENING STORY
Fortune and a castawav
lBy Marshall CROMWELL

the channel and the choppy waves had
liner A Va ZIG
Even when the channel should he
passed ana the heavy swell of the At
lantic should be encountered. there
would be little motion and few i'll, hut
To-Day every seat was taken. Mason
Hawley, coming late purposely, scanned
the crowd eagerly, then sank into his
seat, his face clouded by disaproint
ment.
ftawley, despite a fund of CONNER
clal common sense that had enabled
MIN to score business success was
superstitious in many ways. He had
Deen guest on a houseboat Just before
sailing, and wet day had been be-
guiled with fortune telling and similar
devices of the rain-imprisoned.
The seer had been a young woman
whose brunette beauty seemed to sus-
tain her statement that the blood of
the Zingari flowed in her veins.
Adroit guessing, supplemented by
positive knowledge in the form of hints
from the host, had enabled her to read
accurately Hawley's past, so when she
mad reached the future he had listened
open cared and believing while she pre-
dicted that on the homeward voyage he
would meet his fate.
"She will be on the steamer" the girl
had predicted. you will become en-
gagged before the steamer reaches port
and you will live happy ever after'
His reason for taking vacation had
| been Betty Lippincotts treatment. At
ter lively pursuit all season, Miss
Lippincott had withdrawn the favor she
had shown Hawley and had become en-
gagged to Dudley Hodge, who had come
upon the scene only a few weeks before.
Hawley had taken his rejection very
much to heart and had come abroad
to seek forgetfulness. with such small
success that he welcomed the time of
his return. At home he could at least
see Betty. and he derived a mournful
pleasure from that anticipation.
Now the words OF the seeress
predicted that he would meet his
fate on the steamer and Give happy
ever after" He knew that he could
not be happy except with Betty, and
of course that meant that Betty
would be on the homeward bound
ship.
But Betty's name was not to be
found on the passenger lists, nor was
Betty's pretty self to be found in the
dining salon. and Hawley regarded
discontentedly the usual crowd of
homegoing school teachers and tour
lists, who at that season were in the
majority.
There were half a dozen pretty
girls, girls above the average in good
looks, but Hawley told himself mis-
erably that no one who had loved
commonplace persons.
That they were far from common
place he would not appreciate, and
he regarded with dull wonder the
numerous steamer fiirtations that
sprang up overnight.
After that one quick scrutiny at the
luncheon table, he had not looked at
a single woman with interest, though
many OF them were well worth look
ing at and he asked himself with
30 irn-
some persons was written on the
cards as his fate.
AS the days passed and the steamer
neared the home port this wonder
increased to anxiety. 1t never oc-
CURED to Haw1ey to ascribe the for
black-eyed girl. She was of the
Zingari and the blood of prophecy
flowed in her veins.
When they had spoken the light
ship and there were signs of home,
HaWley grew worried. He did not
question the workings of fate. but he
knew that only an accident could
precipitate an engagement now. By
the following day they should be in
port and there was no time for a
conventional wooing.
He stayed on deck long after the
lights were extinguished. He had
made friends with the officers, and
now he climbed to the bridge to share
the watch.
For more than an hour he followed
the faint sheen of the stars on the
black-green sea, as the vessel plowed
its way through the heavy swell.
Must have been a heavy storm
hereabouts lately" commented the
officer. This ground swell argues a
big blow. 1t must have passed to the
southwark as we got none of it,"
Looks like" began Hawley, then
he paused and gripped the officers
arm.
There's a small boat out there" he
cried, land they are waving a signal of
distress"
Two women in a sailboat with the
sail torn to rags" commented the sail
or, who was more used to looking INTO
the night I'm sorry We saw them,
because now We'll have to stop. 1t VIII
cut an hour from our record.
Hawley gasped at the frank admls-
sion. and wondered if the officer would
have seen the boat had there been no
passengers on deck
AS it was the bridge telegraph sent
its signal to the engine room and pres
emily the thud that for six days hao
sounded with steady monotony was
stiIled. and the huge bulk slid through
the water.
signal was sent and the slight headway
was checked as the ship come even
with the catDoat winch seenou NAAl,SI
than ever in comparison with the
racing liner.
sailor slipped down a rope and
made it fast to the small craft Then
a second rope was lowered with moose
in the end and presently the castaways
were hoisted to the deck
The first was an elderly woman VINO
sank into a faint soon as she
reached the solid deck. Her younger
companion showed more courage. 1or
she did not faint, only breathed a little
sigh of relief.
Then she looked about her, and as |
the light from one Of the deck lanterns
fell upon her face. Hawley sprang for
ward to gather Miss Lippincott in his |
arms.