The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-08
THE EVENING STORY
Divided WAYS.
(By Susan H. Morley.)

SO level that at low tide we could, il
| we chose, pass dry shod. like the chill
dren of Israel, to the other side,
| which means to yon island. In fact,
it's our favorite-"
A whirring black cloud startling the
| horses rose suddenly from the edge
OF the water as they turned a sharp
point, and Seth Ecxles, who was no
horseman. had all he could do to keep
his seat.
Stormy petrels.' laughed Lisa.
! THE beach takes it's name from
them, they haunt it in such numbers
you know. If you could stay another
month, Seth, we'd make a rider of
warrant. than those new-glossed
games you talk SO much about
| Eckles. who was comfortably set
tied in his saddle again, listened to
the pounding of the hoofs on the hard,
] wet sand, his eyes on Lisa, whose
small gray form seemed to blend and
become part of the little gray she
was riding.
| He admired her immensely, this
| stepdaughter of his aunt, and sudden
ly it seemed to him that mortal man
could ask for nothing better than Lisa
for wife, and life in this out of the
way but aristocratic and exclusive
self-satisfied old town.
Apd Lisa was pretty. Not a girl
he had ever known could compare
with her in beauty, not to mention a
| certain rare-grace of manner and an
unusual, dainty wit.
She had money, and lineage, too,
! back of her, and Seth Eckles was old
enough and wise enough to know the
value of such things.
If silence is golden she inter-
rupted quizzically, then your burden
must indeed be heavy. Do you know
L hox 60
wlile?"
81 was-thinking." he stammered
| guiltily, ashamed that anything so
sordid as family and money could for
an instant have associated themselves
in his mind with the girl herself. It
was Lisa that he wanted.
/ How late!" Lisa exclaimed with
the booming of the sunset gun on the
old fort across the channel. eff you
but knew it, Seth, we're five miles
| from home. Then there's dinner and
| dressing, and I can't under any cir
4 cumstances allow a guest to disgrace
himself by arriving tardily at func-
ton in his honor. We've got to run
for it,
She wheeled and led off, Seth follow
ling and keeping UP as best he could,
but undaunted by the distance between
them. Was there not the dance at the
Iclub house yet before his train at mid
might? At any rate it was a chance.
long galleries were bowers of palms,
and remote from the ballroom; and
there, with the tide pummeling at the
pier and tossing UP sheets of spray,
Seth told his story.
| He was young and handsome and
adept, and he pleaded his case we'll
SO well that he and Lisa. in the hite
radiance of a big moon and with the
simmer of water about them, exchang-
ed vows, convinced that each was in
way life looked that night. but. of
course, it would be the same a year
thence, when Lisa should be IS, and
the engagement made public.
| Then Seth, fresh from a law school
Established himself in New York. There
was no .iresone, weary waiting for
clients. From the very first luck held
his hand and business troubles, growl-
ling like hyenas at the doors of even
older men, from him stood aloof
Besides, he had full measure OF
Iamusernents and pleasure. Friends he
made everywhere. His hearty laugh
and genial disposition kept him in de-
Inland.
Life was so satisfactory and success
so easy that he was already well spoil
led before he met Laura Norton, who
was Lisa's exact opposite Before he
knew it he had forgotten his pledge to
Lisa and was formally engaged to
Laura, the engagement being speedily
followed by marriage.
| For a while there were hours of
gloom when he stood truly aghast at
what he had done. In every conceivable
light and with all honesty he argued
the matter. convincing himself finally
THAT he had nothing to regret. Lisa was
lyoung and susceptible. Probably she
was already consoled.
In any case g. mans maturer judg-
Iment was to be respected, no matter at
what cost. And, too, he greatly ad-
hi wifi ar
her cleverness, her accomplishments.
Il Besides, they were congen1al. Her am
lbitions fully equaled his. and her men
lchant for politics was a. factor in his
career, pushing him into places he
knew he could not have reached alone.
/ For d time honors seemed absolute
lily heaped upon him. He could scarce
lily keep step with fortunes pace, so
fast and furiously did she mount. But
once started on the ladder he contin-
Iued to climb, even long after his wife's
Il death, and when his hair had grayed
land Lisa was but a misty dream.
And-luck still held his hand
i He was in the running for governor.
making. the press said, a phenomenal
; campaign. Men spoke of him as the
brilliant light, the strong man of his
time. Everywhere he was made much
of and it was at a reception for him in
the old club house at the end of the
pier that sleeping memory awoke.
| Could it be possible that he was
awake? Only an hour ago it might
have been that he last saw the cool
green of the ballroom, the long bowers
Of palms with lights twinkling among
the black-green foliage, the surf beat
ing at the pier and the white foam
| dashing high. There was music, too
! lust as on that other night, but Lisa
. Ishimmering in pale green. with the
string of pearls close to her white
throat. and nesting in her yellow
: hair, Lisa
t .I claim the privilege of an old
/ | friend" musical voice spoke close
t | to his ear as he leaned on the railing
t and touched lightly his arm.
RI. 1t was Lisa. He knew it before ht
e turned to see her in pale, shimmerine
e green. with pearls at her throat and II
1 the same fair hair she Smiied at MIN