The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-28
THE EVENING STORY
The Island of JOY.
(By Temple Bailey. }

The Island of JOY.
| (By Temple Bailey.)
| It was one moonlight night that
Marcia and her lover FRS. saw the
Island of Joy looming up against the
silver sky.
ST am going to take you there some
day" Arthur murmured. when We
| are married.
Marcia's face grew wistful. Some
times I think that day is never COM
ing she said.
| Arthur drew hsr closer. EVERY
thing has been against us. sweet
heart; first, lack of money, and now.
when everything is ready, my moth
er's illness. which takes me away from
| you tomorrow"
"But you viii come back?" she
chung to him.
"Of course. you silly little girl" the
| tenderness of his voice took all sting
from his words.
'Somehow-" she hesitated, then
went on. IT feel as II we were never
going to reach that Island of Joy.
dear"
Nonsense, I shall be back in a
month, and then-we will sail away
| haven"
She tried to smile. but she could
not shake off her depression.
| write often. often" she insisted
as he told her goodbye.
EVERY day, of course" he said. II
shall never be too busy to scribble a
| line to you"
| She let him co. and for many days
the letters came. full of hope and OF
his love for her. The first was writ
ten the day his steamer sailed, and
the last came from Paris. where his
mother was in the hospital.
/ In the days of silence which fol-
lowed Marcia tried to still her fore
! T. ~
s.his letters missed ship" were her
excuses. But when a week had
passed she began to be afraid.
She wrote demanding an answer,
| but none came. and, at last, torn by
deep anxiety, she resolved to SEND
Eshe met Annette Rhodes. Annette
was straight from Paris dainty
chic, laughing.
II saw Arthur she told Marcia.
Ellis mother is better, and he Is go
1 ing to take her and M1gnon up INTO
/ the mountains
"Mignon?'' Something seemed to
clutch at Marcia's heart as she asked
the question.
ssThe little French girl who helped
and Arthur completely lost his
| head
Annette was not cruel She knew
| nothing of the engagement between
/ Marcia ana arthur, SllO dAO 4ioe
dream that she had pierced the ten
| der heart of her friend.
| Marcia went on her way with out
ward calmness, but inwardly she was
shrinking with pain. Arthur untrue
is-woll1d the heavens fall? She had
had such faith in him. such implicit
belief. that there had never been and
| never would be any other girl in his
life. But the French women were
such charmers, and his loyalty might
not have stood the test.
She turned back from the te1e-
graph Office and walked home by the
| beach road. In the hot sun or the
MONDAY the Island of Joy seemed far
away, enveioped by a golden mist; 1t
| seemed to swim in air like a mirage
| Suddenly the impulse seized her to
go there-and old legend said that
| lovers who touched foot on its shores
would find happiness. Would any
| thing restore to her the radiance OF
her trust in her lover?
/ When she reached the wharf she
united her boat and rowed across the
shining water, her oars hashing IN
| the sunlight. It was a long pull. but
she did not feel tired. It seemed that
| only violent PHYSICAL exercise could
still the beating of her heart.
The island had once been inhabited
| by a pair of lovers who had chosen
Ito leave the world that they might
be alone in their happiness. Old age
had found them still content. The
ancient house, with its wide porches.
| its shaded rooms, its rose garden.
was cared for by deaf old man. VINO
grinned vacously when Marcia handed
| him tip as he tied her boat and then
/ left her to her own devices
| The island seemed made for love.
| There was no sound but the soft COO
| ing of doves, the sigh of the wind in
the trees. the kiss of the waves as
they touched the sands. In the air
the fragrance of many flowers. the
bees drowsed about the blossoms, the
butterflies hung heavily as they drew
sweetness from hidden DEPTHS.
Marcia, standing on the threshold
I'of the big house, felt her heart stllled.
/ Surely, somewhere, somehow, there
would be found a reason for Artnurs
silence.
Within the house she found further
strength. Everywhere were evidences
/ of mans devotion to the woman he
there had been no need for reserves,
/ and on the walls were framed the
first love letters of the happy pair
There were other letters. too, col
lected unto 81 little volume with a
cover of faded silk.
Marcia, buried deep in the rose
colored cushions Of an old couch,
read these letters eagerly. The man.
it seemed, had been called away for
a time to far countries. Tt was his
/ only separation from his wife. and
his letters struck constantly one note
4 of admonition.
mo matter, beloved, what trials
may come. what silences, remember
arate US without message. believe
in me, trust in me. In this world
there may be misadventures, which
tend to rouse jealousy and suspicion,
but between those who love there
lshould be no shadow. Ny faith in