Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-08-11
LITTLE SISTER.
She Made Life Worth Living For
the Reckless One.
BY F. B. WRIGHT.

"Arent you going to answer my
question! Won't you take me with
you?"
Clifford Vane turned with surprise
as he heard the voice. A girI with
deep brown eyes and hair In which
there was a tint of gold was standing
beside the boat. her skirts blown out
against her slender figure. The tiut.
tering sail had made SO much noise
that Vane had not heard the girl be-
fore. He frowned uncolSriUuSly, tor
he was in no humor for company.
ITS too rough today. There's uaS.
t. sea running. and you'll get wet
through" he answered.
"As If cared tor that. And If it's
so rough why do you venture out:"
because / want to. because it suits
my mood"
The words sounded rude, but Mar
jorie Winthrop knew from the intent
expression on Vane's face as he gazed
out on the black clouds. the sullcn
green water of the bay and the wind
blown whiiecaps that he was speak
ing more to himself than TO her.
And if it suits my mo0d:"
"YOu with moods. child?" Vane said
wonderingly. What can you know of
thoughts black enough to suit with
such II day: 10 back to your dolls or
read your pretty fairy love stories and
believe in their truth as long as you
can" he added bitterly.
You think because I'm only seven
teen I'm not to feel and think"
think only of pleasant things"
But IL the day suits me it is pleas.
ant. Please take me-"
what will your mother say?"
"She won't care She only thinks Of
Edith. II it was Edith. now. it would
be different. but I'm not such n vulu
able cargo No one will bother about
me-"
There was quaver in the girls voice
looking ont over the yeasty water with
misty eyes and set mouth.
"All right" said Nane after mo-
ment's hesitation. I'm in Il reckless
mood. Let fate take care of us. What
will be will be- Jump in"
1t was a gusty day. and the Dot. too
light for such weather. her Ice rail al
most under water. staggered under the
flaws. every now and then burying her
nose into the rollers and sending Il
shower of spray into the boat. Vane
H. = l. =
for a time forgot his companion and
almost his gloomy thoughts in the
grim pleasure of his contest with wind
and storm dashed sea. 1t was Edith
Winthrop he was thinking of. the wo-
man who had led him on to love her
man. Edith did not care. Every one
must be sacrificed for her amusement
yes. even this child. her sister. At
the thought he glanced at the girl
where she sat poised out to windward.
like some spirit of the sea. her hair
blowing in the wind. her cheeks aglow
with excitement. her eyes fixed with II
fara way look on the horizon Vane
had never noticed how pretty she was
before. He had always thought OF her
as mere child. and. 10. she was wo-
man. What was she thinking of? he
wondered
AS if in answer to the question Mar
jorie turned and met his eyes for an
instant and then looked away.
you've heard of Edith's engage
ment?" she said.
Yes" answered Vane. setting his
teeth hard. Il found it out only to-
day."
Il knew it weeks ago. You thought
she cared for you:"
Eyes"
"You might have known she didn't.
Van AllStyne is richer man than you
in money. It's wealth and power
she wants. and attention and admira-
ton. Love. She doesn't know what 1t
means. And you thought she had
heart" cried the girl. This sea has
more.''
Il know it now" said Vane. when
it's too late"
"And you-can you care for her
still?" asked Marjorie after silence.
"Ies-at least | care for the ideal
thought her"
What did you think her?"
brave. courageous. noble hearted.
with soul as beautiful as her body.
comrade for man. TO face with him
the storms OF life. woman tender and
true. to fight for and dare for. l would
have tried to give her everything she
wanted. No man can love her as do
and now Vane laughed bitterly
as an ending to his sentence.
"Why did you come out today in this
gale?" said Marjorie. lis your life SO