The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-16
THE EVENING STORY
Loves Landing.
(By Izola Forrester.1


CBy lola Forrester.1
'sRut 1 don't see any landing at all
| mother" called Winona, peering into
the darkness as the boat nosed UP
shore. How do they know where to
stop?'
did you expect a full-sized dock
with a waiting hand to welcome us:
Be careful, Bee. The plank is mar
row.
Plank" giggled winona, edging
along it, after her mother and sister.
at think it's straw. oh, dear!''
Her foot turned sharply, and before
she could regain her balance, she had
slipped off the narrow gangplank the
men had thrown ashore. Beatrice and
her mother were on the bank. A car
riage waited farther up on the level
ground, with two faint lamps glowing
in the night. As Winona's quick
stif1ed cry sounded. some one sprang
past the others, and went in after
her; some one tall, and obviously
young, who never stopped to explain
Or argue.
Beatrice never forgot that scene
The old river steamboat, with
swinging oil lamps on her lower
decks, the blurred faces of the boat
men as they held lanterns over the
water trying to help the two in the
the shore, and finally Winona's face,
with the light flashing on it, as she
was lifted out of the water.
What can I say?" exclaimed Mrs.
Vaughan, when she held out her hands
to the man who had saved willfuI, care
less Win. you are Stanley, aren't
you? There is no need to ask that"
Only Beatrice caught the flush on
his face at the name He tried to
speak, but they were lifting Winona
into the carriage. Her mother turned
again to speak to him and he had gone.
Only the silent old darby coachman
remained, and he could only shake his
head over questioning.
"Marse Stanley done gone ter bed.
OATS Marse Phil Waliing. He come
along ter be sure I got here safe, and
de boats was on time"
Mrs. Vaughan was silent The car
rage rolled on up the old road to
Twin Oaks. She had not been home
since her marriage, "a years ago The
place had gone to her stepmother after
the majors death, and later to her
son, Stanley Tisdale. It was at his
Invitation she was able now to visit
Twin Oaks, and while it carried its
own wound with it, the invitation had
been welcome one. She wanted the
girls to see the old place. Fifty miles
up from SdVdIIndn IL lay, one OF the
few old plantations left along the river
Her mother had named it Loves
Landing" when she had come there
herself bride from the north.
She wondered who Phil WalIing was.
Stanley had never mentioned him in
his letters She had liked the letters
They seemed frank, manly, full of the
old-time spirit she loved. Almost, as
she had read them, a half-formed hope
had grown up in her mind that one
OF the girls, either quiet Bee or Winona,
would find a permanent home at Twin
Oaks before the visit was ended.
The next morning after breakfast,
Winona went down through the ramb-
ling old gardens to the river, her cheeks
still pale, her lips pressed together III
quick hot anger, and after her, pro- |
testing, explaining. went Phil WALL |
ing.
why didn't you write to mother |
and tell the whole disgrace |
full story, and save us this-this trou- |
ble?"
She faced him at last, leaning back
against one of the old oaks. In her /
hair was a flower. He could not help |
how its creamy petals match
ed her own skin, and intensified the |
copper of her hair.
''what was the use? Poor Stan
won't live long anyway. We have al
ways been friends / only bought
Twin Oaks from him to save it from
it is his home as long as he lives, and
to tell the truth, we've been happy I
here. I love the place. His mother
was mighty good to me when was a
poor little kiddie around here So was
the maior'
But why did you let US come here
as his guests?''
"Our guests he corrected gently.
1T is an honor, and Stan begged to
see you all again.
'sMust he die % All at once her
dark eyes grew pitiful.
mot If he let's up in time. He's gone
the pace fairly fast
Perhaps it is right, after all, our
coming here. Mother is wonderful as
= nurse. and so is Bee. I'm not, one
s'Pm so glad" murmured Phil, fer
vently.
The next month found a new regime
at Twin Oaks Mrs. Vaughan took the
reins from Phil, firmly and gently, and
began to sway things her own way.
Stanley, weak Of will and rebel1ious,
found himself powerless between her
laws and Bees tender nursing. After
the first two or three battles had been
fought out and won, and ne found he
could sleep without trying the majors
,avorite remedy, found that the days
could be made sweet rational, clear
IF horrible day-dreams and haunting
pain. he began to watch Bee.
eve made a mess of everything,
haven't I ?" he growled one day, when
ne was allowed to sit up and be wheel
I'd out on the upper gallery.
mot quite" said Bee, softly, smiling
sideways at him from her embroidery.
eve lost Twin Oaks, and everything
[ owned. I'm a beggar dependent on
Phil WaIling's friendship He's bully,
sn,t he Bee %
Weren't you good to him when he
had nothing 2"
"But that doesn't matter. I let the X