Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-08
Evening Story.
LOVES LANDING.
BY lzola Forester.
Copyright, 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press.)

"But I 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
stopr'
did you expect a full-sized dock
with waiting band to welcome us?
Be careful, Bee. The plank is mar
row.
Plank! giggled winona. edging
along 1t, after her mother and sister.
II think it's straw. Oh. dear!"
Her foot turned sharply, and before
she could regain her balance. she had
slipped of 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
stiflled 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
narrow strip between the boat and
the shore, and finally Winona' 8
face, with the light flashing on 1t,
as she was lifted out Of the water.
What can say?" exclaimed
Mrs. Vaughan, when she held out
her hands to the man who had
saved willful, careless 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 Win.
ona 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 Walling. He
come along ter be sure l got here
safe, and de boats was on time" !
Mrs. Vaughan was silent. The car
riage rolled on up the old road to
Twin Cakes She had not been home
since here marriage, twenty-four
year ago. The place had gone to
her stepmother after the majors
death, and later to her son, Stanley
Tisdale. 1t was at his invitation she
was able now to visit Twin Cakes, and
while 1t carried it's own wound with
it, tho invitation had been a vel.
come one She wanted the girls to
see the old place. Fifty miles up
from Savannah 1t lay, one of the
few old plantations left along the
river. Her mother had named 1t
Loves Landing" when she had come
there herself a bride from the
north.
She wondered who Phil Walling
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, half.formed hope had grown
up in her mind that one of the girls,
either quite Bee or Winona, would
find permanent home at Twin Cakes
before the visit was ended.
The next morning after breakfast, !
Winona went down through the
rambling old gardens to the river,
her cheeks still pale, her lips pressed
together in quick hot anger, and after
her, protesting, explaining, went Phil
Walling.
why didn't you write to mother
yourself, 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 flower. He could not
help thinking how It's creamy petals
matched her own skin. and intensi-
fed the copper Of her hair.
What was the use? Poor Stan
won't live long anyway. We have
always been friends. only bought
Twin Cakes from him to save it from
going under the hammer. He knows |
it is his home as long as he lives,
and to tell the truth, we've been
happy here. love the place. His
mother was mighty good to me when
1 was a poor little kiddie around
here. So was the major"
But why did you let US come here
as his guests"
"Our guests" he corrected gently, !
ut is an honor, and Stan begged to
see you all again"
Must he die?" All at once her
dark eyes grew pitiful.
Not II he let's up in time. He's
gone the pace fairly fast"
Perhaps 1t is right, after all, our
coming. Mother is wonderful as a
nurse, and so is Bee. I'm not, one
bit"
I'm SO glad" murmured Phil, fer
vently.
The next month found a new
regime at Twin Cakes. Mrs. Vaughan
took the reigns from Phil, firmly and
gently, and began to sway things her
own way.
Stanley, weak Of will and rebelious,
found himself powerless between her
laws and Bees tender nursing. After
the first two or three battles had
been fought out and won, and he
found he could sleep without trying
the majors favorite remedy, found
that the days could be made sweet, |
rational, clear of horrible day
dreams and haunting pain, he began
to watch Bee.
"I've made mess of everything
haven't I?' he growled one day, when
III T.