The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-24
TIE EVENING STORY
Girl of the Marsh.
(By Temple Bailey.1

Jonn Deiand, shooting over the
marshes OF the Chesapeake, gave him
sen up to the spell of sky and sea
and wide spaces. He had been shut
up Tor SO many years in a stuffy little
oI1lce' making his way in the world
rising from the poverty of an orphan
country boy to some. eminence as :; law
yer in a big city.
ana now he was shooting ducks with
out thought of business cares. A
fortunate investment had made him
rich.
He did not look like a millionaire.
however, in his canvas shooting coat
and sort hat, nor did he feel like one.
Ihree ducks and a couple of BIRDS"
ne said to the man who rowed his
boat. We'll have them for supper,
West beamed. my old woman shall
cook Them" he promised, land if you
roast
Deland laughed. I'm as hungry as
can begin.''
West rowed the boat slowly The sun
had set. and the stretches of bay to
the east were Swallowed by purple
mists; to the west the marshes lay
tinged with faint silver in the after
glow.
John took off his hat and barred mis-
forehead. AS his eyes swept the marsh
he leaned forward. West he asked
quickly, what's that white thing over
there beyond the point?''
That" West turned, that's the
Marsh Girl-she lives with her old mt
in shanty at the Point. Nobody
knows anything about her. She just
slips out in her boat and fishes and
shoots, and you mostly see her after
the sun is down. The darkies around
the place are afraid of her. They
think she's a spirit"
AS the girl came closer Deland did
not wonder at the awe of the negroes.
Floating silently, the boat seemed to
carry a supernatural passenger. The
Girl of the Marsh was dressed in white;
her features, blurred in the dinness,
gave a hint of wonderful beauty.
The boats passed each other. and the
girl went out into the night as silently
as she had come
When she had disappeared John De-
land drew long breath. Strange"
he said, ito find such a woman in this
place"
While his supper was cooking John
Deland sat on the porch with Vests
two dogs at his feet, and gave himself
up to the thoughts of the moment-and
his thoughts were of the girl.
Even as he thought of her she came
out of the shedows. The dogs stood up
their tails family wagging
%
that she was running.
my aunt she gasped, 'fs very i'll.
must have some one-at once"
John opened the door and called to
West. There's something the mat er
at the little house or the point-the
aunt is ill. I'll run straight on"
Even as he finished speaking the girl
had turned and was flying back. -he
dogs tore after John as he followed Ter.
when I reached home" the girl
painted, 81 found my aunt on the floor.
lifted her to IL e couch, but she could
not speak,
The old woman lay on the couch. her
eyes wide open, her face drawn. John
bent over her. "She mustn't be moved"
he said Make her as comfortable as
you can. I'm going to have West go
to town for a nurse. This isn't case
for you
The girl drew him out into the hall.
rs she very i1l?'
she has had a stroke" John said
gently. "She will need some one who
how to take care of her
expertly; that's why I want you to
have a nurse.
The girls lips quivered. But
can't afford a nurse.
1--WE won't talk of that said John. |
You must let me be neighborly."
West came soon with his wife. and |
IN a little while the poor room was
turned into a hospital. Mrs. West |
sent the men back to supper with in |
functions to bring her something to /
eat.
''And something for this poor DEAR"
she said looking at the girl. She IL
,aint and drop if we don't look out"
How good you are" said the girl |
ino 0G people to co %fsP b @a goods
Late that night Mrs. West talked |
% John. I've got her to go to bed"
,he said, land the nurse is with the |
aunt. You don't know how badly L |
EEL about that poor girl. 1t seems /
hat she and her aunt had a hard |
line. The girls mother was on the |
stage and the aunt took care of the |
child until the mother died. Then |
hey had nothing to live on, and |
1nally they just made up their minds |
o go to some place where they could /
zee the sky and fields. And they got !
his little place for almost nothing,
Ind they've lived on what The girl |
could catch, and they haven't been
leighborly because they thought no
me would want to know them. It's
oitiful."
Yes, it is" said John.
A week later the little old aunt
lrifted away on the tides which touch
he shores of Eternity and then John
0eland asked the girl to marry him.
But she would not. Its just pity
IldI you ISel, SIlc Stlu, pTOuuly, anu
won't be married; please don't speak
# it again.
ct shall speak of it, said John De-
and, "as often as I can make you
isten.'
Her head went up. You have
placed me under deep obligations"
he said. Surely you will not make
ne feel them too much"
He flushed, but persisted.
Yes he said, II shall make you
eel them. I am going to ask you to
BAY your debt to me by-marrying
me-"
Her eyes blazed. You said it was
bor1iness," she told him.
Il have found il love-"