The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-27
The Euer,ing Story


called her. Every morning between
and he saw her ga11op along the
shore road toward tho long miles OF
salt marshes that lay at the end Ut
the island. The boy that brought up
his mail and groceries told him that
she lived at the white cottage under
the bluffs. and her name was Mona.
Paxton grew to look for her. She
was the one flash Of color across the
dull sameness of the marshes and sea
the day. Som times her hair Waa
loose. 1t was full of coppery lights in
! the sunshine. and seemed vital and
attractive like it's owner. After she
had passed the day dragged lone
somely.
He had come to the island to get
his grip back after the crash. If it
had been any one but Dorrance who
had clipped every feather OF his back
he would not have felt SO bitter.
Somehow he had grown to trust the
man as he had never trusted any
! other friend. There was something
about him that was irresistible and
magnetic. He had listened to his
schemes and dreams until they had
| become tangible and logical He had
made a close friend and intimate Of
him, introduced him everywhere. adj
vanced him money, and vouched for
his integrity and standing.
After the crash came, Dorrance had
disappeared, leaving him to face
every liability. He had cleared up
home back on Echo Island, near Mar
ragansett, and a few hundred dollars.
This was all, unless one counted in
Dorrance's models and the worthless
patents on them.
| So the first weeks on the island had
been dark ones. 1t isn't good to have
| ones whole faith m humanity shaken.
Jerry lived alone, trying to get his
/ grip back ahG nerve until the brown,
! slim-necked horse flashed by his
house every morning, and he grew to
watch for its rider.
| One day there came up a swift
summer thunderstorm late in the aft
| ernoon. He stood In his doorway,
watching it break over the tumb1ing
plunging waves, when there came the
beat of hoofs. and she drew UP at the
J, gate, with the first whirIwind of wind
| swirling the dust behind her.
When he came back to the house.
| after sheltsring her horse, she stood
before one of Dorrance's models
where did you get that 2" she
asked. curiously. It was a submarine
boat with an inner safety lifeboat
| shot to the curface like q projectile
| in case of danger.
From q lunatic," he smiled down
| at her. Its tricky little toy. isn't
II! rake OIL your wet coat.
She let him take the damp khaki
| jacket off and waited for twenty mir
utes or more before the storm BILE "
| over. In that time she had learned
his name, and many OF his views on
/, life and one Bob Dorrance in partic-
ular. But when she left Jerry real
| lied he had not even found out her
name.
''Id like to come down some day to
| your end Of the island" he said as he
helped her mount.
1T is not picturesque" she returned,
] hastily, shaking her head. And my
| brother does not see any one. He has
| been very i'll for weeks
''Then shall pray for another
| Thunderstorm
| She flushed, but avoided his eyes, and
| there was a look in her face he could
not catch the meaning of. Yet it be-
came sort OF tacit custom afterward
for him to meet her at his gate for
brief morning greeting, to stroke the
brown neck Of Peter Piper, her horse,
and hand her UP a cluster Of pink roses
from the vinee that clambered over the
porch. After nearly q month he re-
minded her one day that he did not
know her last name.
Il don't want yoh to-" she answered,
flushing. call me Mona if you wish"
But how will be able to follow you
and find you again when one day you
ride over the edge of the marsh yonder.
and never come back this way?'
You would not want to follow II you
knew
My lady of the Marshes" he snid.
But will follow all the same"
| He watched her out of sight. down
the winding road Of the wfndswept hill
! until 1t dipped to the shore and she
was gone. Then he turned back into
the cottage and stood staring at the
models. the little submarine liteboat
| and its mates, and he grfnned at them
| with CLINT OF his old humor.
You're a fine lot Of hopes for q man
to hold to when he finds the girl he
wants. he said. "Stuff o. dreams, Jerry,
stun o. Dreams
He could not rest that night. He sat
on the rickety porch overlooking the
sea, smoking and thinking. The sky
was full OF tender pale luminosity, with
q young moon curved low in the south.
and the fragrance Of the roses and
honeysuclkle seemed to fold him in like
a tangible shelter against the GOODNESS
Of the outer world. And suddenly he
saw the rising glow Of light toward the
shore road. a flush Of rose and tawny
leapfng gold like the sunrise Only one
cottage lay that way, the white one un-
der the BLUFFS. He started for 1t on
dun. forgetful OF everything excepting
her danger.
Mona was awake He found her
standing I'm the little garden, daxed and
fascinated by the 1eaping beauty Of the
flames that darted In and out around
the house. It was useless to try to save
it, Jerry saw. but the look Of hopeless
horror In her wide hazel eyes impelled
him to the effort. AZ he started for the
doorway. she called after him: ITS
Bob hes in the east room! tried to
get to him.
Even then he did not catch the
name nor realize that fate had played
lone OF her tricks with him, not until
| he had CROPPED his way into the smoke
Ifi1led room. and found the form Of
bob Dorrance unconscious on the bed.
Something stirred his memory as he