The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-23
The Euenine Story

| The Evening Story
| Tho Undertow.
| (Louise MerrineId.)
Il think you're very narrow in your
point OF view. Bella. He's really .
wonderful boy, perfectly wonderful
the beach"
| "A professional life saver could
have done ~ well. I don't like all
these college boys who sweep down
ON place like Tonowa and gobble
up the best positions for the season.
Isabelle tied red and black silk cap
over her close braids firmly. 1t was
warm in the pine dressing room of the
bath house. She had stopped in from
her own next door to help Celia with
the two Riddles. and as usual these
last days at the resort, Celia had
handed out some sisterly admonition
regarding her treatment Of Ralph
Marden.
'They don't do it for fun, Belle
They're working their way through,
and I think it's dandy of them, and
| George thinks 1t is, too.
"Of course. IL George says 30. you'd
agree" laughed Isabelle You dear
l
hard. don't they? A few hours a day
waiting on the table. or here on the
beach flirting with every pretty girl
in sight and twanging mandolins and
guitars to the moon after dark No,
thanks. Perhaps II were a real sum-
mer girl myself I'd feel different. but
I'm not"
IT never saw a teacher in my life
with a throb Of real sentiment in
her" Celia fastened the last button
on George Jr.'s suit, and opened the
door. He's 80 manly and good look
Ing. and he's tried every way he could
to make you like him. He finished
college this year. one Of the boys told
me and is going to take q couple of
years at Columbia Law"
Yes. and he'll probably end up
with selling automobiles or real es-
| tate" Isabelle locked the door after
| them. and they strolled down to the
beach. George and Dot had scudded
ahead like windblown leaves, and
were slashing in the fringe of white
surf.
It was q splendid day. The first
breath Of autumn seemed to have fal-
len over the land. The sky and sea
rocks and hills were catching a tawny
shade from sun dried grasses and SUI
| mac.
Along the shore line the last rush
/ OI Nl8lCOE8 QOIb8Q W4tSI anu OOdCl.
Isabelle stood for a minute on the
sand.
,.. you're not going far out. are you'
The voice came from Just behind
her. Isabelle didn't even turn her
head.
'Why not?"
"The undertow in heavy this morn
ing. It caught even Tod Gissing
awhile ago. and We pulled him out"
"He wasn't-it wasn't serious?" She
looked back at him now. her dark
blue eyes filled with quick concern.
Marden met them stolidly.
mo. he's all right. You like Tod.
don't you?"
Isabelle flushed slightly. It wasn't
ply a young teacher Of social science
at a western college. and they had
found a great deal in common to talk
over. but some spirit of contrarineas
led her on.
He seems to have found his way
| in life. I like the worker rather than
the dilettente."
It was q typically bit Of Spite She
| knew well that while Tod had been
sitting around the hotel piazzas for q
month reading books and magazines.
Marden had been pacing hot beach
day after day, doing real work. yet be-
cause one had q yearly salary. and the
other still chose to study, she could
take sides. Ralph smiled down at her.
Don't try the undertow," he said
again. and she went down to Join
Celia.
Just how it all happened she could
never quite remember afterward. De-
| liberately she had made her way out
to the second life raft. past all lines.
to show him she was not afraid. She
was the best swimmer on the beach be-
sides himself, and this day she felt al
most Hike challenging him.
Celia WAS clinging to the Life rope,
chatting with some Of the women
from tha hotel Georgte and Dot had
rambled along the beach. sQuealipg and
kicking in the surf with q lot OF other
children, when there came a high
pitched scream. and Georges yellow
curls vanished under q big wave.
All her life Isabelle Remembered
Celia's cry that followed. and how she
turned to Ralph Marden as he came on
| q run down the beach. There was not
| a sign Of the child in the heavy rolling
surf. The undertow had caught him
and swept him under. The life guard
waded in and dived less than. . minute
| afterward. Some Of the other men fol-
water breaking over her bare toes,
holding out both arms to the water,
ana sobbinE piteously for the big BROTH
er boy II had taken away from her.
And suddenly Isabelle saw some
thing, Just a swirl Of tangled yellow
hair, and the Hash Of an upturned face
borne outward by the zen. and she
she was glad she was strong! She had
never feared the water. and now she
| felt shA could battle with 1t, and make
lit give her back what she loved. It was
coming toward her. and she went under
to find 1t with reaching arms