The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-24
The Euening Story
CaStawayS.
oeeANsoyo
(By ClarisSa Mackie.

decidedly pretty young woman. who
carried suitcase and umbrella.
Mona Fairlee walked down the long
pier to the shore; where the red
shingled roof of the Benson's summer
camp peeped through the surrounding
pine trees.
IF they have gone to one of the
a lonely time,'' thought Mona, as she
swung into a narrow path that led up
ward through the pines. 81 don't be-
lieve Edith received my letter. or some
one would have met me-"
She reached the cottage and stood
amazed to discover that doors and
windows were closely shattered. Pine
Camp had every appearance of being
closed for the season, although it was
only the list of August.
Something must have happened to
change the summer plans of the Ben
sons, 40 were distant cousins of
Mona.
What shall I do?" asked Mona in
reaching the mainland except by boat.
The boathouse was locked. The
steamer would not stop until the next
day. If she could enter the cottage
she might telephone to the mainland,
but the place was too securely fasten-
ed for that.
"If it hadn't been for Dick Master
SON" Mona paused and bit her lip,
him." she sobbed passionately.
1t was the old story of a lovers
quarrel and hasty parting. Mona
had written a long letter to Edith Ben
seeking refuge from the world in the
solitude" being enlivened by the gay
doings of the inhabitants of the lovely
Maine lake. Now, with the Bensons
away, she must return home where
she might meet Dick at any moment,
perhaps with that horrid Kitty Lat
ham.
Mona was growing hungry. She
walked disconsolately down to the
strip of beach that bordered the
island. There was no boat in sight,
and the nearest island seemed many
miles away. There was a dampness in
the air that foreto1d a coming storm.
On the western shore of the island,
where one had a clear view of miles
of unbroken water, Mona came to a
halt and started delightedIy. A small
fire of driftwood and pine, cones burn
ed cheerfully over a circle of stones
ON the stones were five lake trout
broiled q delicious brown. A gravy
coat was thrown on the sand and near
by was a fishing rod. There was no
one in sight.
Mona was agitated at the thought
that the island held another person;
yet she couldn't arouse much antagon-
ism toward the owner of those five
perfect trout.
How good they smelled. How hum
cry she was! 81 may not have an
other bite to eat until tomorrow"
thought Mona, throwing all precepts
sure s he Would share them with me
and yet, I don't want any one to
know I'm here. He can catch more"
She salved her conscience with this
thought as she picked up one of the
trout and bit into the juicy brown
and white tenderness.
Ten minutes later Mona Fairlee
stole guiltily away from the scene.
Her appetite was appeased but her
conscience was unpleasantly active.
What would the unknown fisher
man say when he returned to his fire
and discovered instead of five broiled
trout, five little tails and a few
bones?
Mona returned to the pier and
watched for the appearance of some
pleasure boat She did not know that
the water carnival at the other end OF
the lake had drawn most of the is
landerS down that way.
The afternoon wore on. She quite
forgot the theft of lake trout, for she
was ravenously hungry again. Great
clouds piled up in the northwest and
there was a distant grumble of thun-
der. Mona was afraid of thunder
storms. There was only one place of
refuge, and that was the deep veranda
of the cottage, unless she took cour-
age and broke into the dwelling. If
she made much noise the unknown
Perhaps there won't be much
Mona comforted herself
as she went up through the darkened
pine grove to the cottage. She went
around to the rear of the kitchen, but
nowhere could she find an implement
with which she could pry open a
shutter and make an entrance.
There came a long, rumbling roll of
thunder and she fed to the front |
veranda, where she sought a sheltered |
corner and sat disconsolately on her
suitcase with her umbrella spread |
protectingly over her.
Lightning flashed intermittently; |
thunder rolled heavily. The sound of
footsteps mingled with the noise of
paused for a moment, and then came |
around to her sheltered corner.
well, by Jove!''
The muttered ejaculation told Mona |
that she had been discovered. She |
dropped her umbrella and looked up
into the face of the fisherman whose |
dinner she had eaten.
He was not an Unlocking young |
man. On the contrary, the gray coat |
covered broad shoulders above which
rose a strong brown throat and a
looking down at Mona's pale, fright
ened face with quizzical dark eyes
80 it was you'll" he laughed softly. |
A wave of color famed into Mona's
planned meekIy. eff 1 had known L
would have starved first!''
but they were good-they must |
have been mighty good-they smel1ed |
delicious he said, regretfully.
You should have watched them"
returned Mona
Il was not expecting you-or any
one he added hastily.
Mona turned a pretty shoulder and |
stared out at the pouring rain
I'm sure 1 wouldn't intrude-only |
there is no other shelter on the is
land he went on alphabetically.
The veranda is large" suggested /
Mona cold1y.