The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Off the Coast.
BY SUSAN r. cLAeETT
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure

NSOpyTIbHt, 4olo' Oy inc mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)
IUST why Lavinia Payton was de.
termined to carry out her plan In
j the face Of angry opposition she
could not have told. Probably It was
due to the opposition. But this last
idea, fad. idio-syncrasy, whatever her
friends we're minded to. call II, pass.
ed anything that had gone before.
Yet 1t was very simple thing she
proposed to do-merely to shun the
beaten path that led toward White
Sulphur Cprings an go anywhere that
would take her away from the life
her people had led for generations and
expected her to live White Sulphur
or Saratoga during the summer. Rich.
mond and Washington during the win.
ter months. with frequent trips to
New York.
When asked where she was going
she shook her head with a smile.
II have no definite PLAN" she re.
piled. But far back in the recesses Of
her brain was a very positive idea.
She was going somewhere by water
and alone. She longed for Portugal
or the fjords OF Norway. but she sail.
ed on steamer for the fjords Of New.
foundland. the Norway OF America.
The walk to Signal or Cabot's Tow.
er. Is not one to take alone. j. Ia
long. II Is steep. The road follows
the shore until 1t begins to ascend and
is lonely. When steamers come there
is always sprinkling OF people most.
~ driving toward the tower, where
there is magnificent view OF the
barber and ocean. This and much more
was told in the booklet Layiuia had
learned by heart. But there was ono
grave omission. Indeed. two. The first
was wind. the other, mist. What was
fog in the city was fine rain higher
up. and the wind was a gale.
She had felt wind before, but never
like this. 1t whipped her wet skirts
about her until she thought she would
never move again. She tried to loos.
en- them as she stumbled along the
rocky path. her breath coming and
going In gasps. Ahead was the tower,
gray and somber. built to defy the Gle.
ments. She saw little group OF REQ.
pie standing in an angle Of the granite
mass. one figure apart fro mthe others
and nearer to her. Then everything
was blank. She was conscious only
OF blind terror as the wind caught
and whirled her about. For space,
eternity fronted her. then the awful
ness Of the wind subsidized and she
found herself clinging desperately to
the gray sleeve OF an ulster.
What made you attempt that
alone?" the man said roughly. Civ.
ing her little shake as he let her
go. But Lavinia had no mind to be
let 60 and chung to the arm that was
half withdrawn.
Don't dare to faint the voice went
on sharply. Didn't you know Sig.
nal Hill was no place for woman un.
less she had man with herr"
Il don't know. The book said walk.
SO l walked"
why didn't you bring some one
with you?"
81 am Alone"
Surely you made friends coming
up on the steamer"
mo. That was just what didn't
wish to do. All my life | have want.
ed to get away from everybody"
well. you missed 1t by the fraction
OF second. Another such gust and
you would have got away from every.
body. I caught you just in time"
He left her in the angle of the wal!
and stepped forward. tall, broad.
shouldered, notwithstanding man with
keen blue eyes and determined
mouth.
Come" he said. extending his hand.
"You must co" 'he view before we CO."
She hesitated. 1
Come" InIs time the word was
impatient. "If you are 10 make Quidi
Vidi We must he off"
but | am not going to Quidi Vidi."
"Yes. you are. The village Is my
objective point"
1T is not NINE"