Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-09-18
OFF THE COAST
BY SUSAN {. cLAcETT.

1
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Just why Lavinia Payton was de
termined to carry out her plan in the
face of angry opposition she could not
have told. Probably it was due TO the
opposition.
Yet it was very simple thing she
! proposed to do-merely to shun the
beaten path that led toward White
Sulphur Springs and go anywhere that
would take her away from the life her
people had led for generations and
expected her to live.
She longed for Portugal or the fjords
| of Norway, but she sailed on a steam
er for the fjords of Newfoundland, the
Norway of America.
The walk to Signal or Cabot's tower.
| is not one to take alone. 1t is long.
1t is steep. The road follows the
shore until it begins to ascend and is
lonely. When steamers come there Is
always sprinkling of people, mostly
driving toward the tower, where there
is magnificent view of the harbor
and ocean. This and much more was
told in the booklet Lavinia had learned
by heart. But there was one grave
omission. Indeed, two. The first was
wind, the other, mist.
She had felt wind before, but never
like this. 1t whipped her wet skirts
about her until she thought she would
never move again. Ahead was the
tower, gray and somber, built to defy
the elements. She saw little group
of people standing in an angle of the
granite mass, one figure apart from
the others and nearer to her. Then
everything was blank. She was con-
scious only of blind terror as the wind
caught and whirled her about. For
a space eternity fronted her, then the
awfulness 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, giving
her a little shake as he let her go.
Didn't you know Signal hill was no
a
man with herr"
He left her in the angle of the wall
and stepped forward, tall, broad
shouldered, athletic-looking man with
keen blue eyes and a determined
mouth.
"Come," he said, extending his hand.
'If we are to make Quidi Vidi we
must be off,"
"But am not going to Quidi Vidi."
"Yes, you are. The village is my
objective point"
sit is not mine"
"Can you cross the strip alone?"
He nodded toward the narrow path
where the wind had full sweep al
though she could not feel it where she
sat.
She arose with such evident reluct-
ance that he threw back his head and
laughed.
When they parted neither knew the
others name
The next morning she left for Labra-
dor.
She was a little late in reaching
the steamer, and, somewhat breath
less from haste, was following the
steward down the deck when the back
of a rough, gray coat caught and held
her attention. There was something
familiar about it, so familiar that she
moved hastily forward, confronting the
owner with blazing eyes.
"Your'
"Why not?'
"You came because you knew I was
sailing on this steamer?'
"Partly. intended taking the trip.
1t made no difference If / came now or
later on. Dc not misunderstood me.
1t was not for your charming society,
but because know it is not desirable
for woman, especially young wom-
an, to take this trip alone"
"And how am / to know you will
not make yourself as unpleasant as
other people. You are as much a
stranger as they"
He regarded her steadily. "You
4, will take that back" he said at last.
NO" She turned from him with
| out another word.
They ran into fog that night, depres-
sing, penetrating fog. There were
eleven days of it, and the trip was
heightened to a fortnight, but long
before the fourteen days were up
| Lavinia had offered friendIiness.
He accepted her overtures with no
degree of eagerness, but under his ap-
| parent Indifference was a steadfast de.
| termination that made itself evident
their last evening on board when he
| ended the silence that had fallen be-
| tween them by saying:
"You have not yet retracted the
words you said to me the morning we
| left ST. Johns"
| 1T is not fair that you should hold
| them against me. I was beginning to
regard you as friend"
| You knew / was to be trusted"
She did not answer directly. "For
two weeks we have neither of US
known who the other was. i do not
even know your name. but I am going
to ask you to my home. VIII you
| -ome?"
His eyes softened to a wonderful
gentleness. @When?"
"And you may ask for"
He interrupted. "You need not tel
| me."
lyon know meT
"Your picture stood on your broth
er's desk at college. He is my very
| good friend and the picture Is won
| derful likeness
He did not consider it necessary u
tell har be had begged the plctur.
from his friend. That would coms